SINS/

S I N S/ /

LIVE: Late of The Pier//Micachu and the Shapes –@Brighton Concorde–18/02/09
words: Jamie Milton

When you approach a packed-to-the-brim, intimate venue that consists of a couple of hundred people, average age about 16, with an energetic, obnoxious, fire-starting band as the headline act, there’s little more to expect than a broken toe. Naturally, that’s how I exited the concorde. Maybe extra padding would have helped, or maybe one should have just avoided getting in the middle of the “carnage” during what many claim to be one of the most uplifting, destructive minutes of sound of the 21st century so far, the closing period of ‘Focker’.

Prior to ‘Focker’, prior to the opening of Late of the Pier’s frantic set even, there’s a whole lot of atmosphere floating about. It’s a gift to the delighful Micachu and the Shapes, one of the most exciting, original acts in the UK, about to unveil their debut album. The crowd is split in half, loving or hating the spiky, unashamed loop-pop that is much more coherent on ‘Jewellery’. On the live stage, much of it is inaudible, amended by the occasional glimmer of unmitigated pop. Sure, their set is patchy but it leaves a taste in your mouth, urging any newcomer to explore a little when they finish their journey home. You don’t get the full effect of the looped sound of a tapped spoon or a saucepan, phone-dial, whatever else lurks in the debut album. But you do get the same energy, particularly during ‘Just In Case’, which earns plenty of audience participation.

But ‘participation’ wouldn’t be the appropriate word to seal on the audience’s contribution to the night. From the very second ‘Space In The Woods’ revs up its engine, excluding those at the back who’d prefer to settle with a pint in hand, the whole venue escapes into a flurry of energy and giddiness. Those that remain from start to finish exit with complete satisfaction, plus that broken toe. Those scurrying out of the frenzy should have known better. ‘Fantasy Black Channel’ (which judging on one more pre-gig listen, is a criminally overlooked album), may have been rich in ideas and synth-led sounds but it lacked a range of purposes. It’s main priority was to let the kids dance and evidently, that mission has been accomplished.
‘Focker’ is the defining moment. Little time is spent focusing the eye on Samuel Dust and co., except from the outstanding appearance of a new song which receives a friendly applause instead of a tone-death wail. Any moments of respite are subsequently replaced by another physical injury that has little damage due to the adreneline pumping through the body. And while to an onlooker this whole experience could sound offputting, it’s as good as it gets to your everyday thrill-seeking teenager.

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