All Tomorrow’s Parties’ Don’t Look Back season kicked off recently, and I was determined not to let it pass me by this year. The Don’t Look Back deal is that bands come along and play their best album, from start to finish.
I went along on my Jack (having an odd taste in music means I occasionally need/want to do this) and had a rare old time. It was my first visit to this particular venue: Koko in Camden. I have to say I was impressed. Lots of little cubby holes to sit down in, to have a pint and a chat in, and watch the band too.
Support was from Alexander Tucker. I’ve seen, and enjoyed, him before. He’s a solo artist who seems to record short sections of himself singing, playing guitar or playing violin, before playing back those recordings on a loop. Each song builds up into a crescendo of interlacing sounds, and rhythms and harmonies start to appear. It’s like, way out, man.
Slint were there to play their 1991 album, Spiderland. It’s considered a highly influential classic these days, though I am not ashamed to admit that I had never heard of them or this album until about four years ago. They certainly mixed in the right circles in their day: Will Oldham took the photograph used on the cover of the album, Steve Albini produced their previous album, and PJ Harvey allegedly applied to be their singer.
I’ve been listening to the album for the last couple of months, and seeing it played live really brought it to life for me. It’s a dark and serious album, and a dark and serious gig, but it’s got so much variety in it: the fact that the first song is about a rollercoaster ride says a hell of a lot about what follows.
The band are curious performers: very static and reserved in their stage presence, yet unleashing powerful waves of sound with pinpoint precision. Nobody seems to have put a clip of the gig on YouTube yet, but I’ve found a clip of them at the Primavera festival in Barcelona, if you want to see them do their thing.
Only one person seriously tried to dance.
