KS1209

Another interesting and enjoyable evening at the Deep End. (If you're wondering why our reviews tend to be of bands at the Deep End, it's because Mike lives very near the place!).

KS1209

Intro excellent - actually I thought it was the sound-check, but it switched rapidly to a feedback-driven thriving piece of classic noisecore "Welcome Sheffield". (1 - or is it 2?) It's hard to identify where one track stops and the next starts - they're segueing straight from one to the next. Seamless transition, though now it's more of a spoken/shouted/rapped lyric; the contortions of the vocalist need to be seen to be believed. American-style angry-rap-rock? (2) Can't understand a single word, but it's VERY interesting music. Clearly belongs on MTV2; slow sections a bit Nirvana-ish but the mixed with noisier shouted bits (System of a Down?). VERY different to anything else I've ever heard in Sheffield ****. (3) "Take That" [even got the tattoe'd, bearded bass player]. Basic noisecore. Singer seems oblivious to his surroundings; very good use of effects on the lead guitar; very good drummer. (4) The problem here is that the voice needs to punch through the music; at the moments the vocals exist, but they're only just recognisable as such. The bass is droning through my seat! (5) Intrinsically interesting (last such was (2)). The guitars are actually playing something approximating to a tune; would be even more interesting to emphasise the contrast between the melody and the noise, perhaps. The feel of the music changes halfway through and ... (oops, I've been interrupted by someone wanting a chat... one sec...). (6) So-so. (7) Very melodic riff supervening. In a sense, none of these tracks sound individual enough to be very different from any of the others - except track 2 which was exceptional - because they're all basically a wall of noise (but that's exactly what the genre's supposed to be). For "noise" fans this would be excellent value for money, but I really need a bit more variety of styles. (Last song) Aha, a theme! Rather than "everything at once, all the time", this one has development and is accordingly MUCH better (for an old fogie like me) than the last few. Has a recognisable break and chorus, with recognisable chord development. A great one to end on.

The last track makes me realise what's been bothering me about the band. It's exactly like the folk sessions I use to go to at Fagans years and years ago - everyone used to insist on playing all the time, rather than letting the music develop. Probably just the natural tendency to keep turning up the volume on individual guitars - eventually they're all playing so loudly that the structure gets lost. Contradictory it may sound, but I'd seriously recommend keeping the volume lower except where they really want to make a special impact - otherwise there's no real way to stress the important chunks, and you run the risk of not keeping the audience engaged. The volume control is also a musical instrument.