**OLIVER WILDE** COLSTON HALL, LANTERN 09/05/2014

A Brief Introduction to Unnatural light years

 

I am hard pressed to remember a gig with this level of personal excitement and intrigue. A large part of this was interest in how his sound would translate into his live show.

Just prior to the release of his second album ‘The Red tide opal in the loose end womb’, I purchased the album on pre-sale plus the ticket from ‘Rise’ perched on the top of Park Street and incidentally where he works (but alas not on that day). Just like the first album he released in 2013 ‘A brief introduction to unnatural light years’, I was spellbound by its relentless and mysterious dreamscape.

The striking thing for me is the multi-layered arrangements marrying together to make an atmospheric wall of sound. The subtlety of each layer pin points each instruments role resulting in a cacophony of the most organic music. Oliver Wilde‘s vocals, however, are the key and the vital instrument in the overall experience yet these are the vocals of a man practically horizontal.

Wilde’s sound has been likened to Beck and Deerhunter which certainly holds truth but Wilde has an identity and style uniquely his. His ambient and heavenly floating tunes, transport you to an other worldly place that one could only wish to stay longer.

The Colston Hall’s Lantern boasted a friendly and youthful crowd. The ‘Howling owl’ label of which Wilde is part of were represented well as faces from ‘Perrett’s Brook’ and ‘Stomach Full of cats’ videos circulated the bar and hall whilst the support satisfied everyones anticipation.  By the time Oliver Wilde took to the stage the grand hall was well populated and a mellow buzz greeted him as one of their own.

The introduction to his opening track and the first on his new album- ‘On this morning’ set the pace of the performance. The audience were collected on his magic carpet and lifted away for a journey that would last for the duration until all would begrudgingly alight. The singer and his bands interaction conjure a genuine sense of family as they visually delighted in one another’s parts and as ‘Stomach full of cats’ raised the carpet higher and further with its delicious ethereal groove it was clear that the original question posed was answered in the affirmative. Wilde translates from record to ball room seamlessly.

The daydream continued through ‘Flutter’, ‘St Elmo’s fire’ and ‘Curves’, cruising on to the slightly more uptempo ‘Walter Stevens only daughter’ which enraptured the crowd. The carpet was drawn down to a soft landing with ‘Twins’ and its charmingly infectious chorus.

I was left with an overall feeling of hope and expectation for the man and his future. Granted, that may seem too sentimental or euphoric a reaction but I make no apologies for it. If he can produce such an affecting sound of such otherworldly beauty yet maintaining a lyrical wit and poetic flair such as his inspiration Nick Drake, then the future of British pop music is in safe hands and the hands of a magician if this was anything to go by.

For More Info on what Oliver is up to, go to his Facebook and Twitter

**SOLIDS** THE EXCHANGE, BRISTOL 01/05/2014

Everybody loves a free gig. But punters and gig goers alike should be advised not to get used to seeing Solids without paying handsomely for their art.

Bristols ‘Exchange’ offered a masculine backdrop to these francophiles from Montreal. With only one female to be seen in the venue, you could be forgiven for expecting some psyche, death metal marching band but that would be wrong of me; some chicks like that.

Instead, the two piece, Xavier on guitar and Louis on drums took to the stage and although unrelentingly loud Solids melody shone through from the first song to the last. This was Solids second ever European gig experience after what Louis described as a subdued affair in London the previous night. They may have expected some level of anonymity but it was clear to see from the audiences reaction that their debut album ‘Blame Confusion’ has resonated with some in Bristol, and well it might.

Tending to steer clear of sub-categorising bands and sounds I would liken them to the early 90’s movement in the pacific north-west. OK, Solids are pretty grungy but yet Solids are not an archetypal grunge band.

Louis’ drum striking was an assault on the skins as Solids leapt from track to track with gusto and controlled aggression. ‘Haze Away’ was an all out attack on the senses as the shear volume and distorted licks posed the question “Just how much noise can a two piece produce?”.

It would seem the fashionable and hip amount of band members in todays guitar rock community; starting with ‘Death From Above 1979’ and then ‘The White Stripes’; the recent baton holders are ‘The Black Keys’, ‘Drenge’ and ‘Royal Bloods’, but Solids proved tonight they are comfortable in such company.

‘Through the Walls’ and ‘Cold Hands’ struck hard, but with an underlying melodic approach which grass the listener and translates so well to record. Solids are far more than a live band and have a depth reminiscent of ‘Yuck’ and the ‘Cloud Nothings’.

‘The Exchange’ was the host to a band, who, with a bit of luck will be here to stay and delight. Next time, prepare to pay for it.

 

For more info on Solids, check out their Facebook and Twitter.