Jim Moray does indeed use backing tracks for most gigs, but they consist mostly of sound effects - backwards vocals, the other 7 parts of harmony vocal on one track, some strings (on dates when the quartet can't make it) and the odd bit of electronic whooshing noise.

You would be hard pushed to find any small-to-medium level rock act that hasn't used some backing tracks in recent years (no, this is not a bad thing...) Coldplay have an 'extra keyboard and guitar player' in the form of a laptop for example, and The Darkness have all thier harmonies from a backing track. If you want to be ambitious AND consistant live there isn't really any other way short of having a really large band. It was actually pioneered by The Who in the era of 'won't get fooled again' you know...

Watch the orchestral version of 'Early One Morning' on the folk awards tonight to see how its done. Playing live were four strings, two drums, bass and guitar, on the backing track were another four strings, sixteen odd extra drummers and the electronics. And four squirrels, six rabbits, six badgers and five hedgehogs. In suits. Playing the flute. All will be explained on BBC4 tonight...