Youthmovies, Scala, London
Artist:
Youthmovies
Venue: The Scala, London
Date: 02/03/08
Rating:
Only five songs for Youthmovies' set at the Scala, supporting Dead Meadow. But it gives them the opportunity to take their time for long instrumental developments that compensate for the brevity of the show.
All their tracks are based on a contrast that can be either stimulating or unnerving. It usually starts as a mainstream pop song with a singer cute enough to make schoolgirls faint with pleasure, but who remains unable, most of the time, to follow the flights of fancy that he produces on his own guitar. Then suddenly something else is launched by the trumpet or bass player, and there is room for virtuosity.
It's not exactly that they are better when the singer shuts up, though one can be under this impression at the beginning. Actually, he is quite good when, after a piece of psychedelic unrest, he lets his voice calm down and express an essential melancholy through a few creaked notes and a simple melody. And each track is led by the same process of bringing the vocals from insignificant pop to anxious rock.
In a way, their unpredictability is their strength, because whenever one starts feeling bored, there is a risk to be taken aback by a sudden turnaround, generally for the better. But the best parts of the show remain undeniably these long instrumental pauses, when the trumpet player and drummer allow themselves a few jazz improvisations, especially since the band as a whole display a real pleasure in playing together and a sharp understanding of each other's desire and wanderlust. It's also what makes their live performance better than their recordings, so far.
Going from psychedelic rock with gothic overtones to deceiving pop, Youthmovies seem to dream of a prog sound that they cannot reach because of their lack of coherence. But they are already able to offer moments of grace, and that's not so bad.
Chloé Thomas
Youthmovies MySpace
Venue: The Scala, London
Date: 02/03/08
Rating:
Only five songs for Youthmovies' set at the Scala, supporting Dead Meadow. But it gives them the opportunity to take their time for long instrumental developments that compensate for the brevity of the show.
All their tracks are based on a contrast that can be either stimulating or unnerving. It usually starts as a mainstream pop song with a singer cute enough to make schoolgirls faint with pleasure, but who remains unable, most of the time, to follow the flights of fancy that he produces on his own guitar. Then suddenly something else is launched by the trumpet or bass player, and there is room for virtuosity.
It's not exactly that they are better when the singer shuts up, though one can be under this impression at the beginning. Actually, he is quite good when, after a piece of psychedelic unrest, he lets his voice calm down and express an essential melancholy through a few creaked notes and a simple melody. And each track is led by the same process of bringing the vocals from insignificant pop to anxious rock.
In a way, their unpredictability is their strength, because whenever one starts feeling bored, there is a risk to be taken aback by a sudden turnaround, generally for the better. But the best parts of the show remain undeniably these long instrumental pauses, when the trumpet player and drummer allow themselves a few jazz improvisations, especially since the band as a whole display a real pleasure in playing together and a sharp understanding of each other's desire and wanderlust. It's also what makes their live performance better than their recordings, so far.
Going from psychedelic rock with gothic overtones to deceiving pop, Youthmovies seem to dream of a prog sound that they cannot reach because of their lack of coherence. But they are already able to offer moments of grace, and that's not so bad.
Chloé Thomas
Youthmovies MySpace
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