ICEAGE / FIRST HATE / CARAMEL | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Wed 29 Apr
Since the release of their second album, 2013’s You’re Nothing, Iceage have been touring continuously for the last two years, racking up a string of accolades for their fast, unrelenting live show. Last year saw the release of album three, Plowing Into The Field Of Love – on which the band demonstrated a noticeable shift from their earlier punk roots towards a more mature, though no less intense, sound.
Local act Caramel opened up the evening by playing a fun if slightly forgettable set which could loosely described as punk and suffered from the fate of most opening acts, in that they seemed to excite themselves up on stage more than they excited anyone in the crowd. Next came an act I hadn’t heard before and, I have to admit, I was totally unprepared for: Danish electronic duo First Hate. Despite the name, which makes me wince a little when I type it, they absolutely blew me away. I suppose they sounded like a combination of of synthpop, new wave and post-punk but that doesn’t really do them justice. It wasn’t an overly long set but it was loud, emotive and played so convincingly I can find no fault. They don’t have a record out yet so find them online and have a listen – I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Without a moment to catch breath, Iceage then took the stage. They played a set filled with new material with favourites from previous records also included. Chaotic, noisy and lightning-fast, there were moments of pure joy to be had but whether their newer material sits that comfortably with old songs I’m not sure. The newer material also stretched the set length, and it felt exhausted towards its end, which did it no favours.
As they release more material and pension older songs off, I’m sure this dynamic will change, but for now Iceage do seem like a band stuck between two versions of themselves. Still, it was an enjoyable mess.
words ALEX CORNISH