Tom Andrew
There’s something different about Wild Beasts these days, something you can’t ignore.
Gone are the indie-oddities loved by those looking for the next new noise to get excited over, say hello to the ‘new’ sound, and that’s right we just used the ’n’ word to describe an indie band.
Tonight they are heavier, more dramatic and more intent on attitude than they’ve ever been before. This new approach, that’s less reliant on the dramatic juxtaposition of sound and more intent on harmony and powerful rhythms, began back on ‘Present Tense‘ but ‘Boy King’ seems to suggest that their transformation is now complete.
Opening track ‘Tough Guy’, taken from the new album, is grinding, rhythmic sleaze. It’s extraordinary, an attitude and aggression not usually associated with their sound. It doesn’t waste time with any of the fascinating vocal histrionics that used to define their sound. Instead, it just slaps the sh*t repeatedly out of the crowd before them. It’s pounding, pushing and powerful and sets the tone for the evening.
It’s not often at a live show when the ‘new’ tracks get a reaction equal, if not in excess of, the ‘classics’, but as we said tonight’s different. It’s because this isn’t more of the same, it’s something truly exciting and new. ‘Get My Bang’, ‘Ponytail’ and ‘Celestial Creatures’ all stand alongside ‘Tough Guy’ as impressive introductions to a band reborn.
Bands this distinctive don’t just change their sound, it’s not what happens. Tonight turns out to be a breathtaking development, where a band visibly matures into something brilliant. Let’s not undersell their achievement as if it’s just some lucky shift in direction. Their albums over the years have been shifting in tone and style. They’ve been building and building, putting this together piece by piece. What their debut’s sound said about them wasn’t ‘this is us!’, but more a beautifully constructed ‘you just wait’. Wild Beasts have never simply given more of the same or sounded like they were struggling for ideas.
And live, the music’s innovative style is given an intensity unexpected from the records. Tracks are pushed further and harder, and the crowd are driven purposefully to move. It’s a display of unhinged control. The closer to the edge they push their sound the more the audience respond. It’s a simple game of musical brinkmanship that they are clearly winning.
What’s great about tonight’s show is its level. It is intellectual music played with real soul, like Roxy Music fronted by Smokey Robinson and Dennis Edwards – which on paper doesn’t sound appetising, but once heard it leaves you salivating.
Wild Beasts’ sound tonight is huge, muscled and aggressive. It doesn’t just fill the space, it saturates it. Every metric metre of air hangs with intent. They are pushing the audience to redefine their perspective and understanding of the band and their sound, and it’s working. Sweaty, writhing and uncomfortably brilliant, the bass inspired synth rhythms that drive ‘Boy King’s moments are urgent and exciting.
Tonight the expected was as great as expected, but the unexpected was beyond anything anyone could have expected.
