PINKSHINYULTRABLAST / FEVER DREAM / WYLDERNESS | LIVE REVIEW
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Sun 4 Oct
Those gathered within Ifor Bach’s intimate space may have been anticipating dynamic and eclectic things from the lineup. An expectation promisingly met, with the first act of the night Wylderness pulling off a tense display of fraught, often adrenaline-fuelled vitality that could be vaguely bracketed as alt-rock but verged unflinchingly between brazen and subtle in scope, lending a mercurial identity to their sound. Being only their second gig, this was perhaps indicative of the Cardiff band experimenting and finding their feet yet commanding a firm grasp of direction and purpose, garnering a muted yet visibly positive reaction from the audience.
Setting the template for the remainder of the evening, London-based trio Fever Dream bounced uncompromisingly between unpolished proto-grunge and post-punk revelry in a set that saw the discernible fuzzy influence of Hüsker Dü, Sonic Youth and The Replacements ringing throughout tracks such as Serotonin Hit and Nightcrawling. Frontman Adrian Fleet brought a melancholic reverence to the room, summoning a dulcet yet resigned vocal style that subverted as well as harmonised. With Fleet thrashing his guitar into a rapturous daze at opportune moments, this was a set characterised by juxtaposing dreamy introspection with frenzied angst, rewarding those in attendance and justifying the band name in the process.
The capacity of St. Petersburg’s Pinkshinyultrablast to go against the grain is reflected not only in their unlikely origins but also in the tenacious combination of stark post-rock and ethereal synth-driven melodies they churn out. And this was in marked abundance in a live setting. Unleashing euphoric renditions of material from their recent debut album, vocalist Lyubov Soloveva erupted at times into an almost trance-like state that underpinned the immersive, emotionally-intense experience that the outfit aim to create and successfully delivered. This really showcased them as a cohesive unit, each component member’s involvement resonating. The effect of this being that attendees afforded the Russian five-piece a consistently enthusiastic response, buoyantly nodding and swaying in synchronicity to the band’s banshee-like grip on the senses.
words CHRIS HAMILTON-PEACH