This song contains the word Hal-lel-ujah. Words that strike fear into my very heart. The Water Rats resounds with silence – the act that just left the stage proclaiming ‘I’m a Christian, yeah that’s my thing‘ successfully murdered the very concept of rock music. Anodyne instrumentation is overlaid by the worst kind of X-factor, teapot-dancing, yelping, pious nonsense. Thankfully I can’t remember the act’s name (despite several exhortations to ‘friend her up’ on myspaz) but AVOID.
Thankfully, Bears from Labrador are much, much better. Fresh from a Track of the Week nomination on the Radcliffe and Maconie show, the band are clearly high on confidence. Recent EP Wilderness is garnering glowing reviews across the board. The main theme here is smoky MOR, shot through with occasional jolts of mariachi brass.
The overall sound transmits perfectly live, especially as the band is tonight augmented by a trumpeter. Aforementioned radio triumph God is tossed in second, and fizzes with the kind of Americana done so well by bands like Midlake. In fact the whole set is a curious clash between the stateside sounds and quintessentially English psychadelia.
Set highlight Trees is a case in point, kicking off with a Calexico brass-blast, pinned back by an elastic Pixies bassline, before singer Dylan Rippon pops up with the kind of wistful vocal that made Syd Barrett’s name. Strangely towards the end, the band shift into what I am sure sounds like a Cream cover – Dylan assures me afterwards it isn’t (not a bad band to sound like though, he smiled) but it just adds to the performance.
Big things are expected in 2009; further EP releases, constantly rumoured US dates… For now though, their reputation is being built here in the UK and shows like this can’t help but spread the word. Catch them next time around – it may be your last chance in surroundings like this.
God (Live Video from Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen)
All photos by me!
