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An Audience with Men and Gods......Men and Gods are fronted by Marc Eden - he of the heavily kohl-ringed eyes, tousled hair, discerning suit, fur coat and a cascade of scarves; looking like the unholy, but beautiful, union of T-Rex's Marc Bolan and Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett. Eden previously worked with ex-"Guns'n'Roses" members Slash, Duff McKagen and Matt Sorum (before they hooked up with vocalist Scott Weiland) in a musical venture named "The Project" that was soon to become the world-dominating "Velvet Revolver". Slash described Eden as "One of the greatest rock 'n' roll singers I have ever heard". Drummer Alric and Eden came together in DNA doll and have continued their working relationship for a decade now. Alric continues to work with the London Philharmonic Orchestra with installation music-to-art pieces for the Tate Modern adding new dimensions to the M&G sound. Bassist Minz was recommended by Guy Bailey - a close friend of Men & Gods and a co-founder of the early 90s platinum selling "Quireboys". On keys, Nadia Baki was suggested to Marc after he and Ariel Bender from the legendary "Mott The Hoople" had worked together. It's quite some pedigree!And so to the music of "Men and Gods" – what's it all about then? Main writer ME: Being at the end of your tether is where my music comes from. I imagine it's the same for just about all musicians – I can't think of any that are any good that have had an easy ride – maybe they exist but I don't think so... There is the apocryphal tale about selling your soul to the devil in order to succeed and to pursue your music above all – I think in its deepest origins it's like a Greek myth. I guess it's really just a metaphor for trying to balance the impossible elements in your life. From a musical point of view I've never been in any doubt – it's just been a shifting of emphasis from everything else..."And with those poignant words floating around my mind we retire to "Men and Gods" gig and I wonder if I'm about to watch a rock'n'roll band play or whether I'm actually about to participate in some sort of sacred ceremony – even if it is to be performed in the rather suspect environs of a rock club in King's Cross. Men and Gods take to the stage and begin practising their strange musical voodoo on the entranced crowd before them. Nadia Baki's Hammond organ surging and swelling on the rising tide of Eden's washes of guitar and melancholic beautiful vocals whilst the whole lot is underpinned by the pulsing groove of Minz and Alrick's rhythm section. The delivery is one of swirling sensitivity and at times the soundscapes that the band conjures are somewhat psychedelic but not wilfully so. Eden sings like a nightingale, a troubled, brooding, strung-out nightingale for sure, but a nightingale none the less. His guitar blends and dances with Nadia' keys to an extent that the sounds become a single spiralling entity. During "Deeper Sweeter" his imploring vocals give way to a wall of guitar beginning with a spastic bleeping sound akin to a heart-monitor before rising to a begging, weeping crescendo. It's powerful stuff and I am left significantly moved by what I've just born witness to...There is nothing like this band out there playing live at the moment, they really have to be seen to be believed. I suggest you do so humble reader while you can still see the whites of their (kohl ringed, troubled) eyes...Dale Hodgkinson. London. Feb '07.