Girls Names, Documenta, Third Man Theme - Radar, Belfast
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Girls Names, Documenta, Third Man Theme
Radar:听Mandela Hall
Thursday, 29th March 2012
With the somewhat soul-destroying prospect of and someone from judging downstairs, three of the country's more sonically progressive bands form what is easily the finest Radar line-up in some time. But, out of everything, what makes tonight such a thoroughly unmissable proposition is the fact it鈥檚 not only Belfast gloom pop band Girls Names' first gig of the year, it鈥檚 their first show as a four-piece. And yet the question remains: how well will such unfamiliar territory pan out for Cathal Cully鈥檚 band live?
Late addition to the bill, Kraut-pop three-piece听get proceedings under way in characteristically dogged form via opener, 鈥楾he Road鈥. From this track, right through a further five brilliantly inspired songs of veering synth and attacking guitar noise, frontman Matthew Rodger鈥檚 severe temper on 鈥楬epworth and Hapaska鈥 and highlights including the bobbing chant of 鈥淚 walk up the road and I feel it rising鈥 on 鈥楾ears on Tate鈥 and Brian Farquhar鈥檚 remarkable drumming on closer 鈥楻ound Pound鈥 expose exactly what this trio are about: highly-imaginative, supremely unorthodox pop noise, taking in loose, energetic and well-constructed interplay.
With less the standard undergrad and more a 鈥渞eliably-informed鈥 muso crowd congregating, drone-pop seven-piece summon in a more spectral atmosphere with their unravelling, typically two/three chord Kosmiche music. Placed somewhere between the spacey sounds of Fuxa, , and Neu!, Joe Greene and co. wield their powers best on 鈥楽panish Artist鈥, the subtly ecstatic 'Everything's Alright Forever', and a new, Motorik-driven track (鈥渁bout a gypsy lord from Lurgan鈥), 鈥楪entle鈥檚 Yard鈥. Courtesy of four guitars, Greene and Roisin Stewart鈥檚 dual vocals and their cyclical take on textural density and structural minimalism, we witness once again Documenta achieving a live aesthetic in ways other bands of their ilk can only dream. Indeed, despite summoning sounds suggestive of progressive pastures further afield, the loyal chants of "one more tune" after their set remind us 鈥 proudly for that matter鈥 precisely where we are.
But, before they set off to UK and Europe in May ahead of their appearance at l in Barcelona, expectedly emerge to the biggest reception of the night with new addition Philip Quinn aka on both synth and guitar. Expedient, then, that the band perform only one track from their critically-devoured Dead To Me album tonight, their ten-song set a seemingly perfect opportunity to test the waters for new material including 鈥楧rawing Lines鈥, first-rate closer 鈥楾he New Life鈥 and new single, 鈥楢 Troubled See鈥.
Without question, these tracks possess a certain complexity previously lacking from the band鈥檚 live set-up 鈥 an intricacy clearly owing to Quinn鈥檚 presence, ultimately speaking volumes for what to expect second full-length album. But, as has become their reputation, Girls Names鈥 magnificently mournful and yet subliminally starry-eyed indie-pop is mainly propelled by Claire Miskimmin鈥檚 solid bass work and Cathal Cully鈥檚 shuddering vocals and jangling chords throughout to prove that, whilst far from the most attended Radar to date, wider appeal does not necessarily equate to being given the cold shoulder at home.听
Brian Coney
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