Truck Festival Hill Farm, Steventon, Oxfordshire - 23/7/11 - Part 2
3/5
By: Liane Escorza
[SAINT ETIENNE @ TRUCK]
Saturday at Truck is pretty much focused on local upcoming bands with the odd intruder here and there provide a break to the musical clinginess. And with that, I mean the camaraderie, member-swapping/multi-instrumentalist role and strongly influential qualities that these scene-mates display onstage.
Wild Swim roar like lions in a cage. This five-piece Oxfordshire band sometimes rub themselves too close to Wild Beasts in melodies, or Joy Division or Radiohead, but they have a sonic presence on stage like no other. Operatic and projecting vocals swing along electronic ambiences, harmonious backing vocals, bouncy beats and dramatic guitar and bass plucking - they are truly the ‘discovery’ of the day.
Another local Little Fish plays acoustic on the Cabaret stage. Juju’s voice is unique, as dark as PJ Harvey’s and as strong as a howling Cher and Juju herself, this tiny little evasive girl, is uniquely forceful too. Her acoustic set is raw, emotional and set outside rules.
Jonquil’s material is as diverse and powerful as ever. This experimental pop band have chanted all the way from Magdalene Bridge to the shores of Spain and every single show is as tight and as professional as the other. Catchy melodies, overly instrumental backdrops and Hugo’s vocals (Chad Valley being his solo project) create a happy-go-lucky atmosphere, a playful nudge to encourage some dancing and trotting, and a gentle and modest coolness about them.
The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band make carefree jazz and cabaret jive, their 1920s/30s jump blues pulling fans of frenzies of jukebox tapping. It is a delight to see trumpet, trombone, banjo, sax, double bass, drums being played by such a vivacious ensemble, like listening to a band that has jumped out of the old gramophone on to a stage in a magic trick.
Saint Etienne [pictured top] bring electro lounge back from the 80s. They are the type of band that remain so true to themselves that it is impossible to refrain a tolerant yet bewildered smile at their rooted state of affairs. Adamant as they are to stay within their comfort zone, it is remarkable how they exercise their power in suggestive ways so as to transport everyone to their territory and how crowds willingly turn submissive to this event.
While Fixers display dancey beats of experimental and psychedelic pop of the like of the 80s, and have a dreamy spaciness and spectral guitars and synths to the enjoyment of the youngsters, Gruff Rhys [pictured above] exudes dry Welsh humour, hallucinatory songwriting and endearingly awkward stage presence. Yet regardless of extravagant trip-like behaviours, it is clear Gruff uses music as another means of expression. He is a malleable and adaptive in video, photography or storytelling. Whether solo or with Super Furry Animals, whether with Neon Neon or with Gorillaz, Rhys is a character worthy of special attention.
The day finished off with a tribal and visceral act by ODC Drumline. Performing with Coloureds as part of their one-vs-one projects, they launch like a storm, Coloureds’ synths and backtracking electronica swirling in spires, ODC’s snare drums deafening the high pitched shrieks to a somewhat air-tight level, similar to fireworks cracking in accurately choreographed unison to their lights and colours. They are infectious and brutal, providing the perfect rackety ending to another festival soiree.
Artists in this article: Coloureds, ODC Drumline, Gruff Rhys, Fixers, Saint Etienne, The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Jonquil, Little Fish, Wild Swim
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