By Jase Walker
You’d think with how many times I’ve been to Eindhoven now I’d have seen every major venue but clearly not as tonight I’m about to see Swiss post-rock outfit hubris. at Altstadt. This venue is barely a few doors up from one of my usual bar haunts here (Cafe The Jack) so I’m surprised the venue name didn’t register in my head when I saw it at first. Eindhoven feels quite serene tonight which is a bit at odds with my usual impression of it but it’s not like I’m here for a “smash your mate in the pit” type show; instead, it’s time for some dreamy post-rock.
The support for tonight is Clouds Indoor, who are a new one to my ears, but I don’t doubt I’ll be enjoying them as post-rock bands tend to stick by each other quite strongly compared to bands in other genres.
Clouds Indoor get themselves started and the lights are noticeably very red, a bit different to the usual dark and blue that I find a lot of post-rock leans on. Judging from the lack of microphones these are also an instrumental act, which is fairly common for this sort of genre. A lot of similar vibes to the likes of Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Long Distance Calling, all that good stuff.
It’s no secret that I generally find post-rock bands to be somewhat unremarkable when it comes to the visual element of it all (except maybe Nordic Giants) as the focus tends to be almost exclusively on the music itself rather than people going mental on stage; however the music from bands such as Clouds Indoor is the real attractor.
These guys weave melancholy and euphoria in equal measure and do it spectacularly well, music that you could attach to any number of videos doing drone or helicopter footage showing vast landscapes and beautiful vistas. A really solid act to open the evening with and I have little doubt I’ll be seeing them again in future at Pelagic, ArcTanGent, Dunk, whatever… I like my post-rock magnets!
Finally for the evening, it’s time for hubris.!
Starting with a very quiet introduction and a serene shimmering guitar harmony, it’s time to get stuck into a beautiful show of post-rock. These along with their opener really dive into the soundscape type of post-rock that relies a lot less on the crescendo sort of layering that others generally lean towards.
Admittedly I can’t quite tell if they’re using loops or backing tracks to add the extra melody layers but that’s of little concern given how good it sounds. hubris.’s drummer does some real tasty rhythm work with effective fills that add a lovely bit of flavour throughout each song as well. Bands like hubris. continually show me that they’re prepared to push the boundaries of what is possible with familiar instruments, always looking for new ways to shift the sound to new heights and creating astonishing sounds that wash over you like a comfort blanket.
All three members joining in playing the drums/percussion to end a song is a real nice touch too. It’s such a warm atmosphere amongst the crowd and while there’s still some chatter between people who’ve turned up to watch them, things still feel super cozy with hubris providing the soundtrack. I’m totally enamoured right now, fully engaged with such a wonderful flow of melodies as we progress through their set.
The fact that bands like this are able to make their way through the ÜK and Europe is a privilege that I will never take for granted. What a feeling it is to stand and watch hubris play such awe-inspiring music.
Genuinely a spectacular show of post-rock, a band I’d see again as many times as I can just for the sake of hearing more of their live material. Worth the trip to Eindhoven? Absolutely. Now fingers crossed they pop up at ATG or Dunk!
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