Melt Banana / Exit International / Big Naturals
Posted on 15th October 2010
Thekla, Bristol
14/ 10/ 10
Stupid enough to miss Big Naturals becasue of the ridiculously early opening time of 7pm at Thekla, and having heard nothing but fantastic things about them, frustration was an annoying way to start a gig. A duo of Drums and Bass, Gareth and Jesse create dark moody tones not unlike the mysterious, unnerving terror cast over doom riffs and heart grinding rhythms, like a doomcore Throbbing Gristle...cant believe i missed that!
Exit International followed, a three piece from Cardiff, who throw out LOUD louds and not so loud softs, like a post grunge shitstorm. Sounds like the songs are made out of the remenants of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, uncompromising, energetic Fugazi, McClusky insprired roar!
If there was ever a case to be made against complacency about seeing bands you have already seen, this is IT! Last seen in Bristol, here in fact, on the tour of their current album 'Bambi's Dilema', Melt Banana are one of the finest examples of a hard working, ever experimenting, progressive artsits never to be missed no matter how many times you have seen them.
The opening 15 minutes was Yako and Agata in the dark with torches on their heads with Sequencers, laptops, what looked like a Korg Kaoss Pad with Theramin operated with a nano pad - or maybe that was operating the laptop - unsure- through pedals. Resultiing in an electronic assault which brough pop to gabba techno the way they bring pop fun to hardcore punk. Guitarist Agata ran his electronics through his meticulous guitar pedal setup which includes: Zvex Fuzz Factory, Boss Digital Reverb, 2 Boss Digital Pitch Shifter/Delays, Tech 21- Full Tone GT 500 (overdrive/distrotion), Boss Loop Station R2 ( i think?) Digitech Whammy Pedal, Line 6 MM4 guitar modulator, 2 Boss Digital Delays, and three other pedals I wasnt sure about.
Agata is known for his intelligent use of sound/noise in Melt Banana and it was a pleasure to see him in action up close. A perfectionist at making his guitar sound like police sirens, laser beams, cricket bats, runaway trains grinding to a halt or even just a jangly indie pop dream. Yako's sweet vocals, all sung in English even though they hail from Tokyo, Japan, power the fury with fun, childlike tantrums, pure adrenaline of a child having a pillow fight!
Finishing the set with ten 30 second songs of which are expertly tight mini packages of everything Melt Banana; experiment, thrill, sound, noise, energy of the sun, pure fun, a light heart that packs a mean punch - no messing! An absolute must everytime!
http://www.myspace.com/bignaturalsrock
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