Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish that fine line between artistic brilliance and noisy interference, distortion is a dangerous beauty that can fill a room with an intense atmosphere and this was the tightrope that Klaxons walked throughout their live set.
This critical use of distortion had the effect of holding the audience in suspense as they wait patiently for the bands much acclaimed new album release, Love Frequency.
Well Klaxons definitely know how to balance because this was not just discord for discord’s sake but an intentional use of technical, musical know-how.
Opening with ‘New Reality’ there is a distinct sense that Klaxons have grown as artists.
They appear to embed themselves in the indie scene based on their performance of ‘There Is No Other Time’, so not leaving behind their old style but embracing the old with the new, what this track also demonstrates is their diversity.
‘Show Me a Miracle’ follows and stands out as an outlier, experimenting in what was some kind of electronic love song, while ‘Out of the Dark’ carries out in a similar fashion, although much more pop and less love.
This is conveyed by the clever placement of synth sampling and a catchy chorus, it’s the one you’re likely to go home singing, simple, but hugely effective.
There are lots of references to light and dark throughout the set and some expectation that ‘Children of the Sun’ would be more upbeat, yet it plays out more like a marching tune.
There are some small hints of dubstep in the bridge, which don’t quite work within the track overall, but that lack of flawlessness only makes it all the more relatable.
Next we’re dancing again, back to up tempo, indie pop as ‘Invisible Forces’ and ‘Rhythm of Life’ provide a much-needed contrast.
It could even be considered reminiscent of nu disco, with a slick, housey tempo, like the guys say: “there is no explanation, we’re [simply] in the rhythm of life”.
Enter in soft, arpeggiated chords, ‘Liquid Light’ needs no vocals and provides a nice interlude to take stock of what we’ve just heard, before leading nicely into ‘The Dreamers’, in which the vocals return, albeit tentatively.
Kalxons manage to convey a real sense of living in a daydream with the waltz-like rhythm creating total escapism in a crowd filled room.
‘Atom to Atom’ steps things up again with clever synth sampling and a lovely track long crescendo, allows the anticipation to mount.
Finale, ‘Love Frequency’ is more about certainty and again electronic pop features heavily, with a strong tempo taht comes through with some of the drum samples.
It appears that Klaxons really tried to match their music to their lyrics, but not only this, they put on a proper performance, with plenty of opportunities to dance, engage and escape.
Words: Rachel Cunningham
Photos: Ken Tosh
