Planet Notion - Islands at Hoxton Bar and Grill, 26th February

07/03/2008

Islands

Hoxton Bar and Grill

26th February

I walk through the door of the Hoxton Bar and Grill just as Damn Shames are walking off the stage which is literally a Damn Shame as from what I’ve heard of them their twitchy, funky disco-tinged post punk grooves would have definitely put me in the mood for a night of music. Alas it wasn’t to be.

I have always thought of Islands fondly, their debut album Return to the Sea was a permanent fixture in the CD player of my car as I cruised around my home town a couple of summers ago. At once poppy; but with a ‘quirky’ darker side to it, it was the perfect antidote to the saccharine crap that usually swamps the airwaves during the warmer climes. Ah… Memories.

However, things don’t get off to a good start. The mic’s on the stage don’t appear to work and after a bit of faffing around we hear singer Nick Diamond’s voice come through the monitors. “That was excruciating” he declares before the band launch into a new track from the forthcoming album ‘Arm’s Away’. Immediately it’s obvious that they’ve moved in a slightly different direction to what has come before. With the addition of two violinists the new material has a far more orchestral tone to it. Gone are the light-hearted melodies and the delightfully absurd synth squelches.

Indeed, the new numbers have a more muscular feel to them. However, I find it hard to really get into the music being played. I don’t know whether it’s the fact that I’m tired after a day at work, the unfamiliarity of the songs, or the rather muted response from the crowd, but something feels a little off.

They manage to redeem themselves with ‘Where there’s a will (there’s a whalebone)’ which features the delightfully menacing line “going down to my tropical hideout / if anyone finds out I’ll turn their lights out”. On the album this song features a mid-song rap from Subtitle; he isn’t here tonight so instead the band have a wig out jam, which actually works a lot better. All of the musicians go crazy on stage and seem to really enjoy themselves for the first time since they started playing.

They leave the stage with a knowing wink reassuring us that they’ll be back for an ‘encore’. When they return they play the opening song from Return to the Sea, which was my first introduction to the band. It’s wonderful to see ‘Swans’ being performed live, and it benefits from an extended instrumental mid-section. The band are clearly enjoying performing it, the violinist jumping up and down by the side of the stage and the guitarist pulling amusing faces as he peels out the last few notes.

Alas, I still can’t shift the feeling that I haven’t seen Islands at their best. Hopefully if/when they return to tour the 'Arm's Away', following its release, I’ll be able to see the band I know they’re capable of being.