Save Yourself Single Launch, The Roadhouse, Manchester - 17/11/06

There is nothing about this band which could be described as a gimmick; they play dark-hearted, unpretentious indie-rock and on the wrong night in a support slot you might barely notice they're there. You would however be doing yourself and them something of a disservice. Come closer, and listen to the way the guitars and bass weave around each other; each carrying a little of the melody and together building a quite intricate picture. The fractured, post-rock patterns which flicker across their powerful songs, adding perfect detail without overcomplicating. And the dispossessed Northern bleakness from Ollie Wright's urgent vocals to Seamus O’Kane’s stormy drums. But it's not all doom and gloom; single "Cease To Exist" has an underlying optimism in the guitar sounds and even a few technical problems can't stop this being a fine performance.

Cath Aubergine

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