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Vibration White Finger are the masters of guerrilla promotions. Their notorious VWF logos have been emblazoned in all areas of South Wales and beyond from isolated street signs to greased up kebab shops. Their launch party for the forthcoming e.p. 'Five Minutes To Live' was no exception, awash with yellow stickers and a growing cult fan-base that is more than willing to elevate VWF past the also-rans of Welsh music.
On paper it’s difficult to see how VWF pull it off. They’re keen to tell anyone who’ll listen to their hybrid of indie, ska, funk and and anything else you can fit into the musical kitchen sink how good they are. It’s only when you witness them as a collective seven-piece that you begin to realise how confident they are in their own ethos.
They arrive onstage with their ever present swagger and loose limbed lead singer Matt working the crowd up into a hyperbole of excitement. The grubby chic of 'Come Inside' opens the set with scattered power chords draped between abrasive brass hooks and Matt’s shouted vocals stripped down to impressive effect.
'Let It Go' continues the manifesto of musical cut ups with edgy guitars and a plethora of spaced out rhythms with Matt’s macabre vocals overriding proceedings. On the rare occasion when the set is slowed down it still holds a sufficient amount of relevance. 'Sleep It Off' templates the sound of shoe-gazer indie and builds on shimmering guitar atmospherics in what eventually concludes into a six minute musical white out.
The latter stages of the set meander into deadpan sullenness until the roar uprising of 'Five Minutes To Live' has Matt back into his funky gibbon impression with swinging arms and tired out vocals ready to burst to their conclusion.
VWF have really tightened up their set in recent live outings and although the seven- piece can come across as slightly lost at times they still bring a zest of originality to the plate. They’re not to everyone’s liking but they’re over-eagerness to impress is something they’ve held closely from their early beginnings. They’ve talked the talk for ages, now it’s time to be more than just a sticker on a Cardiff lamppost.
