Electrelane - Cavern Club, Exeter, 27/4/2004

  by Benjamin Howarth

published: 17 / 4 / 2004

intro

One of Britain’s best bands, Electrelane released an excellent second album, 'The Power Out', earlier this year. Ben Howarth at Exeter Caern Club finds that it is on stage that the all-girl group "really come alive"

One of Britain’s best bands, Electrelane released a very good second album, 'The Power Out', earlier this year. Produced by the king of underground indie rock himself, Steve Albini – though he’d probably resent that title – it was an ambitious but fun album that sounds in turns like a natural pop band branching out, and a natural experimental indie band trying to play pop. But the album is only half the story. Live the band really come alive. This was the first time I had seen them and I’m sorry I haven’t had the pleasure before. The performance was tight, the songs were great, and it didn’t drag for a second. You always know a good gig when, despite it having gone on for quite a while, you are desperate for more when it ends. The best part of this show was unquestionably the single from a few years ago, 'I Want To Be The President', a great pop song with some really great, chiming guitar lines that sound to me a lot like Fugazi at their best. And Fugazi are one of my absolutely favourite bands. But there are plenty of other great moments in their set, the band making great use of varied instrumentation. The show ended with Electrelane demonstrating that the “wild freak out” isn’t the sole preserve of Mogwai. Usually I hate these sort of aimless noise for noises sake sessions, but Electrelane kept the groove going, switched instruments and sounds, and in fact, it just sounded like a series of good – if awkward – songs. Testament to the fact that Electrelane are one of the best bands around.

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