Alun Cochrane is the owner of a shed and a son and holds these as signs that he is growing up. He disagrees that the World is fucked, as so many people say, but instead thinks that its wonky a little bit skewed because theres too much good stuff going on for it to be entirely screwed. Its this refreshing optimism and Cochranes whimsical and self-effacing delivery that makes his Edinburgh show memorable.
Cochrane appears genuinely intrigued about the stories he tells and the people within them. He wonders what led the master chocolatier to destroy forty seven pounds-worth of truffles with his thumb in a chocolate-induced meltdown, why the businessman on the train chose to eat a juicy peach rather than a pot of raspberries and how much twat tax people should deserve to pay on a daily basis. These stories are told with wide-eyed incredulity instead of the mocking scorn and derision accustomed to lesser comics.
Theres no real message to this show, save for the idea that maybe we should all relax just a little bit. Maybe we shouldnt get so worked up about what the media tells us to get worked up about, like the credit crunch or the threat of being stabbed or beaten or something similar. Maybe we should trust our own judgement a little more and not worry about the time we may or may not be wasting or about where we should or should not be by certain ages. All of these are just suggestions, though; Cochranes no preacher.
There is a growing group of comedians Isy Suttie, Daniel Kitson and Josie Long included who dont rant or rail or mock or self-aggrandise, but instead seek to find that good stuff, the evidence that the world isnt fucked but wonky, taking heart from the smallest signs of something positive and leaving their audiences with smiles on their faces and a burgeoning glow in their heart.
Alun Cochrane is absolutely part of this group, choosing for his audience to walk out to Elbows One Day Like This. Just like Guy Garvey says: its looking like a beautiful day.
