Thursday 15/03/07 Howling Bells @ Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh

A tarot reading may have revealed different fortunes for the Howling Bells on their return to the Scottish capital having clocked just four people in the audience on their last visit to Edinburgh and their record lowest attendance. Shame, and proof that you can't keep a good thing down. This time around the cooped cavern of the Cabaret Voltaire hosts the Aussie four-piece to a chockablock and sold-out evening. Should the band have been fronted by a male member then they may have come across as just another testosterone-driven band, but their beauty and appeal lies in having Juanita Stein as the lead-singer bringing her seductive charms to their indie-noir melodies.

Like a latter day Debbie Harry plus a Chrissie Hynde with her power and range, the come hither vocals of Juanita Stein the raven-haired belle prop the band who are made up of equal parts talent and versatility, bending and warping the tunes from their eponymous album and setting it on fire with a volcanic performance. Opening with the twangy guitars of 'The Bell Hit' and "...How the times have changed/  I'd rearrange your headspace..." refrain leading into the dirt-kicking of 'This City's Burning' like a Sisters of Mercy onslaught crossed with The Pixies. 'Wishing Stone' has the Roger Waters guitar-style guitars fettered by dirty rhythms and an aggrieved bass, followed by the anthemic 'Setting Sun' with the rallying call - "...one more day is not enough to change the world..." and the versatility of guitar styles showing their command.