Electrelane, Scout Niblett & The Legend!

The Old Market, Hove, Saturday 14th May

The Legend! start's the nights proceedings and it's safe to say that this Everett True fronted collective of musicians are very much an acquired taste. This is evident as the room is only a couple of handfuls of people are present in the room while they're on stage, with many more maybe understandably seeking solace at the bar.
Spoken word monologues are laced over a bed of drones, feedback and atmospheric drum's. It's highly experimental, maybe even highbrow as several members of the audience can be found stroking there beards.

After a brief interval, Scout Niblett adorns the stage with guitar in hand, during the set she flirts between using the guitar and drums to accompany her raw and honest vocals.
Occasionally being joined by a drummer for the rockier songs but most of the songs are performed solo and with minimal accompaniment.
Scout Niblett often draws comparisons to both PJ Harvey and Cat Power, as all share similar influences and have taken steps off the beaten path so often tread by other singer songwriters.
There's a Strong American influence on her songs, elements of Jazz, Folk and Rock are blended together, if I didn't know better I would presume that she hailed from a Southern American state rather than Nottingham.
The drum n vocal of 'Your Beat Kicks Back Like Death' with the haunting line of "We're all gonna die! We're all gonna die!' rings out and it seems to strike a chord with the audience who are gripped by what is happening onstage.

This is Electrelane's homecoming show, understandably and deservedly the room is crammed full when they grace the stage.
Both new and old songs are performed tonight, with the main focus being on material from new album 'Axes', with crowd favourites generally being kept to near the end of the set.
Comparisons to Stereolab are often drawn when talking about Electrelane, as they do share a resemblance to each other, though in the cinematic instrumental songs I'm even reminded of Mogwai in places. Long atmospheric tracks are condensed down, in order to keep the momentum flowing and act as interludes between the more upbeat numbers and rock outs like 'partisan' which are powered along by Emma's drums. The audience gratefully dance along and look displeased when the both the set and the encore is over, as the evening ends in a climax of feedback.

By Nathan Westley