Electoyds @ The Wee Red Bar
A trifle detached - but what else do you expect?
| 12 Mar 2007
The Wee Red Bar (hold no illusions) is, as a music venue, a trifle detached from some of its more celebrated counterparts. But this is to be expected, given its existence within Edinburgh College of Art. There are arguably few other clubs in town that would offer a stage to the the first act tonight. Despite A Shellsuit Massacre's (1 Skinny) best efforts to relate the grimy realities of city life, the most abiding notion from their set is one of surrealism. Does two grown men with a kid's doll speaking (with little fluidity) of ASBOs, Buckfast and stabbings over a tinny, industrial dance beat constitute art? It certainly isn't entertainment.
If this night has anything, however, it is variety. Cue Act II, Ambulance (3 Skinnys), and an energetic set, showcasing a plethora of influences. With some rootsier tracks a la CCR and others with a more modern, jagged sound, their mix is enough to make up for aforementioned massacre. If fault is to be found, it perhaps lies with a lack of a definitive sound of their own, something which should be fashioned to avoid tribute act status.
Picking up from there and slowing the pace of the evening down considerably in the process comes My Electric Love Affair (2 Skinnys). What must be construed as an attempt at a 'wall of sound' unfortunately exposes some other 'wallish' traits within the band. Long, drawn-out and stagnant. Sure, there is a lot going on here, but the progression is minimal. Impressive zeniths (a Death In Vegas Dirge-like effort) stand out a mile from most of the set, and a more upbeat finale highlights where improvements could be made elsewhere.
Electoyds (2 Skinnys) are the last act of the evening. An indecipherable bombardment of sounds ensue as each group member attempts to outdo the other in the decibel status. If a Shellsuit Massacre were speaking for the sake of talking then this, it seems, is making noise just for the hell of it. It looks fun, it sounds anything but. A different evening, to say the least. [Finbarr Bermingham]
If this night has anything, however, it is variety. Cue Act II, Ambulance (3 Skinnys), and an energetic set, showcasing a plethora of influences. With some rootsier tracks a la CCR and others with a more modern, jagged sound, their mix is enough to make up for aforementioned massacre. If fault is to be found, it perhaps lies with a lack of a definitive sound of their own, something which should be fashioned to avoid tribute act status.
Picking up from there and slowing the pace of the evening down considerably in the process comes My Electric Love Affair (2 Skinnys). What must be construed as an attempt at a 'wall of sound' unfortunately exposes some other 'wallish' traits within the band. Long, drawn-out and stagnant. Sure, there is a lot going on here, but the progression is minimal. Impressive zeniths (a Death In Vegas Dirge-like effort) stand out a mile from most of the set, and a more upbeat finale highlights where improvements could be made elsewhere.
Electoyds (2 Skinnys) are the last act of the evening. An indecipherable bombardment of sounds ensue as each group member attempts to outdo the other in the decibel status. If a Shellsuit Massacre were speaking for the sake of talking then this, it seems, is making noise just for the hell of it. It looks fun, it sounds anything but. A different evening, to say the least. [Finbarr Bermingham]