No-Wave. Nu-No Wave. There's a low rumble and a sedate pace. Cool seduction hangs palpably on the air. Four shadowy apparitions wearing precision bobs thump out their slow repetitive rhythms. The noise comes like the elongated stretch of an icy glacier as it carves its infinitesimally slow progress through a Scandanavian fjord. Not so much played as released. Beyond the craning necks is where this in-action is at. Through dim lights and dry ice resides the source of this oblique reverb and lulling hypnotic riffs. The wellspring of sweet sardonic vocals and parping, ghostly keys is here. Siren like. Calling. It's intriguing. Intoxicating. Unsettling sometimes. This is Ipso Facto.
As an all female quartet in tune with their 'look' as much as their music it'd be easy to be distracted by the visuals but there's much more than mere style and mannequin moves. The bizzaro fairground atmospherics of "Smoke and Mirrors" is disorientating and seductive whereas the studied shimmer and Souxsie Sioux delivery of "Ears and Eyes" displays perfectly the foursome's knack of creating something fresh from the foundations of decades gone by. Think Marianne Faithfull, Nico era Velvets and the gothfather (and mother) roles of The Cure and The Banshees, but only as jumping off points. Sound like a humourless exercise in studied retro indulgence? Not a bit of it.
As the pace quickens and the crowd relax more Ipso Facto deliver a deliberately non-standard set of material the highlight of which is "Introducing", as infectious and vibrant a two minutes as you could hope for whilst maintaining the appearance of austerity. Soundtracking the darker, more melancholic corners of any dancefloor they urge you to "Roll up!" Making eager promises which thrill and disturb simultaneously like they're proprietors of some Victorian sideshow carnival and they very well might be, they're certainly the only show in town worth anything right now and you can't help but peer inside.
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
Friday 26 September 2008
Monday 15 September 2008
A Silent Film - The City That Sleeps
Beginning gently with the bouncing intro to “Sleeping Pills” Oxford’s A Silent Film set the tone for a confident, melodic debut album. The fact that the songs feature prominent piano and slip into minor keys from time to time will conjure up all manner of Coldplay and Keane comparisons but that’s hardly fair as they set about laying their own foundations.
Aside from the driving despair of “Thirteen Times the Strength” the stronger songs appear in the latter half of the album particularly with the triumvirate of “You Will Leave a Mark” with its dark, redemptive narrative of self-acceptance; the trilling, soaring gorgeousness of “Highest Regard” and the slow, articulate ebb of “Ghosts in the Water”.
There’s so much more at play here as the band search the human condition with a deftly inquisitive feel which is both filmic and literary. There’s enough drama and intrigue throughout to give the histrionic Muse a run for their money.
Perhaps in attaining this uplifting sound they find themselves too often at quite an emotional depth and it’d be something to throw caution to the wind and lift the mood occasionally but as a demonstration of lush, assured and aspirational songwriting this is a fantastic opening salvo.
www.myspace.com/asilentfilm
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
Aside from the driving despair of “Thirteen Times the Strength” the stronger songs appear in the latter half of the album particularly with the triumvirate of “You Will Leave a Mark” with its dark, redemptive narrative of self-acceptance; the trilling, soaring gorgeousness of “Highest Regard” and the slow, articulate ebb of “Ghosts in the Water”.
There’s so much more at play here as the band search the human condition with a deftly inquisitive feel which is both filmic and literary. There’s enough drama and intrigue throughout to give the histrionic Muse a run for their money.
Perhaps in attaining this uplifting sound they find themselves too often at quite an emotional depth and it’d be something to throw caution to the wind and lift the mood occasionally but as a demonstration of lush, assured and aspirational songwriting this is a fantastic opening salvo.
www.myspace.com/asilentfilm
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
Sunday 14 September 2008
Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life
Kicking off with the beautiful flute flourishes of “Son the Father” you’d be forgiven for wondering what the hell was going on here but as the band joins in we’re in familiar Fucked Up territory with rampant drums and vigorously swirling guitar patterns. Only a minute in and the hectoring, screaming, (anti) religiosity and, lets face it, the band's damn funny/sceptical take on the mysteries of birth, death and life begins - "It's hard enough being born in the first place: who'd want to be born again?" Brilliant.
"Golden Seal" takes on a mystical, searching tone as if divining the deepest secrets of the far flung universe. There are prog-rock leanings and it’s more than whimsy despite the determined beats throughout. There are continual twists and asides and images brought to mind - think Minor Threat soundtracking Hair for instance, bizarre but "Royal Swan" is that bastard lovechild!
It’s like Fucked Up are jamming with the Mahavishnu Orchestra or NEU! at times and it's fantastic. Soaring and ambitious and idiosyncratic. There's a definite feel of Buddhist mysticism about some of the songs whilst still they remain determined to question belief itself.
