After my matinee hardcore show earlier, it's a short walk across town for my second show of the day. This is one I'm really looking forward to as the headliners have just released what is shaping up to be the album of the year.
The tiny backroom is already packed by the time I make it inside for local boys Civil Service. This is stirring post-rock with plenty of crescendos which feels quite cerebral. Jay from Million Moons joins them for 'Turn Out The /// Light' adding screamed vocals which contrast nicely with the shimmering guitar lines, adding a more aggressive edge to their beautiful post-rock.
Kusanagi play labyrinthine instrumental post-rock which moves through a number of passages in a single song, from gentle and delicate to heavy and discordant with plenty of uptempo rocking parts in between. The guitar playing is excellent, moving from the typical post-rock guitar lines to something more in line with classic rock. Unfortunately, problems with the bass head delays the show for a few minutes while they replace it. The bass is solid and substantial whilst the drumming is surprisingly powerful, and they both provide a platform for the guitarist to add the melodic, emotional layers on the top. They are inventive and progressive in how they combine the three instruments. The music takes you to unexpected places and is surprisingly uplifting too. The climax of the final track is hefty yet rousing. Overall, there is a real synergy between all the elements and the individual instruments combine beautifully.
Million Moons open with a piano motif which could be a soundtrack to a '70s horror film before the other instruments join in and add some serious weight. The clean guitar lines are absolutely dreamy and the use of xylophone only enhances this dreamlike quality. When the distortion is added, they have some mighty riffs and the way it is all combined is epic. The second track starts off like Radiohead's 'Creep' on the verse and then the soaring, crushing We Lost The Sea style post-rock takes over. It's absolutely incredible. 'Black Sun Rising' evokes a misty morning in the Scottish Highlands before the keys add an almost spiritual dimension, all until the distortion kicks in and destroys all before it. The way they balance beauty and power is awe inspiring. All the band are exceptional but special mention must go to guitarist Edward Thompson who also handles the keys and the other instruments as he is multi-talented. The large array of pedals means that each member largely stays in the same spot but they are hardly static, rocking back and forth, playing with passion, and their love of the music shines through.
The sweeping, soaring guitar melodies of 'Voice Of The Wild' reaches for the stars but is thunderously heavy at the same time. Those jagged guitars in the midsection are delicious. 'Concrete Hands' starts off beautifully with some celestial guitars before the terrific percussive drumming drives it to a rousing climax. The heavenly 'Aurora' sees multiple audience members joining in with the tribal drumbeat and this closes the set in a triumphant fashion. Music piped from beyond the stars.
Million Moons *****
Kusanagi ****
Civil Service ****
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