Review: Islet @ Clwb
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Swn presents Islet with H.Hawkline and Mars To Stay
Clwb Ifor Bach
31st May 2012
Following on from the release of their critically acclaimed debut album, Illuminated People, in January, Cardiff based Islet are back on the road to daze and delight the nation with their legendarily legendary live performances. And playing to a packed Clwb on an otherwise ordinary Thursday evening, they did not disappoint their hometown crowd one bit.
Support came from fellow Welshman Huw Evans, alias H.Hawkline, and Cardiff two-piece Mars To Stay with the former being by far my favourite of the two. H.Hawkline charmed the fledgling crowd with his droll patter, sardonic lyrics and rich, honest vocals and created a wonderfully full sound for one man and a guitar. Unfortunately, Mars to Stay were unable to match his interesting set with their comatose, inward-looking music, which to my ear was just too monotone and depressive to enjoy. This was perhaps made overly clear on the night as the other bands had such a definite stage presence, which they - perhaps intentionally - did not.
Having spent the most part of Mars To Stay’s set trying to determine how to pronounce Islet’s name (it’s Isle-t not Is-let) it was then with great excitement that I greeted the suitably alternative onstage arrival of the left-field rockers. Emerging separately from the crowd, each member of the four piece dramatically struck a hand chime each, thus building the tune to the opening track.
Islet then erupted into an orgasm of a thousand musical colours and within seconds Clwb was riding on a volatile, electrically charged ocean of sound, which crashed away for the rest of the evening. The band deliciously collided a selection of drums, keys, guitars, paganistic chants and luscious vocals whilst ferociously absorbing themselves into each song, often jumping and whooping into the crowd or pulling over equipment in what developed into the most energy filled gig I have ever witnessed.
As with most left-field bands, their music took on a whole new meaning in a live setting and the unpredictable tracks took the audience to a deeply ritualistic place - set highlight This Fortune soaring majestically before smashing into a manic panic of vivacity. The whole experience was a spiritual explosion that said “live life now”, and I was left so stimulated that upon departure I felt the need to slap the pavement. I simply cannot praise this incredible live band any more.
The fact that Islet self-release their music on Shape Records and produce 80s, DIY-style zines means that in an era of such internet impersonality the band can develop their music more independently and their fan-base more intimately than many other modern outfits. However, quite clearly, it is in a concert environment that Islet leaves its full-blown, vibrant mark.
Organisations Community Music Wales
Info Sport & Leisure Performing Arts Music
IMAGE: Siobhan Corbett
