Saturday 23 October 2010

Surely some revelation is at hand









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WARPAINT, Stereo, Glasgow, Scotland (22-10-10)
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"I learned courage from Buddha, Jesus, Lincoln, Einstein... and Cary Grant"
Miss Peggy Lee
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It feels snug and warm down here, in the basement. Much like dipping into a Joan Didion book from the 60's, recently obtained from the Barrowlands Market. You just feel at home, despite the oh-too-loud commentary from Cool Folks to your left and the Jostling Tall Boys in front. And the anticipation for this show is, literally, dripping from the ceiling, in the form of human condensation, before the band even enter, stage left. One thing is certain, the hipsters are in town. You can hear them before you see them, and that is quite some feat as we all know. But, hey, you can't look that cuntish and still not love what's about to be unleashed. New Long Player, 'The Fool' is not out until Monday but it's telling that as it rides out, the masses are singing along, grooving along, like it's a club classic from 1999. So what is it about this dazzling mix of sound? Where does it come from? Well, it's part Young Marble Giants, part The xx, part Slits, part-Slowdive, part Vogue covershoot (it can't be ignored or denied, they look as amazing as they fucking sound - but it's the sound that counts you dicks). The new album is given a fair hearing, along with earlier tracks from the sublime 'Exquisite Corpse' (a statement of intent if ever there was one). What strikes you most over the hour and a bit we are graced with a presence is the staggering amount of confidence they possess as a foursome, the knowing looks across the stage, the gestures of body, the shared moments - just knowing they have this moment fucking nailed. Their happiness and ease with one another, with the audience, is joyous to witness. It makes something of a change from the oh-so-fuckish indie-norm of appearing, in sometimes utterly false ways, to be shambling, nervous and just untogether. This band is a unit, they have their shit tight. Yes, tight, assured, moving to the same beat. And, it has to be said, my God, do they have the beats. It isn't all sub-Cocteau Guthriesque effects, 'space', delay, and soundscapes (gag!), for Jenny on the bass, and Stella on the drums, demand movement and it's evident all around, as well as on stage. The sweat pours out of me, of everyone. Emily, often hiding behind a bulk of strawberry blonde hair, takes on the bulk of vocal duties, but Theresa chooses her moments as well, both favouring a style eerily familiar to anyone that has even an on-nodding-terms relationship with that ill-defined, and rather easily mocked, sub-genre once called 'shoegaze'. Their guitars hark back to such times as well, embracing multiple effects pedals and those shuddering layer-upon-layer-upon layer waves that reach over our heads, stretching to the very back of the room (though Emily does need to remind the mixing desk to pump up bass and drums, tellingly). But as we leave, the masses are still nodding heads and dancing away, remembering the grooves, the beats, the rhythms, as well as the - sigh - hips, tits, lips, power! Yes, even the baked-in-sweat fucking hipsters are dancing. Result, game over, Warpaint. You so win.
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Warpaint - 'Beetles' (session version) (8.05)
Warpaint - 'Elephants' (session version) (8.57)
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PS, The new material, I just love, but at Stereo the older tracks 'Beetles' and 'Elephants' just swaggered, soared and swooped. So, take a listen. Now.
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Warpaint are playing Manchester tomorrow night (24-10-10). But it's sold out, obviously.
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11 comments:

  1. Look at that, you've changed it since I was here about ten mins ago, I'll be. Very nice indeed, oh yes.

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  2. Um, well, as has been said before, by someone much more super-awesome than me, 'The note of spontaneity in my writing that critics so often admire only ever comes in the fifth draft...' (J K Galbraith)

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  3. And lovely pictures too.

    It is splendid to have you back.

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  4. Thanks D. That means an awfy lot coming from yourgoodself. I only hope I have 50% of your, well, 'staying power'... and I obviously loved the fact you picked out that Kozelek tune a wee while back. It made me cheer out. In a WWW way.

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  5. I was going to go to that, but my lethargy and half-arsedness meant I didn't. Wish I had now...

    I love the Billie Holliday track they out out earlier this year.

    Great review.

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  6. Ah well, lethargy, half-arsedness (and the fucking rain) get to us all at times. I do suspect that the next time they play Glasgow it will be the Barrowlands, ABC or similar. I just hope they can keep the momentum going, what comes next. And yes, Billie Holliday - I love that line 'Well if you want to know me, I'm a war'. Perfect.

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  7. I saw them at a small club here in Chicago about a year ago (maybe longer) opening for someone with slightly higher profile. They smoothly finessed the energy of the entire place away from the bar, pool table, back room, everywhere, and placed it firmly between the four of them. It was brilliant.

    A few months ago, I saw them again. It was a huge street fair, again in Chicago. The stage was set up at the entrance to the blocked off 8 or so streets, so you were forced to hear them when entering. Almost as soon as they took the stage the wind whipped up and by the end of their set rain came pouring down. The crowd was captivated nonetheless. It was exactly as you describe, Colin. A seemingly effortless communication between them that conveyed their ease with one another and their engagement with their music that was so incredibly compelling. It's the confidence they assume when they play that sold me on this group. It's sexy without being revealing or playing into any of those male/female sexual power stereotypes. I'm completely smitten with Warpaint, not only because their music is solidly good but because it stands on its own, just as they do.

    Thanks for such a great review and for making me remember their performances. xoxo

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  8. "It's sexy without being revealing or playing into any of those male/female sexual power stereotypes."
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    Yes, completely, this is *exactly* the strength they carry from what I could see - as four women, as four musicians, as four friends doing what they clearly love best together. It is very endearing. The fact they were so into the performance, connecting thoughts, limbs, movement, made us get into it. There was literally no choice! You would have to have been made of stone, ice or steel to not get off that night. The other band I saw a couple of times this year that have this are Shearwater - somewhat different in approach and style, but that energy, that lasting frisson on stage, was absolutely evident. The way Kimberly looked at Jonathan as he hit a particuarly difficult note - the complete adoration and love. Wow. Stronger than any Grade A chemical you can buy on the wrong side of town, I tell you.

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  9. Wish I had come now.M.x

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  10. geez, wow, freaking wow... that guitar, hanging in the middle, sparse and so pretty. and such a lovely female voice... actually reminds of when we saw colonies for some reason.

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  11. Maggie - well, I am sure the weekend away with your Jnr grrrls collective was good fun too!

    Juan - yes, I totally get why you'd think of Colonies. Good connection, one I hadn't made until you mentioned it. Especially that track they had, 'Stevie Nixed'. It was pretty spectacular.... as we can see here :)

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