Conquering Animal Sound / Sleepingdog / FareWell Poetry @ CCA, 15 November

An arts centre is surely a fitting stage for the roster of Gizeh Records, as the first date of the label's Silent Bells Tour soon proves. Opening act FareWell Poetry skip the warm-up nonsense, launching into a set high on drama and intensity. Coming off like a gothic Godspeed You! Black Emperor with a particular emphasis on performance art and spoken word (courtesy of Jayne Ross, whose airy voice simultaneously soothes and disturbs), they conscientiously mirror the short films projected behind them, matching their climactic moments and crashing down into a sea of white noise. They leave one wondering just how the other bands are going to follow them up.

 

Belgium's Sleepingdog do a fine job, effectively captivating the mostly seated audience with their radiant and slightly melancholic brand of slowcore. Every aspect of their sound is subtle and gradual, keyboard and cello set to lull. Co-founder Chantal Acda's vague and curious lyrics recall memories of companionship, loneliness and scary movies, her soft whispers acting as the focal point of their lush and gentle sound.

 

Some crowd members excitedly opt to stand to the front as Glasgow's own Conquering Animal Sound emerge. The duo create playful pop music out of various loops and samples, building up layers upon layers of aural bliss. Vocalist Anneke Kampman takes on a shy yet animated stage presence while James Scott constructs the appropriate soundscapes with a mixture of electric guitar, laptop beats and various children's toys. That kind of curious experimentalism is rife tonight, and to witness such talents from such an ethically noble label is a treat not to be taken for granted.