 
The horrors suffered from being a band that were
championed from the very start, which was not
hard to believe since they cited bands from the
yester era, such as Suicide, The Sonics and My
Bloody valentine, where the latter’s influence
can clearly been seen on the bands second offering.
This initially year on in their career, caused
much hype around the band, who released a lacklustre
first album, which was laden with potential to
be something more extravagant. However this has
been rectified with their latest release Primary
Colours. Which incorporates lush synthesizers
sounds which have been layered immaculately with
the wall of water guitar effects, popularised
by My Bloody Valentine.
Tonight this small venue is electric to the synathesthesic
senses. The crowd that has amassed and encompassed
this venue tonight, are of a slightly higher calibre
when it comes to their dress sense, almost too
stylish, almost a designer outlet of Top Shop.
As pretentious as the fans are more so are the
two supports acts on tonight. The first act S.C.U.M,
a post punk band from London, played Joy Division
like noise based music, but unfortunately they
lacked any form of melodic reparatory. Their set
dragged on, with no discernable songs, but long
dronal sounds with bass hooks that had no character
to them at all, other than the repetitive plucking.
One was left waiting for the band to finish and
even when this occurred you were left waiting
for the screeching guitars to be silenced.
The second band Factory Floor, were of a similar
nature, however it must be noted they marginally
better, and more tolerable. They seem to convey
more knowledge of melody, the music was somewhere
between Sonic Youth and Lighting Bolt, the female
vocals were barely audible, but this does not
mean a bad thing. The band played more interesting
bass lines than there predecessors they have a
clear grasp of song writing, maybe something might
come to fruition for them, who knows?
These were two band who were playing dronal noisy
music, which is does not compare well to the main
headline acts, who have honed their ability to
craft songs in such a manner. An individual is
left not being able to discriminate between songs,
when hearing these arrangements for the first
time.
The horrors fianlly arrive on stage dressed in
normal attire, crazy hair still in abundance.
This statement was as If they were reflecting
a new chapter in their livelihoods. They begin
to play a set that is filled with songs from new
album Primary Colours with no pretentiousness.
The crowd who are rest more outlandishly, are
pleased to hear the new sound being sonically
beamed out in this tiny venue. The temperature
of the place is almost at boiling point, So much
so that sweat drips down off the electronics,
as the wave of fans jigged to the soundscapes
of music being produced.
Farris seemed to sing with a command that only
a front man of his stature could pull off. The
band clearer feel comfortable with the new image
and sound, the dronal sounds are produced with
utmost precision, even the 8 minute single “Sea
Within a Sea" is played this is the height
of the concert, perfectly showing the amalgamation
of prog synthesizers lines with foot taping shoegaze
noise. Other songs height lights included “who
can say” with a classic retro 80s style
spoken word breakdown. The band leave the stage
with no songs being played from their first album.
The crowd like the obedient fans they are shout
for more. As ever, it can be evident the band
return to play fan favourites from the debut album
such as “count in fives” and the ever
memorable break through single “Sheena is
a parasite”. This clear divide of the set
list only further reiterates the new beginnings
of something special. One can only hope the band
continue to progress and mature like this, with
more interesting music the band are in the new
wave of shoegaze bands that are rising to prominence
in 2009.
S.C.U.M 2/5
Factor Floor 2.5/5
The Horrors 4/5
Review By Ashik |
