Thursday 03/11/05 Four Tet, Explosions in the Sky @ The Mint Lounge, Manchester

Playing on a stage that’s a cross between a Punch and Judy show and an old theatre set, Explosions in the Sky look strangely at ease in their side show setting. Opening with ‘First Breath After Coma’, sweeping melodies soar out over the tightly packed crowd, hinting at the glaciers and fjords of Sigur Ros. Jostling for position those rammed in struggle to see the tiny stage, luckily the music always keeps them on their toes, jarring chords shooting out throwing the gentle pace off course.

 

The heavy drums of ‘Yasmin the Light’ sees singer Mark Smith bobbing from foot to foot, like a boxer preparing for a fight, building up to the rolling military drums of ‘Have You Passed This Night’. Dancing in his own dreamy universe, scruffy hair falling over his eyes, guitarist Munaf Rayani shuffles around through the crisp notes of 'The Only Moment We Were Alone'. Sounding like a ‘Transatlanticism’ era Death Cab for Cutie this is music for star spangled nights, with a slight sharp kick to it.

Taking things up a notch the reverb of 'Memorial' leaving ears pounding, noise flying round the room like a fly stuck in a trap. The crowd dance with smiles on their faces, others closing their eyes in a smoke induced haze as they beat their guitars into submission. Pure magic.

 

Four Tet is only one man, quiet unassuming Kieran Hebden, saunters on stage a mass of curly hair on top of a skinny frame. Then the noise flies out and knocks the crowd for six, slowly building scuzzy electro beats until the bass is vibrating the whole room. The Roots Manuva style beats of new single 'A Joy' are mixed up and thrown around as he fiddles the faders like a kid with a game boy.

 

The noise crescendos until it sounds like being stuck in a helicopter blade with a nutter wielding a chainsaw. The funky jazz edged breakbeats of 'Turtle Turtle Up' are buried under a hail of distortion. Playing with the keyboard, Hebden stares into space like a man possessed, the air is electric. Things start to spiral out of control, like being stuck on Willy Wonka’s boat with no way off. Sliding from gangsta style hip hop into a slinky funk edged tune, things keep getting thrown off course. Gentle keyboard noises peek out from under a barrage of firecracker bass. One of the few recognisable tunes, 'Smile Around The Face' is slowed right down, then slowly filtered in through squelching hip hop beats.

 

Through the warbled bird noise, the crowd start frugging around and Kieran Hebden breaks his severe expression, cracking into a smile. 'As Serious As Your Life' follows covered by aggressive clinking pianos and crackling airwave chatter, definitely the track of the night. Ending on a more industrial break beat note that errs into techno territory. With a hip funking rhythm that you can’t help but dance to, he aggressively yanks the faders one last time. Leaving the audience’s with ear drums bleeding but definitely feeling ecstatic.