Thu Nov 10
words: MEGAN CAMPBELL
★★★★★
Having first seen this band by chance at the Gower Rock Festival over the summer where – no disrespect to the other bands on the bill – they stood out like a burlesque artist at a line-dancing convention, we were keen to catch them again on the Cardiff leg of their late 2011 tour. The five-piece from North Wales, whose most notable 2011 appearances included SXSW and Radio 1’s Big Weekend, make tightly-wound, infectiously melodic industrial indie rock with a dark, dancey edge; big tribal rhythms under uncluttered riffs, free-wheeling harmonies and a liberal smattering of cowbell.
Unfortunately, the Thursday night crowd in Ten Feet Tall is sparse, a shame as this is music with an energy best absorbed and reflected back by a hot crush of jumping bodies. Undaunted by the floorspace, though, We//Are//Animal launch into the prickly beats and jangly layers of Reveal The Sharks, followed by the resolute stomp of Unfold/Fold with its high-pitched punctuation of solemn “woo!”s. Set highlight Luminous Lights and second single Black Magic come back-to-back, showing the band’s equal ease with skittering, irresistible dancefloor juggernauts and primal indie anthems. This combination at times brings to mind early Kasabian (in a good way), but aside from that there are no easy comparisons to draw here; with a sound this distinctive you hope that We//Are//Animal won’t ever find it necessary to follow anyone else’s path.
Work’s guttural howls and the comparatively low-key hypnotic drive of Animals bring to a close a cracking set, played no less fiercely for the low turn-out. It’s difficult not to do the “this band are on the verge of world takeover” thing here – they are exciting, talented and determined, so perhaps they are – but to avoid the inevitable jinx we’ll just say go and see them next time. Before they take over the world and you can’t afford to.