As a consequence of the following review, I'm now part of a pool of music reviewers for a local regional newspaper. This was sent to them 'on spec', and wasn't intended for publication, hence I can post it up here. I'm waiting to discover whether I'm allowed to post the published reviews I've done up here.
A quick note on style. Reviews are 250 words, submitted after the gig itself (i.e. about 1 am once you've driven home), and this trial review was done as if under normal conditions. I would say that tonally they're a bit dry; we're certainly not supposed to be doing heavily-subjective, gonzo journalism. I will also freely confess I could have done with twice as many words, but it's not bad. The first one I did for real was pretty terrible; stilted and laboured, but the last one I did was much better (even if I do say so myself).
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Pure Reason Revolution, touring to support their newly-released second album, Amor Vincit Omnia, have certainly brought the punters out tonight. There's a palpable sense of anticipation building as roadies ready the stage. PRR release that tension with opening number Les Malheurs, a throbbing slab of darkly-groovy electro rock. Chloe Alper and Jon Courtney weave effective close harmonies through the guitar-free tune, setting the agenda for the show.
The first four tracks are all from the new album and showcase the band's new direction. Heavy electronica is the foundation, although that's not to say guitars are absent. The band still pulls off densely-layered and syncopated riffs that tip the hat to the Smashing Pumpkins and Muse, but spend as much time bent over keyboards, triggering samplers and jiggling oscillators to great effect.
Bassist/keyboardist Alper, standing stage centre in a Sonic Youth shirt, is the obvious focal point for the band but interplay with the crowd is minimal. The punters don't seem to mind as the band launch into The Bright Ambassadors of Morning, an epic that fuses Pink Floyd-esque soundscapes with contemporary dub and the band's trademark three part vocals, pitched somewhere between the Beach Boys and Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac. Animated projections play in the background as the band builds the song through multiple sections, the crowd singing the titular refrain with gusto. The euphoric AVO closes the main set, but the crowd aren’t ready to go yet.
The encore starts with Voices in Winter, a song that builds from a whisper to a roar while the Intention Craft sees more tight riffing and triumphant vocals to bring the evening to a satisfying conclusion. More please, and soon!
A quick note on style. Reviews are 250 words, submitted after the gig itself (i.e. about 1 am once you've driven home), and this trial review was done as if under normal conditions. I would say that tonally they're a bit dry; we're certainly not supposed to be doing heavily-subjective, gonzo journalism. I will also freely confess I could have done with twice as many words, but it's not bad. The first one I did for real was pretty terrible; stilted and laboured, but the last one I did was much better (even if I do say so myself).
-----------------------------------------
Pure Reason Revolution, touring to support their newly-released second album, Amor Vincit Omnia, have certainly brought the punters out tonight. There's a palpable sense of anticipation building as roadies ready the stage. PRR release that tension with opening number Les Malheurs, a throbbing slab of darkly-groovy electro rock. Chloe Alper and Jon Courtney weave effective close harmonies through the guitar-free tune, setting the agenda for the show.
The first four tracks are all from the new album and showcase the band's new direction. Heavy electronica is the foundation, although that's not to say guitars are absent. The band still pulls off densely-layered and syncopated riffs that tip the hat to the Smashing Pumpkins and Muse, but spend as much time bent over keyboards, triggering samplers and jiggling oscillators to great effect.
Bassist/keyboardist Alper, standing stage centre in a Sonic Youth shirt, is the obvious focal point for the band but interplay with the crowd is minimal. The punters don't seem to mind as the band launch into The Bright Ambassadors of Morning, an epic that fuses Pink Floyd-esque soundscapes with contemporary dub and the band's trademark three part vocals, pitched somewhere between the Beach Boys and Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac. Animated projections play in the background as the band builds the song through multiple sections, the crowd singing the titular refrain with gusto. The euphoric AVO closes the main set, but the crowd aren’t ready to go yet.
The encore starts with Voices in Winter, a song that builds from a whisper to a roar while the Intention Craft sees more tight riffing and triumphant vocals to bring the evening to a satisfying conclusion. More please, and soon!
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