In the midst of dashing hither and tither and striving to balance many passions, I try and squeeze in a musical fix besides my own Fungal Fiascos.  Today we went bug hunting in Wilmslow and after a fair morn arrived home to do some chores and try and catch up on the backlog.  I walked to the venue, 2 miles done and at The Spinning Top I arrived for an afternoon showcase of 3 bands.  I was intending to do a full gig review but the mind was jaded with many things and so opted for an opening band account.  Awkland played their first ever gig for me, I was taken by sounds out of the usual spiked range and so, as an early feedback opportunity I scribed the following text.

 

The Liverpool based blighters opened with 'Magnitude' a cool and technical number that was watertight and welcoming but one that was immediately outstripped by the forceful orchestration of 'Insurgent', a very lively arrangement with a snagging motif and subtly spiked facet not wasted on this awkward acoustic luggite.  It was a concrete bash followed by a CD fave, 'Taking Time' that is awash with gentle tangents of angularity and off kilter suggestions that are sweetly post punk and acidic.  The chorus was quirked but well worked and the overall flavour was choppy in parts, heaving hitting throughout whilst avoiding orthodox punk routine - lovely.  

 

The next 2 tracks kept the flavour foaming and swirling before a recent Dammit Records release came. '52%' started in expected style before blossoming in great acoustic colour, emanating a hefty scent of spirit whilst belying the low percentage claim.  As matters progressed the cohesion between the players was noted, an exacting equilibrium that gave all musicians a fair contribution and room to mix the mechanics and keep the onlookers enthralled.  'The Greatest People' was a very saturated piece, another bud that bloomed as the riffs duly developed.  'Reaction Man' was a first CD snippet, one that is better as a 'live' experience rather than just listened to on the silver circle. Soon we were at the closure with 'The Call'. This latter end lilt was a ditty dealing with those vile products known as war and religion - a song that was unrushed, simmering and brought a fair punctuation mark to the end of a pleasing sonic sentence.

 

This was the bands third gig,  it was played in a very solid gaff that captures the sounds of many units and has things just right.  Of course, at this level it is always going to be a struggle for all concerned but my advice to the band is to keep doing what they do and to avoid the flow that sees many create tunes for the crowd rather than self with the diluting hope of just being 'popular'.  This is a good trio with a set that is timed just right - more would be vulgar, less would be tagged as teasing (which is not a bad thing). I shall be booking them again if they care to grace a Fungalised stage, I hope the punters are as intrigued as I.