After a rather disastrous entrance to ULU, (there was no proper queue and the doorman seemed to change his mind every few minute about who could and couldn’t get in) I made it up just in time to see Video Nasties taking to the stage.
In comedic bank robber style the band members are all wearing stockings on their heads, this interesting and amusing trick was unfortunately not enough to detract from their mediocre electronic/ rock tinged noise that was produced.
As they move from track to track, it is keyboard player George who is the first to loose the tights, while he turns into a whirring mass of hair the rest of the band stay true to their costume.
As for the music….well the best way to describe this set is as an impregnable wall of sound, the bass and guitars loom over everything and while some songs - ‘Conversation Dies’ - allow the keys to shine through, for the most part the darkness envelopes tracks like a thick fog.
It seems Video Nasties have changed their direction, the two songs I have on my Ipod from a year or so ago are nothing like the band I saw this evening, back then they were a bit more twinkly! Now there is a definite 70’s rock influence underlying their sound, but their talent just doesn’t seem to get close to the greats of this era. The lead singers voice is not that strong and sometimes the wall feels like it is falling down around you. Don’t get me wrong there were some enjoyable tracks – A Strokes sounding ‘Hearts and Bones’ was good and I can see some potential, but not enough to see them ever progress to their friends Late of The Pier new ‘hot stuff’ status.
Headliners Late of the Pier enter to a Jackanory esque loudspeaker. The obvious penchant for the dramatic continues as the band members stand statue still occasionally moving in stiff robotic like gestures, if this was not enough synth player Sam Potter is bedazzling on stage in a silver coat worthy of a space age production of Joseph and the Amazing (well in this case) Silver Dream Coat. As the story finishes the band launch into a berserk electronic tangle of sounds – otherwise known as ‘Broken.’ It’s a great tune to kick off with; the energy is palpable and as lead singer Sam Eastgates voice permeates the growing decibels; it’s smooth as honey quality shines through.
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‘Space and Woods’ the bands first release, is up next. The space age twists and turns of the sounds are something Late of the Pier have mastered...imagine C3PO on acid.
While some might say the songs all sound very samey; (this maybe the case with the computerised bleeps, ticks and clicks) it is the overlaying layers of each song which keeps the audience thrilled. Whether it sounds like some kind of version of the Grange Hill theme tune or early Blur, the band know what to mix with the bizarre creations coming from Potters synth.
The opening drums of current single ‘The Bears Are Coming’ are unmistakeable and cause suitable amounts of rapture. The poetic lyrics and odd high pitched screeching give way to a series of rhythmic interludes, maracas and fairground waltzes. All the while the steady tapping of cow bells keep the pace. LOTP, like Foals have created the ultimate tunes for a nation of ADHD kids. The random twists and turns keep things moving in unpredictable directions.
The set is finished off with a blistering version of ‘Bathroom Gurgle’. Eastgate screams "Move your body to the bass line/ And get your hands on some cheap wine,” the sounds build and like a geyser erupting reach plateau of crazed energy.
There are obvious artists to compare this quirky four piece with…Gary Numan, and David Bowie, a touch of early Blur and of course recent chart toppers Klaxons. LOTP I am sure have no problems being compared to such greats, but they still maintain a unique sound. They have taken elements from each and created a mystifying cacophony of futuristic sounds that are definitely appealing to today’s youf!
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