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Gig Review

Beach Fossils/ Superhumanoids/ Colours
London, Lexington

Article written by Ged M - Nov 27, 2010

Beach Fossils

When Beach Fossils’ Dustin Payseur says “we’re the most unprofessional band in New York”, you only have to watch them to confirm that fact. If it’s not the guitarist re-stringing and re-tuning his guitar while the others stand around for minutes, it’s the frequent huddles to decide what song to play next. As a result the set loses any sense of momentum and as a performance it’s irritating and self-defeating. When Beach Fossils’ songs are individually so good - like the dreamy ‘Vacation’ and the golden jangle of ‘Daydream’ - it’s a massive shame to serve them up so sparingly. The sun-warped Cure-isms of the album tracks are replaced with more energetic, chiming guitar versions live but the stop-start nature of the gig never allows them to make the impact they should. It’s a bit of an own goal.

As Superhumanoids begin, I hear Bjork over Stereolabby spacepop but this is just an amuse-bouche to attract your attention (it succeeds). Then their songs seem to divide; when Sarah Chernoff sings, they sound like Arcade Fire attempting to achieve epic; when Cameron Parkins sings, it's more stripped down and edgy, a post-punk sound that owes a little to Josef K and Joy Division perhaps, but not slavishly so. And it's all underpinned by Evan Weinerman, who knocks out a nifty Krautrock rhythm, even from a standing position. It’s hard to pin them down, which cleverly leaves you wanting to hear them again.

With Colours, the only sound is beige. Each of their songs fits the standard template of white boy telecaster-indie rock and I gnawed off my foot just for something interesting to do during their set. It’s rites-of-passage music; along with a gap year, it's something every student has to do, regardless of talent or inspiration. The Bournemouth-relocated-to-London 4-piece aren’t bad, just ten-a-penny.

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils
http://www.myspace.com/superhumanoidsss