Fewer things are more out of place than the disco ball that looks down on a bewildered Camp and Furnace as a repetitious drone bass loop shakes its already battered walls. Godspeed You! Black Emperor left the stage at least ten minutes ago after a quick set up and the deafeningly loud drone has been played since.
Openers Dead Rat Orchestra spent their set probing the capabilities of the human ear with their thirty minute set of piercingly loud 1600s revivalist folk, which in truth fell on deaf ears. They'd been billed as an 'experimental folk' band and they may be so on record, but live their music comes across unambitious and tired. 'Experimental', to me anyway, doesn't equate to ditching conventional folk instruments for a macbook and singing frustratingly tired melodies over some sparse noise compositions, aided by the occasional clang of makeshift percussion. The drone loop that preceded Godspeed's arrival I guess sounded a little bit like Dead Rat Orchestra without the insufferable vocals.
Eventually, the Canadian post-rock titans answer the crowds increasingly impatient cries. With not a vocal microphone between them, there's no need for pleasantries beyond a modest smile before the band open their set with the almost discordant 'Hope Drone'. It's GY!BE at their most avant-garde horror film score-y, with the dark ambient soundscape creeping to the very back of the room. Sophie Trudeau's demented violin clashing with screeching guitars. "Off Raise yr skinny fists? Fucking Tune!" is bellowed out from somewhere behind me to my amusement as the band fade into 'Gathering Storm'. taking their set from bewildering and petrifying to completely life affirming. The keys that open up the piece are overflowing with feeling, it's a piece of music no doubt sacred to so many of those watching and the quick transition into it from such a contrasting opener catches most out: heads in hands, motionless, uncontained - the reaction varies across the room as the twenty minutes plus piece takes its grip. The only sound imaginable that could top it in volume and emotion is the applause that follows.
New record 'Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress' follows in its entirety. It's perhaps the least engaging record Godspeed have penned, yet live it takes on a whole new lease of life. Captivating, haunting, crushing, uplifting, Liverpool Music Week may boast some huge shows across its seven days but Godspeed in full swing is the overwhelming highlight by far. Surrealist films play behind the band from a huge analogue projector as the eight piece finish on a new track which indicates that the worlds most overwhelming live band are still brimming with creativity, and not just live prowess
By Marty Hill
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