British Sea Power @ BecksMusic Box (17/02/10)

Fri 19th Feb, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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Setting the scene of a late night wander in the forest where you happen to find six talented, yet kooky, musicians, UK act, British Sea Power rocked the Beck’s Music Box surrounded by a mist of daze and confusion, and woodland ferns with traditional English chimes ringing in the crowds ears.

The band consists of six members and seven, sometimes more, instruments seamlessly tied together creating a magnificent blend of musical genres and sounds. Fascinating characters, Yan and Hamilton headed up the front, whilst Noble occupied the position of wild, unpredictable guitarist, and Abi Fry was the enigmatic beauty rocking the viola. Silhouette projected into the sky, was drummer Wood, and “what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man,” comes to mind with Phil Sumner who played not only the keys but the cornet simultaneously, not an easy feat.

Their pommy humour interjected between songs demonstrated the British in their title, and the resounding nautical chords illustrates the Sea, but the Power came through in the epic sized instrumentals. The beautiful instrumentals were a clear switch from their more easy-listening tracks the crowd could happily dance around with, to more of an outpour of raw emotion, energy and passion the crowd could relate to.

The sound was only enhanced by the lighting, with the strobe being the only thing left to keep up with the guitarists’ fast strumming rhythm and with the flashing neon lights matched against the trance-like instrumentals you couldn’t help but feel on a hallucigenic ride. Someone in the crowd was even heard to call the performance ‘very avant-garde’.

The tracks were personal to both the band and the audience, crying out ‘I just don’t get it’. The energy thrived off understanding and application. While Yan held the power to command hush over the crowd for their personal journey of Lately.

It is certain that by the end of the show, every member of the crowd had closed their eyes and swayed their troublesome bodies carelessly to the persuasive guitars, the progressive drums, the subtle viola, inspiring synths and meaningful, relatable lyrics. The band exited stage in true rock and roll fashion with destruction, unpredictability and leaving you wanting more.

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