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Gig Review
Rosie Taylor Project/ Orca Team/ Young Romance Brixton, Windmill
Article written by
Ged M - Jul 16, 2012
Orca Team
This is no indie-riot, more a twee tantrum followed up with some Twitter graffiti. The Tuts’ biography claims that they’re a female Libertines, for which you can read spoilt dilettantes living out the Doherty cliché of drinking and misbehaving while showing off their half-formed ideas to their sycophantic slacker chums. The only surprise is that they’re from Hayes not Hoxton.
Fortunately the evening is rescued by the other bands. Young Romance are a lo-fi duo, Claire and Paulo, who make much out of just a couple of drums and a guitar. It’s sweet and catchy indiepop, like Big Deal without the big issues, but there’s nothing twee and cloying about them, despite their name. ‘Swollen Hearts, Bitter Tongues’ is a swoonsome tune, made more memorable by Claire’s lovely voice and its engaging wibble.
They’re followed by Orca Team, a trio from Seattle, Washington playing their first UK date. They play dark surf rock with deep, crooning vocals, like the Ventures joined by Jonathan Richman, but they subvert expectations by using the bass as a very muscular lead instrument driving the dance moves, while Jessica B’s guitar adds all sort of chiming topnotes. Very impressive.
Rosie Taylor Project
I like watching the Rosie Taylor Project more when I see them enjoying themselves. They’ve grown into their band body now and look comfortable and graceful, fitting as naturally together as Pete Doherty and a magistrates' court. Their sound pictures are consistently arresting, the trumpet topping is joyous, and from Jonny’s solo performance of the word-rich ‘Gloria’ at the end, you’d think he was Leonard Cohen’s great-great grandson. A splendid end but you can’t beat an indie gig for sulks, scowls and general arseyness.