Spectres @ The Owl Sanctuary

It's a sombre crowd at the Owl to see three local acts tonight, plus a headlining band who describe their music as "We are loud". We've all been shaken to the core by events in Paris the previous night and it feels a bit odd to be going to a gig, just as those EODM fans did last night, excited to see a band they love play live. So yeah. We're all a bit sad.

Unfortunately I missed the first band, The Gazelles, but have heard good things about them and apparently the drummer was "a beast", so I'll be putting them on my list of those to catch very soon. Soz Gazelles.

With songs like Henry Naranja-Limonada and Bisto Flute, I wasn't sure what to expect from Suffolk's Deaf Capes. What we got was a prog rock/DnB/psychadelic/post rock noise-making threesome, consisting of a sort of metal guitarist, a sort of jazz improv drummer and a sort of slightly-confused-at-all-times bass player. There's loads of extended guitar workouts and drum solos with the odd gruff death-metal-esque groan into the mic. It seems improvised at times, and other times extremely tight and well planned out, with some sweet riffs coming through in places and even a drum machine breakbeat on one track (very DJ Shadow). There are no breaks between songs, it's a bit samey throughout and I don't think the bass player's mic is even switched on. On paper it sounds fucking dreadful, doesn't it? Yet I cannot tell you if this band were utter genius or an utter shambles. I sort of really loved it too. Check em out on Bandcamp and see if you feel me on this one http://deafcapes.bandcamp.com/

Oh BK & Dad. I do love you so. You never let me down, mess me around or leave me wanting. It's a full on aural assault as always tonight from Leo and Pip - no one cleans my ears out with such joy as they do. Leo is a dervish on the guitar, technically great and demonstrating a tightly controlled rage. Pip is a crazed Viking warrior, pounding the skins until he breaks sticks and then just fucking carrying on. His power is absolutely immense. The two of them have such synergy. The crowd love it. Highlights include the unrelenting Train and the final song of their set Runaway, particularly poignant after Leo mentions Paris before starting to play.Heartbreaking.With only four tracks played tonight, I'm looking forward to catching them again live next month for more more more. https://soundcloud.com/bkdad

Spectres, from Bristol, are a modest looking bunch of chaps, one in a cardigan, one in a denim jacket. The drummer's topless before he even begins tonight's set, boding well for the strength of the sound. There's an immediate and huge wall of sound and I'm gone. They sound like Sonic Youth at their most intense, like the Jesus and Mary Chain at their most insistent, like BK & Dad with a few extra instruments and with elements of Ride's woozy shoegaze guitar sound. With a driving drum beat and occasional echoey vocals, they make incredibly loud, atmospheric, wonderful and overwhelming NOISE. On the second track, a down tempo number, odd noises like dinosaurs calling to each other emanate from the lead guitarist, the sounds of a primoridial swamp.It's proper primal. There's loads of ace feedback and psychadelic freakouts. Everyone on stage looks to be utterly lost in the sound. I feel like I'm flying and it doesn't get much better than that. But. After 30 minutes, and just four songs, Spectres leave us, as curfew has unfortunately been hit. I was only just getting started. So next time Spectres play here, you need to be there.The Owl was only a quarter full for this gig. Step up, Norwich. https://soundcloud.com/spectres