Pendulum - Live atBrixton Academy

Tue 28th Jul, 2009 in Music Reviews

Pendulum’s Live at Brixton Academy should come with a warning label: “When played, this record may induce spontaneous fits of frenetic, mad-ass dancing. Take care if listening in public.” Energetic, catchy and powerful, Pendulum’s latest release captures the Perth-cum-United Kingdom band in their absolute element: performing live to a packed, up-for-it crowd.

Once a much more underground genre, in recent years drum ‘n’ bass has become increasingly more mainstream, almost certainly due to groups like Pendulum embracing the style’s live potential. Characterised by ferocious bass lines, forceful broken beats, synthesised leads and rock-style riffs, Pendulum’s d’n’b/rock crossover translates wonderfully on stage. Anyone who has witnessed the five-piece live can attest to this. Captured here in a venue that has over the years seen acts like Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy and Shapeshifter playing to the sweaty, gurning masses, it is no surprise that the band look and sound right at home on this stage.

The set-list from Live at Brixton Academy comprises some of the group’s best, opening with ferocity with Showdown before launching into the more electro-riff-heavy Freestylers collaboration, Fasten Your Seatbelts. From there, audience and listeners are treated to a mix of their most popular live hits: the twisted, dark Another Planet and the energetic Blood Sugar from their debut album Hold Your Colour.

The slower-paced, melodic and almost Killers-flavoured The Other Side appears alongside their biggest hit, Propane Nightmares (which features one of the catchiest synth lines and rock anthem verses d’n’b has ever witnessed), from their latest album, In Silico. Their popular remix of The Prodigy’s Voodoo People also makes an appearance, its signature acid lead and thumping beat sending the crowd into an audible frenzy.

Although the audio CD portion of this release misses a few tracks, the full concert is captured on the live DVD. The fast-paced editing of the disc – replete with plenty of flashy lights, fish eye perspectives and shots of the sweaty, heaving masses from just about every angle imaginable – help capture the full throttle force and energy of the night.

The set concludes with two of the band’s most versatile tracks that showcase Pendulum from all ends of the spectrum: Granite and The Tempest, which borrows sounds from a multitude of genres from cock rock to melodic house and breaks.

Live at Brixton Academy shows just how far this band has come since their humble West Australian beginnings. As the final strains fade and the cheers die away, it becomes clear why this band can induce such frenzy and praise from their live shows. Pendulum has found the right formula, and it’s only making them more successful.

Live at Brixton Academy is out now on Warner Music.