Guests include Katie Stelmanis and Vivian Girls who lend touches of subtlety, otherworldliness and balls out rock as required but as ever it's the hulking presence of Pink Eyes who growls, prowls and lunges throughout to thrilling effect. Fucked Up are making music like no hardcore band has before. Epic stuff.
www.matadorrecords.com/fucked_up/
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
"Golden Seal" takes on a mystical, searching tone as if divining the deepest secrets of the far flung universe. There are prog-rock leanings and it’s more than whimsy despite the determined beats throughout. There are continual twists and asides and images brought to mind - think Minor Threat soundtracking Hair for instance, bizarre but "Royal Swan" is that bastard lovechild!
It’s like Fucked Up are jamming with the Mahavishnu Orchestra or NEU! at times and it's fantastic. Soaring and ambitious and idiosyncratic. There's a definite feel of Buddhist mysticism about some of the songs whilst still they remain determined to question belief itself.
Guests include Katie Stelmanis and Vivian Girls who lend touches of subtlety, otherworldliness and balls out rock as required but as ever it's the hulking presence of Pink Eyes who growls, prowls and lunges throughout to thrilling effect. Fucked Up are making music like no hardcore band has before. Epic stuff.
www.matadorrecords.com/fucked_up/
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
Friday 12 September 2008
Lights.Action, A Silent Film - Live: 10th Sept 2008
There are numerous similarities between all four bands playing tonight - most obviously in their 'searching' sound which longs to project itself from a vast stadium stage. Intelligent rock with hooks - so to speak.. But aside from these similarities there are also very obvious performance differences.
It's a shame that openers think:Fire are playing their swansong shows prior to disbanding as they mix passionate rock, melodic riffs and urgent, driving rhythms with sufficient assurance and cockiness to avoid rock clichés and invoke genuine warmth from the crowd. think:Fire’s confidence only goes to highlight Fall Short! Conform!’s limitations though. Their uneasy mix of strong post-rock tunes with poorly executed vocals and little stage presence fails to ignite and regrettably it comes as a slight relief when singer Graham Mason leaves the stage during the final song and allows the music some breathing space.
Oxford's A Silent Film appear to be the most anticipated band in the lineup and with compelling lead singer Robert Stevenson (hints of Chris Martin not withstanding) and their piano led anthems they don’t disappoint. Great pop songs like "You Will Leave a Mark" and "Highest Regard" also bring to mind the keening melodies of Scandinavian pop maestros Mew and even Aha in their prime - particularly the interplay with Lewis Jones' chiming guitar. Drawing from imminent album 'The City That Sleeps' the songs are sumptuously crafted and thrillingly delivered. Even the danceable bewilderment of covering Underworld's "Born Slippy" fits without jarring, no mean feat!
In part tonight’s gig draws comparisons between the bands respective frontmen and Lights.Action singer Patrick Currier effortlessly kicks himself to the top of the pile with great charisma and powerful vocals. This isn't a one man show however as the band also preview their debut album. "Signals to Radar", "Moscow" and "Hide And Seek" demonstrate Light.Action's knack for building epic tunes alongside brittle melody whilst remaining Pop at heart.
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
It's a shame that openers think:Fire are playing their swansong shows prior to disbanding as they mix passionate rock, melodic riffs and urgent, driving rhythms with sufficient assurance and cockiness to avoid rock clichés and invoke genuine warmth from the crowd. think:Fire’s confidence only goes to highlight Fall Short! Conform!’s limitations though. Their uneasy mix of strong post-rock tunes with poorly executed vocals and little stage presence fails to ignite and regrettably it comes as a slight relief when singer Graham Mason leaves the stage during the final song and allows the music some breathing space.
Oxford's A Silent Film appear to be the most anticipated band in the lineup and with compelling lead singer Robert Stevenson (hints of Chris Martin not withstanding) and their piano led anthems they don’t disappoint. Great pop songs like "You Will Leave a Mark" and "Highest Regard" also bring to mind the keening melodies of Scandinavian pop maestros Mew and even Aha in their prime - particularly the interplay with Lewis Jones' chiming guitar. Drawing from imminent album 'The City That Sleeps' the songs are sumptuously crafted and thrillingly delivered. Even the danceable bewilderment of covering Underworld's "Born Slippy" fits without jarring, no mean feat!
In part tonight’s gig draws comparisons between the bands respective frontmen and Lights.Action singer Patrick Currier effortlessly kicks himself to the top of the pile with great charisma and powerful vocals. This isn't a one man show however as the band also preview their debut album. "Signals to Radar", "Moscow" and "Hide And Seek" demonstrate Light.Action's knack for building epic tunes alongside brittle melody whilst remaining Pop at heart.
www.mekongdelta.co.uk
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