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Constellations Guide 2010

Showcasing the depth and quality of the Leeds scene.

Posted 12th November 2010, 1:23pm in Features, by Joe O’Sullivan


2010 has seen a year of ingenuity and creativity. The strongest year for music in quite sometime, the diversity, the energy, the passion and the importance it has held has made it a year for the discerning fan to behold. The birth of Constellations festival is masterminded by some of the most important behind-the-scenes people of the Leeds music scene (which surely now stands as the best city for music in the country in terms of variety and cost), highlights the internet-savvy generations eclectic tastes and brings them together for one day - whilst also showcasing the depth and quality of the Leeds scene itself. If nothing else, it will help to change the perception that Leeds best bands are the Kaiser Chiefs and The Cribs...

Liars


Liars are a band who may be particularly difficult for the casual music fan to appreciate, even within a niche genre. After first album ‘They Threw Us In A Trench And Stuck A Monument On Top’s visceral garage inspired rock, each subsequent album has required patience and discipline to appreciate. The dreaded concept album, sparsity on levels unparalleled for the popularity they hold and a distinct change in sound and methodology with each album has seen the band become a cult favourite in their decade-long existence. Latest album 'Sisterworld' saw their most accessible material since ‘Trench’ - though 'Scarecrows On A Killer Slant' matches any of their previous work for foreboding intensity. Their live performances recently have seen them revisit older material and their career spanning sets have left fans drooling and the casual observers singing their praises after events such as Standon Calling. Liars influence on others may be their legacy but those who turn up a chance to see them will live to regret it.

Chickenhawk


Their ‘second’ album (though containing a large proportion of re-recorded material) came out on local heroes Brew Records on Monday. This will be a homecoming show of sorts (the band formed in Leeds and lived in Hyde Park, home to the words-can’t-describe-how-awesome-it-is Brudenell Social Club) and their take on aggressive music, incorporating as it does elements of metal, thrash, hard rock, stoner rock and everything besides has seen them become firm favourites within Leeds. Recognition is starting to spread beyond after their support slot on the latest Alexisonfire tour - they’ve also received plays from Radio 1, Zane Lowe and Nick Grimshaw amongst others championing the band. First track off the album ‘Scorpieau’ is available for free download from Brew Records site so have a gander and see what you think.

Sky Larkin


One of the most underrated bands around, their debut ‘Golden Spike’ was criminally overlooked in end of year lists and praise from the media in general. This very writer gave it a 9/10 on it’s release and will gladly stand by it, holding up to repeated listens as it has done whilst maintaining the levels of quality and interest as on the very first play. Their newest album ‘Kaleide’ has seen them maintain that sound but add a greater level of subtlety and a stronger sense of melody. Singer Katie’s voice is distinctive and more than holds up to recorded output in the live setting, its blend of fragility and strength on CD displaying more of the latter in the Cockpit etc. Certainly the type of band that would suit a festival crowd - the immediacy of their songs multiplied by the unit strength of your choice of poison.

I Like Trains


One of the bands who displayed the ingenuity I spoke of earlier, their decision to ask for pledges from fans to record the new album worked incredibly successfully - taking just a day to reach the required amount (yes Patrick Wolf did it first but not as quickly). 'Progress / Reform' is one of the best EPs ever released in this writers opinion and whilst latter material may not have quite matched the quality on display there, it has certainly given it a good go and bettered the significant majority of bands ploughing similar furrows. Latest album 'He Who Saw The Deep' has seen them leave the reverb drenched sound behind for the most part, choosing to focus on the intensity of singer David Martin’s vocals and the stripped back (for them) sound giving an alternative output to the tension audible in previous output. They may not be a band for everyone and the reaction they receive may be too significantly determined by what stage and time they play but by rights, they should receive one of the best reactions of the day - they certainly have one of the strongest back catalogues of any artist performing.

Sleigh Bells


Finishing the day with a late slot (fnar), Sleigh Bells will be the aural kick in the balls for any S&M fan. Best known for being M.I.A’s first signing to label NEET and producing 'Meds & Feds' off her new 'un, Derek and Alexis make music more befitting of the names Brock and Mustaine. Their blend of noise rock and hip hop rhythms is essentially what Lil Wayne’s ‘Rebirth’ was striving for and what Lil Jon promised to achieve all those years ago. Rill Rill’s deceptively gentle nature is the calm during the storm on 'Treats' which otherwise is filled with an onslaught of decibels even Kevin Shields has a begrudging respect for. Whilst ‘live’ is something of a contentious point for fans (the majority of their performance is based in backing tracks - the drumbeats for instance are all played off an iPod), Alexis’ silky and sensual performance combined with Dereks ability to RAWK based on his days with Poison The Well means that Constellations shouldn’t go out with a bang so much as a full on fireworks display complete with burning wreckage of the Refectory (and possibly Parkinson building also).

Constellations Festival will take place in Leeds from 13th - 14th November. Visit constellationsfestival.com for more information.
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