Simian

I’m here to see Simian who're briefly blitzing the UK, putting feelers out on their new material.

The venue is exactly what it says on the tin, just like phoenix nights. The room is dusty, loud and dark. The curtains red and velvet, the ceiling draped in bunting. Interesting start…

Five to ten.

On trot Simian to an appreciative roar. However, the stage doesn’t particularly exude the necessary presence needed and something’s feeling a little off. It would be acceptable, even predictable, in this type of venue, if I were hear to see some straight forward garage rock, a nice 4x4 beat, a two minute song with an easy on the ear middle eight, but Simian are fundamentally too unique and, put simply, too good for a venue like this. Earlier this year I saw them at Mass, Brixton and all I can say is that, in basic terms, it was a religious illumination.

The gig gets underway with a strong funk bass line, not a characteristic typically affiliated with Simian. Nevertheless, it becomes a recurrent theme throughout the evening’s proceedings, along with the trademark charming harmonies. Unfortunately, as an opening track, it isn’t strong enough. It passes and is forgotten.

Mr Simon Lord (key vocals), mind you, during the second track, starts to become extremely energised.

The gig continues…

Track four, the crowd pleaser – ‘Chemistry is what we are’. You begin to feel the crowd’s atmosphere transform, the attraction heightening. The harmonies prevailing and the lyrics, calmingly matter of fact. This is essentially a beautiful track. A track, written 60 years earlier, would have acted perfectly as a morale booster during the war, a proper sing-song around a discordant piano.

Then comes the jolt. The end of ‘Chemistry’. A commotion of crashing drums, guitar and the digital addition makes this breathtaking. This is fierce, burly, succinct, urgent music. Unexpected and terrific. This band know how to destroy serenity in one minute. This is exactly why Simian should increasingly explore the heavier side. It really is a rare pleasure to hear and see. In these tracks you hear a uniqueness of sound, a construction of form and subsequently a detonation. A great formula for the chemistry that is now dominant on stage.

Another track and after that comes, without a doubt, the best track of the evening’s entertainment. A new track–‘Sunshine’. This is where Simian, correctly experimenting with a tentative move forward, have found their niche. The climax of this track is tremendous. A funk key line – but here they have nailed it. And thank God, at last the lighting man wakes up and the lights start working overtime. Dark to light, psychedelic, moody, brooding and then enlightening, in every sense of the word. I shiver, I’m happier. The music elevates itself round the enclosed and claustrophobic room, liberating the audience with it’s zealous yet simplistic electronic/folk allure. Everybody in the room, including the band now know, if they didn’t before, exactly what these four guys can achieve when their talent is focused on their true objective.

Then the familiar ‘The Wisp’. Straightforward enchantment, a mild psychedelic calm and an evocation of despondency.

Next we get the new single ‘We are your friends’. A highly energised track with repetitive vocals, accentuating the title, making sure you are aware they wouldn’t take no for an answer if they really did want to be your friend. The drums are as enthusiastic as the vocal, again highlighting the message. They are looking for euphoria and with ‘Sunshine’ and ‘We are your friends’ they can take you with them.

The closing track – ‘End of the Day’. Did they only choose this as it has the word ‘end’ in the title? Strange choice. A weak close. The melody or music of this track has not stuck or struck me. But, in their defence, a wonderful drum extravaganza, with three of the four (apologies for lack of names) beating the crap out of an assortment of percussion during the heart of the track.

Simian really have gone in a curious direction for a band who, before now, had an innovative sound. Simian’s new material? A great deal stronger at certain points, and distinctly weaker at others, than they have ever been.