Aereogramme

It has been at least three years since I last saw Aereogramme. So many acts have been and gone during that time; bands that, back then, seemed to be exciting and inspiring have become dated and proved irrelevant by those that overtook them. It's something that really hits home whilst watching these rugged, grubby looking Celts, arched contentedly over their worn instruments in apparent indifference to the size or reaction of the audience. Three years it may have been, but still every note they play is as important, as captivating and as arresting as it ever seemed. The quieter moments are still as poignant and expansive, the louder moments are still as startling, and the voice of singer Craig B still boasts such translucent, eerie qualities as make it both soothing and discomforting in each breath.

It's not that Aereogramme haven't moved on, for they clearly have: the newest songs appear to be far less orientated around brutal climaxes and juxtaposed crescendos, having more to do with rhythms and subtler changes of mood. The introduction of a new member to add an electronic section seems less out of a bid to be in vogue, as out of curiosity and for the sake of the obvious experimentation and more melancholy mood that underpins the new tracks.

The beauty of seeing Aereogramme live is not in flashing lights, forced rock swagger or insane crowd reaction; they don't look good and they're certainly not showmen. Their appeal is more potent and enduring than that – it is in the feeling that they have probably just spent the past year locked up in a dingy room in the middle of nowhere playing around with whatever noise-makers they had to hand, and now they're playing it for you. It feels like being let in on something really quite special and honestly begs the question: how many bands around at the moment can play such effortlessly powerful shows?

Aereogramme may never be massive. They might never play venues any grander than the bare smoke-stained walls of Brick Lane’s 93 Feet East. But here is proof positive that they aren’t going away and, more importantly, that they still_ matter_.