Blonde Redhead - Islington Assembly Hall, London 29/09/14
30 September 2014, 09:00
| Written by
Tamlin Magee
There could hardly be a venue more befitting a band like Blonde Redhead's very gradual shift along the musical spectrum than Islington Assembly Hall, which was host this week to a show that saw Kazu Makino, Amadeo and Simone Pace hold the audience's attention for the duration.
Much of the performance comprised of songs from Barrigan, the band's latest full-length effort and a quite a different, quieter affair. But the softer, more minimal tones were interspersed here and there with snippets from 23 and Misery Is A Butterfly, all of which went down exceptionally well with the crowd: a false start and a quick apology at the beginning of "Falling Man" was, for example, met with enthusiastic encouragement. Applause was equally energetic by the end of each and every number. Hazy, smokey, but delivering the kind of complex alt pop that just-slightly obfuscates the precise and practiced notes underneath those deliberately muddy layers throughout.
All elements working to support the show - the sound production, the lighting, those essential things that can easily be taken for granted - really underscored and emphasised the set. Bathed in deep red, blue or purple lights, the ambiance of the room matched the mood and energy of the performance. The disco ball didn't detract. It was as pleasingly atmospheric as the songs Blonde Redhead chose to play could have possibly been. Although Barrigan was met with a mixed response, watching Blonde Redhead sweep calmly and confidently through much of it added more texture and appreciation for the band's songwriting on this record, put under the spotlight as an education. At least live, the listener gets the feeling Blonde Redhead know exactly the kind of performance, sound, and experience they want to deliver, and then do so.
- Photos by Sara Amroussi-Gilissen. See the full gallery here.
Latest
- Mahalia shares self-love anthem, “Life Size”
- Jake Isaac announces new album, BENJAMIN
- BABii announces third album, DareDeviil2000
- Poppy Ajudha sings of queer love on "Girl Next Door"
- Jack White announced as new headliner for Øya Festival 2024
- Watch the official trailer for blur: Live at Wembley Stadium
- Gwen Stefani and Anderson .Paak link up for official song of the Olympics, "Hello World"
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday
Read next
Listen
Gut Health welcome you into their unique world with "Cool Moderator"
Tempest sizzles in sultry new summer single “The Ranch”
Uma basks in renewal on the funky and hypnotic “Rain on Dancing Men”
Radio Free Alice is making post-punk hot again on "Johnny"
Dominic Wright extends a comforting lustre on "Picking At The Bones"
Mal Not Bad channels their inner chaos with new single “Life”
Reviews
![Porter Robinson Smile cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Porter-Robinson-Smile-cover.png?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720091381&s=10bda02ddceec215d8a7991b28b1bf58)
Porter Robinson
Smile! :D
26 Jul 2024
![Ice Spice Y2 K cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Ice-Spice-Y2K-cover.jpg?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721308157&s=803772a1bd528f391e48f455ddbd1dbb)
Ice Spice
Y2K
26 Jul 2024
![Cults TO THE GHOSTS cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Cults-TO-THE-GHOSTS-cover.jpg?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1721308477&s=ed9ee8eaeff6e677e9c1782831061750)
Cults
To The Ghosts
25 Jul 2024
![Abbie Ozard Everything Still Worries Me cover](https://best-fit.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/albums/Abbie-Ozard-Everything-Still-Worries-Me-cover.jpg?w=600&h=600&q=100&auto=format&fit=crop&dm=1720091178&s=c87c1cc5c5f50d761c135510e5a4d78f)
Abbie Ozard
Everything Still Worries Me
25 Jul 2024