An excellent recording.
A chance to hear the 2005 band in full flow and the fantastic concoction of sounds they conjured when they were on form. You have the odd juxtaposition of Spen's poly-rhythmic mastery, Ben's pseudo-billy guitar and Elena's trancey synth sounds. Steve provides a good anchor but he is not particularly audible. They are really cooking tonight and the in your face pace works extremely well.
With the exception of "Touch" and "Pharmacist" - the material is from "Country" and "Heads" and is delivered very well. A lengthy intro to "Youwanner" features Elena, Spen and Steve locked into a synth driven groove.....excellent use of synth controls.
Interesting to hear Elena's variations on the synth sounds on "What About Us?" which features an interesting middle section of just synth and drums. Good dynamics on this as the band alters the palette with the guitar dropping out mostly due to broken strings as accounts would have it (!).
Excellent versions of "Mountain" and "Sparta" and a stunning "Assume" make a good middle section. Suitably speedy version of "Clasp" with great dynamics...... some coughing and spluttering and a measured and faultless "Grass Grow". "Ride Away" has an amazing spidery/whispery voice from MES. Excellent semi C&W noise - half narrated. Smith says "Nobody will ever know" and the band launch into "Touch Sensitive" at an amazing gallop which features some odd synth coruscating synth noises from Ms Poulou. Manic "Pharmacist" precedes a lengthy "Blindness" replete with synth mangleing and odd snatches of guitar in the opening section.
An encore break leads to a concluding "Boxoctosis" played with significant venom.
Excellent gig.
A chance to hear the 2005 band in full flow and the fantastic concoction of sounds they conjured when they were on form. You have the odd juxtaposition of Spen's poly-rhythmic mastery, Ben's pseudo-billy guitar and Elena's trancey synth sounds. Steve provides a good anchor but he is not particularly audible. They are really cooking tonight and the in your face pace works extremely well.
With the exception of "Touch" and "Pharmacist" - the material is from "Country" and "Heads" and is delivered very well. A lengthy intro to "Youwanner" features Elena, Spen and Steve locked into a synth driven groove.....excellent use of synth controls.
Interesting to hear Elena's variations on the synth sounds on "What About Us?" which features an interesting middle section of just synth and drums. Good dynamics on this as the band alters the palette with the guitar dropping out mostly due to broken strings as accounts would have it (!).
Excellent versions of "Mountain" and "Sparta" and a stunning "Assume" make a good middle section. Suitably speedy version of "Clasp" with great dynamics...... some coughing and spluttering and a measured and faultless "Grass Grow". "Ride Away" has an amazing spidery/whispery voice from MES. Excellent semi C&W noise - half narrated. Smith says "Nobody will ever know" and the band launch into "Touch Sensitive" at an amazing gallop which features some odd synth coruscating synth noises from Ms Poulou. Manic "Pharmacist" precedes a lengthy "Blindness" replete with synth mangleing and odd snatches of guitar in the opening section.
An encore break leads to a concluding "Boxoctosis" played with significant venom.
Excellent gig.