Secret Meeting score: 88
by Philip Moss
The National received a personal phone call from Barack Obama to perform at the closing ceremony for the Obama Foundation Summit in Chicago during their last album tour. And as result, treated those at the rescheduled date at Forest National in Brussels to a full rendition of Boxer.
Lucky devils. As a huge fan of the band, and particularly their fourth record, it must have been wonderful to hear choice cuts that no longer get live airings. But on finding out that the show had been recorded to release as a live album for Record Store Day, the cynic in me felt differently: had one of my favourite bands used the opportunity to create a cash cow?
Fake Empire opens with its iconic piano part, but Aaron Dessner’s complementary, tripping guitar is brought further forward to awaken his brother’s polyrhythmic tinkles. Matt Berninger’s instantly recognisable, considered voice follows just behind the beat, before the song swells into a dirge of brass and rhythmic pulsations that anyone who’s bore witness to seeing The National live will be able to close their eyes and relive.
Thankfully, the record isn’t just a note for note re-recording. It’s a re-interpretation that provides the already brilliant songs the opportunity to breathe and grow in different ways. Mistaken For Strangers and Brainy are given new life – Bryan Deverndorf’s iconic drum patterns are hit home with that bit more intensity, while the Dessner brothers’ explosive, spiky guitars intertwine to create a punk spirit that mean they could perfectly slot onto The Smiths’ Rank.
As can sometimes be the case with live albums, this is not a lo-fi interpretation. The band’s manager, Brandon Reid has produced a sharp recording, with a clarity that allows even the most delicate of moments to sparkle. Green Gloves’ contemplative lyric is backed by a majestic bed of haunting musicianship, Slow Show’s acoustic guitars shimmer, while Ada comes close to somehow being improved with a revised arrangement and its slightly faster tempo.
For the trainspotters among The National’s fanbase, album closer, Gospel, had not been performed live since an airing in Sydney in 2008. I don’t remember the backstory to this one,’ Berninger mutters before the song starts, and it doesn’t matter. With a band like The National, the songs create their own unique stories for everyone lucky enough to spend time with them.
Whether this recording will make its way onto streaming sites or gain a full release later in the year, who knows. But those who’ve managed to pick up a copy of this limited release over the weekend, it’s definitely one worth queuing for. Oh, and those in attendance at the show were bloody lucky devils indeed.
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