British Sea Power – Live, Cabaret Voltaire Edinburgh, Wednesday 7th November 2007
Well it wasn’t quite the unhinged insanity of their brilliant set at the End of the Road Festival, but British Sea Power can be counted on to put some serious welly into a gig. They get stuck in and make a right fucking noise, and this puts them right up there with iLiKETRAiNS and The Twilight Sad in my favourite guitar-bothering gigs this year.
Cabaret Voltaire was unusually full actually – I really hope this means the message is getting out that of all the places in Edinburgh you can actually see some seriously good indie music, this is the one. There’s nothing like enough decent, current indie in Scotland’s capital and Cab Vol (as The Kidz seem to call it) is the just about top of the list of those seriously trying to change that. I sincerely hope they are rewarded for their efforts.
British Sea Power are warming up to an album release, although I’m not quite sure when. Judging from the new stuff they played, including the typically ferocious Atom, the album will satisfy without shocking. What do you call a band too young to be stalwarts and too old to be greenhorns? British Sea Power evolve their sound slowly, so they won’t shock anyone, but they write such consistently good songs I’d be amazed if this album proves to be anything less that the solid indie excellence of Decline… and Open Season.
The 80s indie vocals, slightly tormented, morph into howls of rage and guitars build from pounding rhythm to ear-ringing squeals as they throw themselves into their songs. It’s odd, because I tend to associate groups with the charisma of the lead singer, but BSP pass that baton between Scott and Neil Wilkinson during the gig without missing a beat. Seamless it may be, but the effect is nevertheless slightly odd. It’s like the character of the group changes subtly, although the music stays consistent.
Both of them throw themselves into their vocals though, and Martin Noble’s confrontational, angry guitar brings it all together into a passionate indie assault. They bring cornet and violin for some of the subtler moments, but it is all entirely drowned out by the three guitars. The craft and atmosphere of their albums tend to be forsaken for pure adrenaline during live performances.
Good.
Once again I leave a British Sea Power gig with my ears ringing and my spirits charged. If you get a chance to go and see them – do it!
British Sea Power – Blackout
British Sea Power – Atom
British Sea Power – Good Good Boys
Totally agree, they’re brilliant live.
Blackout & Good Good Boys links don’t seem to be too chipper.
What a dickhead. Sorry, should be fixed now. I love Blackout.
Album’s out 12th January. I can’t disagree with any of that, having seen them twice at festivals (the first, Summer Sundae 2005, apparently referred to in fan circles as their best festival gig ever, although I’d argue EOTR edged it out)
EotR was superb, but I can’t comment on the others. I know some people might find it hugely self-indulgent, but I thought it was the absolute bollocks.