Going to The Zoo on a Wednesday
never seems like a particularly appealing experience to me because it’s the
middle of the week and difficult to relax, and enjoy a band when you know
you’ve got to get up at eight the next morning for work. But with a band as
intriguing as krautrock Chicago rockers Cave I had to make an exception. Cave
are apart of an increasing trend toward krautrock in neo-psych music, except
they’ve been doing it for years now and their sound is a lot less heavy and
dense compared to other recent krautrock revival bands. Their latest EP Threace
is another step in the direction toward a more seventies progressive rock
sound, as opposed to the moodier krautrock styles that defined releases such as
Nevertheless from the band. This is the kind of music that is made to be
experienced live; it’s like jazz for rock n rollers: intuitive, experimental
and a lot of fun.
Cave’s support includes Brisbane’s
limited range of krautrock/prog rock inspired acts, which is basically Ghost
Notes and Cobwebbs. Like Cave, Ghost Notes are another instrumental progressive
rock inflection, defined by their use of a trumpet that almost acts as the lead
singer for the band. They set the mood for the night, which requires everybody
relaxes and enjoys the often long-winded instrumental live sets all three bands
will approach in different ways that highlight their individual strengths.
Their songs are slow burring and majestic, stirring images in my head of
grandiosity and notions of otherworldly places.
When Cobwebbs start their set
something immediately feels off. A few seconds into their first and only song I
realise why: there is no drummer and the band are using a drum machine.
Incredibly, the band overcome this immense handicap by playing one song for
around forty minutes with the same droning krautrock beat to keep the momentum
going. Although their set is bewitching and hypnotic, a wonderful experience in
many ways, it is unfortunately not as great as their usual sets, but it is
certainly something special: as if we are all privy to one of the band’s
intimate jam sessions. The beats provided by the drum machine are like a
throbbing pulse that keeps the set and the song alive for an amazing length of
time. Distorted grunge vocals are shared between two guitarists, one who is
distinctly mellower, the other swooping in at regular intervals with a more
commanding singing style. The opposing wavelengths of energy shared between the
two is positively dynamic.
Compared to Cobwebb’s trance-like
set, Cave’s set feels more light-hearted, although the throbbing krautrock
beats that underlay each song are as consistent and beguiling as Cobwebb’s,
obviously much more effective with an actual drummer present. It is immediately
obvious that what we are witnessing is true musicianship; musicians who know
their instruments inside out, which is why they are able to play so long
without losing the audience’s interest or their own vitality. Cave are
intoxicating to watch because their energy and zest is so vibrant, it
practically reverberates off the stage. Their songs vary between more funky
seventies rock defined by a Wah-pedal, to throbbing krautrock characterised by
a consistent, droning beat, bluesy guitar riffs and then more psychedelic
influenced sounds with the occasional use of a synthesizer. The result is an
eclectic combination of sounds and beats that is difficult to pinpoint, but
incredibly enjoyable to hear.
Cave’s set was full of the kind of
energy and zest absent from Cobwebb’s set, although you can’t really blame them
too much, as the lack of a drummer really deflated their sound. Although Cave
were fantastic performers, it was disappointing to hear no material from their
earlier releases, ‘Pure Moods’ and ‘Neverendless’. Both albums feature stronger
krautrock and psych influences, with ‘Pure Moods’ even having vocals on it.
Although ‘Pure Moods’ feels a little like a band finding their identity,
‘Neverendless’ reigns supreme as the best release from these guys, representing
a perfect harmony of psychedelia, krautrock and progressive rock. ‘Threace’
feels a bit like a step backward and unfortunately, the band play the EP in its
entirety. Nevertheless, I look forward to future releases from Cave and future
lives show. ‘Threace’ still demonstrates the band’s strong songwriting
abilities, even if the sound is going in a direction I do not find as
interesting and as layered as ‘Neverendless’. What their live show highlights,
however, is that no matter what song these guys are playing, they play it damn
well.
Published by AAA Backstage.
Published by AAA Backstage.
