aaamusic | On 05, Mar 2015

Thursday 26th February, London

Tonight’s support Fake Laugh are all achromatic guitars, sun-drenched in golden honey and radiating summer vibes. Their music is boisterous and winsome, songs such as ‘Great Ideas’ and ‘London Paint’ being ideal examples; featuring sprightly verses which are spirited and endearing. As well as possessing the affinity to write anti-love anthems with humour and sincerity, done with just basic guitars (capo and no effect pedals), bass and drums which is refreshing.

Capturing the room instantaneously with their start / stop rhythms, Gengahr’s introduction starts low with Felixe Bush’s (Vocals/ Guitar) recognisable singing, then cuts into a colossal surplus of sounds. Elevated guitars are intricately weaved with the pounding of the bass, assembling tension before it reaches the high intensity chorus. ‘Bathed In Light’ live possesses a touch of funk something which cannot be fully appreciated via the audio, as the group flows freely and smoothly through their tempos and progressions. The band’s melodies are extremely taut, but they also know how to spiral out of control, with rock at their cores as they lose themselves in the jam. As they shift from delicate (‘Fill My Gums With Blood’) to harsher tones, blending a variation of styles to create their own alternative resonance.

With their first LP on the horizon, a large proportion of the set is dedicated to new unknown gems we are yet to discover. Each song is distinctive in its own individual right, as structures change and rotate at unexpected angles they beguile and enthrall; being defined by percussive stratifications, whirring distorted strings and mottled phonics. Their current single ‘She’s A Witch’ is a solid crowd-pleaser, as audience members exclaim mini cheers and mouth back the words. They play out their show on a high with their debut single ‘Powder’, a record which is droned out and haunting in nature, yet confident and a key track which helped gain the group some deserved attention. With the success of this evening’s performance, signees of the forever developmental Transgressive Records and having recently supported Alt-J on tour, Gengahr is only heading in one direction and that is up.

Lois Browne

Photo: Josh Atkins