SHEARWATER (London Bush Hall, 17/09/08)

Sometimes a show comes out of nowhere and lays a total sucker punch to the senses. In a month chock full of typical “End of the Road” fare, alt-country Americana as far as the eye can see, this seemed one of the more minor dates on the gig calendar. Turns out it was one of the best. A blistering opening volley from indie-rockers Constantines set the tone for the evening - as much as I was unimpressed by the stolid MOR of new album Kensington Heights, their live show seemed to harken back to the punky, angular ferocity of their younger days. Synchronised stomping, stonking great basslines and flailing guitarists were the order of the day, and although perhaps they lacked the character of what was to follow, there’s no doubting their passion and vitality- a truly impressive showing from a band I was expecting to disappoint.

Prior to this show, I’d never heard a note by Shearwater - it was Jonathan Meiburg’s erstwhile involvement in Okkervil River, plus a healthy lashing of critical acclaim, that inspired me to give them a try. Having begun life as a side-project, I always assumed they’d be a variation on the OR template, perhaps taking a more subtle approach than its parent band. But in fact, it’s a very different beast indeed, far more beguiling and complex with a sound more akin to ethereal Danish experimentalists Efterklang. Meiburg's vocal performance is certainly more impressive than the tuneless bark of his former bandmate Will Sheff's, his voice imbued with a rich, if occasionally arch timbre that recalls Anthony Hegarty and Owen Pallett (who he bears a more than a passing physical resemblance to). The variety of instrumentation on offer would put Arcade Fire to shame- mighty golden-locked drummer THOR performed on a range of intriguingly organic constructions and the sheer scope of their sound, ranging from spectral balladry to eardrum-bruising wig outs means that things rarely get dull. True, there’s a couple of moments that are meandering and insubstantial, but that can easily be forgiven from a band with such unusual ambition. Ending the show with an unamplified acoustic song amongst the audience was a final delight, a beautifully spontaneous moment inspired by the air of wonderment they had so engagingly weaved.

(Photo: John Gleeson)