WIld Beasts @ Oxford ArtsFactory, Sydney (27/7/11)

Fri 29th Jul, 2011 in Gig Reviews

In three years, Wild Beasts have gone from being a curious, playful, slightly bemusing new band to being one capable of headlining venues – even on the other side of the world – much larger than the Oxford Arts Factory, even if the cosy and dingy nature of the place allowed a strange electricity between band and audience that is so essential to experiencing this most unique of bands as they should be.

The main point of evolution for Wild Beasts must be that when they emerged with their first single (back in 2006 with their astonishingly Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants ) and then debut LP Limbo, Panto in 2008, was that they were firmly what is known as a ‘love-hate’ phenomenon, what with Hayden Thorpe’s eccentric vocals and peculiar guitar sound so singularly reminiscent of Orange Juice. Now, they are a band universally applauded among critics and fans alike, when surely that split opinion approach made them a more interesting proposition. Tonight, however, they seemed the consummate performers, and a band who have arrived at what they may have imagined all along since they started out half a decade ago.

Supporting Wild Beasts tonight was Gossling, aka Victorian acoustic chanteuse Helen Croome. Croome, indebted to Joni Mitchell, perhaps Laura Marling, Keren Ann and the like, has composed some charming songs and is undeniably a confident performer, but the decision to have her supporting an indie band who have been described as crossing the line between rock and performance art, was somewhat surprising. Gossling is a sure-fire talent nonetheless.

Hayden Thorpe, Tom Fleming and friends are firmly here to play songs from Smother, with Albatross, Bed Of Nails and Lion’s Share standing out among the new songs, which while lacking the melodic oomph of Limbo, Panto (or Two Dancers, for that matter), are simmering, mildly drone-like pieces that Wild Beasts stretch out tonight to dazzling effect.

They do return to their earlier days with Devil’s Crayon, Hooting and Howling and a magnificent version of We Still Got The Taste Dancing On Our Tongues. These are welcome crowd-pleasers but pale in comparison with End Come Too Soon, Smother’s closer and a song that allows Thorpe to exhibit the fact he has become one of the truly great singers . Wild Beasts may have become all serious on us, but sometimes emotion wins out over larrikin spirit. Tonight, Wild Beasts were spurred on by emotion.