Reviews

Black Marble @ Broadcast // 04.04.2020

Posted on by GoldenBoughMusic

When listening to Black Marble, you can’t help but think that the band was formed during the early days of 80s electro synth pop. Black Marble’s sound is so authentic that they could be easily mistaken for a group that helped launch the synth genre more than 30 years ago. It is easy to imagine them brushing shoulders with the likes of pioneering bands such as New Order, Depeche Mode or Joy Division.

I must admit before going to the gig that I knew the music after falling in love with their second album It’s Immaterial (2016), but I didn’t know much about the band itself. My realization on the night that Black Marble really isn’t a band in the traditional sense, but rather the brainchild of one individual was nonetheless shocking. Chris Stewart happens to be the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who creates each sound for the complicated layers of synth embedded in each track.

Sometimes groups are unable to produce the same quality sound for their live performance as one can hear on their album, but in the case of Black Marble fewer musicians does not equal a shoddy performance. On the night Christ Stewart was supported by another musician to produce the live show which was simply outstanding. Performing a collection of material from different albums in his catalog, Black Marble took us on a dreamy synthonic journey.

Even years after having songs such as “Iron Lung”, “It’s Conditional”, and “Golden Heart” played over and over again in my house, I never seem to get tired of hearing the tracks. Hearing them live on the night made me appreciate them even more. Showcased on the night were many tracks from Black Marble’s most recent album Bigger Than Life. The newest album shows off Chris Stewart’s synth instrumental expertise with a compilation of electronic tracks dripping in 80s nostalgia. Songs like “One Eye Open” or “Private Show” are more punchy and upbeat making them seem more like soundtracks off your favorite 80s tv show or video game. While other tracks such as “Bigger Than Life” invoke dream pop surfer vibes.

Although Chris Stewart may be heavily influenced by synth artists who have come before him, one thing is for certain. He is a modern day pioneer of the genre and Black Marble should be named along side of the originals.

Jacuzzi Boys with Faux Ferocious + Deathcats @ Nice N Sleazys // 25.09.2019

Posted on by GoldenBoughMusic

Jacuzzi Boys supported by Deathcats and Faux Ferocious can only be described with one word: raucous. From start to finish last night’s gig at Nice ‘N Sleazys was high energy and every band delivered.

Local band, Deathcats, who aptly describe themselves as “surf catcore” started off the night with garage punk vibes. The lead singer was rumbustious matching the group’s rowdy music style. Playing his guitar from every angle emulating Jimi Hendrix in a showmanship-esque way, but on speed. Even though the lead singer may at times steal the stage, the bass player’s punchy bass lines and the drummer set the tempo at the core of their music which is simply fun.

Deathcats

Faux Ferocious, good ‘ol boys out of Tennessee (US),  whose style was garage rock meet jam band, was simply infectious. Most of the songs played on the night were long with minimal lyrics, but the audience couldn’t help but get lost in the music. Their constant adjustment of levels and pedals assured the audience a perfectly balanced yet psychedelically trance inducing sound. The level of musicianship of each individual member was equally as impressive as the next.

The main event of the night was Jacuzzi Boys who were wild. After all, Iggy Pop sings their praises which is no surprise given that they are the definition of rock n’ roll. From the lead singer’s raspy voice fitting a band from the late 70s/early 80s punk era, to the hooky guitar and fuzzy bass, the band seeps cool with their carefree attitudes to match the sound. Formed in 2007 in Miami, FL. and with four albums under their belts, they are no strangers to the stage and exuded confidence before, during, and after their performance. Although they haven’t released any new music since 2016, the night seemed like a compilation of their best material with them pulling tracks from all albums. Favourites such as “Glazin’”, “Double Vision”, “Sun” and “Lucky Blade” helped carry the up-beat vibe into the night which ended with most audience members either dancing, moshing, and for a few, crowd surfing.

FUR @ Broadcast // 18.09.2019

Posted on by GoldenBoughMusic

Summer is definitely over. The weather is cooler. The days are becoming shorter while the weeks are becoming a bit more hectic…seeming longer. As it is a Wednesday, the weekend is close but, oh how it seems so far away. Experiencing a bad case of the hump day blues and needing Friday feels, I headed down to Broadcast to catch FUR, a band from Brighton that I’ve personally been obsessing over for the past year. Turns out their upbeat melodies and jangly guitars was the pick me up I needed.

If William Murray (singer/guitar) wouldn’t have told us that they almost didn’t make it to the gig due to his wisdom tooth woes we would have never known as their performance was close to perfect and their energy infectious. FUR played a mix of older and newer material so there was something for everyone whether you were a fan who has followed them since the beginning or have only just discovered them recently. They drew us in with crowd favourites such as ‘All My Dreams’ , ‘Not Enough’, and ‘Him and Her’. At times the set list felt  like an emotional rollercoaster [one we wanted to be on] with slower ballads nestled between upbeat, carefree tracks. One minute the audience was swaying from side to side hypnotised by William Murray’s slow serenades and the next having a wee boogie as the whole band played. We all left the gig bouncing, on a musical high…and maybe with our legs a bit sore.

I will admit that it isn’t only their music that I love. It is their complete aesthetic which is utterly retro making you nostalgic for a time when you weren’t even alive and that you’ve only seen in old movies. The combination of their fashion choices and music style feels as though they are the “free love” children of Buddy Holly and The Beatles. With genetics this strong hits are sure to follow.

“It wasn’t always like this” is a phrase used by bands who spent years trying to get discovered, but for FUR it kinda was always like this. With their first video going viral on Youtube at a time when they had no label or even a manager, it is safe to say they started with a bang and not a whimper. Now that video, ‘If You Know That I’m Lonely’, has successfully amassed over 8 million views and justifiably so as they have successfully modernised an older sound giving us something we didn’t even realise we were longing for. As a band with only one EP under their belt they have an incredibly mature, unique sound which some bands fail to have even after playing together for a decade. Now on the label Nice Swan, with a proper team supporting them, and a solid fan base they have an even more promising future ahead and the only way is up.