A first ever visit to Hebden Bridge (birthplace of Maggie Thatcher’s press secretary) sees me also take in the post rock delights of L.O.E. (Last Of Eden) alongside Mancunians Civil Service for the first time. After a rather enjoyable couple of libations in a pub around the corner, I arrive at the venue and receive a warm and friendly welcome from the staff there. Grabbing a seat and several libations, it’s a short wait for our support act for the evening, following a playlist that veers from The Chameleons to Thrice and through some other post-rock delights, setting the scene well.
First up are Manchester’s Civil Service, who play a melodic and atmospheric brand of instrumental post rock, with a sprinkling of post punk occasionally appearing in the mix. Knowing nothing of them beforehand, watching they come on at different times – drummer first – almost feels Alice In Chains-esque unplugged in its approach, while the use of strong side lights to provide a more visual aspect to their music serves them well through the set.
A sprinkling of samples are used at various parts, mostly in the latter end off their 40 minute set, though these are apparently more ad-hoc than it seemed whlie they played, as I found out from one of the members after the set that they had programmed them into their sampler a mere few minutes before going on stage. Of most interest to me were the tracks ‘Retreat’ and ‘Apology’ – both earlier in the set, before penultimate track ‘Monozukuri’ really blows me away, and not just for the S.O.S. morse code sample that echoes out during the track.
It was noticeable just how tight the quartet looked and sounded, as with no vocals to cover any slight imperfections, the entire focus is on quite what spell they can weave together, something they do exceptionally well, and the applause they get for doing so during each break is good indication of this too. The set comprises of a lot of yet to be released material from their sophomore release, with a smattering of tracks from their debut, ‘Life /// Death’. This top-drawer performance shows how far they have come in such a short space of time and shows a lot of promise for what might be in future.
On to our headliners in L.O.E. (Last of Eden) and we again get some incredible live music from the highly talented act. It takes a whlie to get anything said on the mic – not overly unsurprising, given they are also instrumental – but by their own acknowledgement, this is their busiest night of the tour to date, as well as being the closest they have to a hometown gig on it (being from just up the road in Halifax). It’s noticeable just how much the room has busied up during the break between bands, more than doubling in between and there is a clear warmth towards L.O.E. from very early in the set. The use of cinematic backdrops immediately behind the band leaves me heavily in mind of the likes of Hawkwind in their approach of using multimedia to grasp attention and not let go of it, while again there is a light sprinkle of samples through the hour long set to further enhance what they do. It actually serves very well to add contextual emotion into the songs, adding even further depth into their sight and sound approach to their music, while the band are tighter than a nun’s proverbials in this live setting.
Even after some have already left as soon as they finish, there are still plenty in the room as the band ask for a quick picture with people (as pictured just above, taken from stage right by myself), which shows just quite how well they were received. There are elements of various things incorporated into their sound as they wind through their spellbinding hour long set, from prog tempo switches to elements of math rock at times and it serves as a great way to hold attention. The hour passes all too quickly and definitely leaves us all wanting more – just as well there are some support slots coming up in the near future, eh? This performance goes to show just how far Last of Eden have already come. The rollercoaster yet to come looks set to be an enthralling ride, judging by this live offering.
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