Live Review: Public Service Broadcasting, The Cluny, Newcastle, 10/05/2013

There's something immensely satisfying about gigs which pack great venues like The Cluny to capacity. That feeling can only be intensified if the group in question only released their debut album earlier in the same week, not to mention having generated their buzz almost entirely from listener acclaim as opposed to industry backing — both notions which apply to J. Willgoose and Wrigglesworth's Public Service Broadcasting project. Intriguing, innovative and exhilarating in equal measure, the pair have made a name for themselves mixing a range of electronic and live instrumentation, with the only vocal contributions coming via samples from old propaganda films. On record it's an engrossing proposition, but it's in the live environment where the bulk of their reputation has been forged - something which wasn't lost on this sold out crowd, most of whom were seeing them for the first time.

Much of the early hype came as a direct result of last year's breakout EP The War Room, which thankfully hasn't been forgotten among the new album clamour. Still fan favourites, the dark menace of "London Can Take It" and signature tune "Spitfire" ranked among the night's finest moments, and were only magnified by the stark wartime imagery projected through retro television screens. These visual aids also helped enlighten material from the freshly unveiled Inform - Educate - Entertain, which has added not only weight but also variety to what was already an acclaimed stage show. The latter characteristic was displayed by the sonic gulf between its highlights, with propulsive, danceable cuts like "ROYGBIV" and the title track impressing just as much as the raucous, distorted thrills of "Signal 30." Indeed, the driving force behind the entire show was an energy which hasn't quite translated onto record; Willgoose constantly alternating between guitar, banjo and his wealth of digital tools, while his companion gathered momentum with both electronic and authentic percussion.

As brilliant as they were, a mention must also be reserved for the two local support acts, who made this gig worth the price of admission before PSB even took to the stage. A tremendous entanglement of krautrock, psychedelica and electronica, Parastatic's hypnotic, repetitive jams came across like a louder, more focused version of Spiritualized, and rightly went down a storm with early arrivals. The hotly-tipped WTCHRS meanwhile excelled with their rapidly developing brand of garage rock and psychedelics - one that's improved considerably since I last saw them nine months ago. Their performances enhanced the night tenfold, and were vital components of what's sure to be one of the finest gigs this room hosts all year.

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Public Service Broadcasting
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WTCHRS
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Parastatic
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