Hope Of The States - London Camden Electric Ballroom - 14/7/04
4/5
By: Andy Willson
There aren't too many reasons that spring to mind why you'd ever consider visiting Chichester, but after tonight's proceedings you'd be forgiven/encouraged for making the pilgrimage.
The new vein of UK artists finally breaking through originate from far and wide; makes a change; and this West Sussex town just so happens to be the home to a rising star amongst these - nubile post-rockers Hope Of The States. Having suffered the profound loss of guitarist Jimmi Lawrence last year, they have gone on to greater, greener pastures, much in the same way another band completely, stratospherically light years away - Feeder - emerged after losing drummer Jon Lee to similar circumstances. For what seems a waste of life, maybe a new determination to transpire is born; if so, the ascent of HOTS makes for a perfect, teaching example.
After a further exquisite, wistful performance from rockfeedback strumpets The Duke Spirit in support, the stage darkens and the clattered sound of a typewriter fills the air. As the band take to the stage, every click adds a letter onto the projector-screen, conjuring an open letter to one and all, not least the date and time of our encounter. A stylish and haunting entrance - and this is just the start of it.
Of course, our opening track is 'The Black Amnesias', which is also how debut album 'The Lost Riots' begins, a lesson perhaps in how everything should start. A flurry of strings and a wash of other instruments build to a scintillating climax, and all lead-singer Sam Herlihy needs to do is stand around inspiring the others (bloody instrumentals), orchestrating his backing, like the true unshaven conductor. 'George Washington' follows and he finally gets a chance to make his voice heard, and boy does he make sure of it; that's what we call a grate.
Not-so-subtly, the screen flashes potent visions and imagery of war and, er, general pain, with planes dropping bombs on the unsuspecting as the boys rattle through track after track. It's fitting. New song 'Black Stars/Red Stars' (they like their colours, this lot) continues in a similar theme, sampling the most catastrophic of Radiohead, REM and The Cooper Temple Clause, dropping it into a cement mixer, and churning out something just as rampant and beauteously putrid.
Yet it's the arrival of the singles that heralds the wider vote - 'The Red, The White, The Black, The Blue' and 'Black Dollar Bills' are so captivating and bellowing, it's fervent proof that our five/six-piece can cut it just as existentially live as in the studio. Phew. Time for a final couple of songs, including future release 'Nehemiah', and it's back to the dressing-room with a job thoroughly well commanded.
Whether jubilant or woeful, melancholic or euphoric, Hope of the States will evoke emotions you can only imagine. The only uncertainty involved is whether to see the outfit over The Strokes at an ever-impending V; now, that is the question. For anyone present tonight, however, the answer should be a glaringly obvious one.
Artists in this article: Hope Of The States
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