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REVIEW: ERRORS AT EXCHANGE, BRISTOL (19/10/12)

Errors gigs, for me, have a warm sense of familiarity that comes with having seen the band play a whole number of times (five times this year may well be a little bit obsessive to see one band, but the band has always offered quality in the musical output). From the humble beginnings in 2008 when they first started touring, I saw them in Start the Bus – plying their electronica-infused sounds. So, tonight it’s the second time I have ever been to the Exchange (the gig was moved from the Cooler, due to the Cooler closing down), meaning that not only was it a change of venue but it had a early curfew.

Supporting Errors tonight was the brilliant psych-house inspired Dam Mantle, who fits somewhere between the likes of Gold Panda and Flying Lotus, in the fact that what he creates is big long dreamscapes that float along with jazz-inspired beats with free-styling melodies. There are almost elements of early Kruder and Dorfmiesterand the whole acid house jazzy drum’n’bass moments, although not that many people are paying attention as he battles the chitter chatter of yabbering mouths. If there is one thing that does drive me up the wall, it’s people talking whilst the band is playing, it is just down right rude. am Mantle only really talks to the audience to say that half way through he was going to speed things up so that if anyone wanted to dance then they could, of course no one took any notice as he upped the anti. It didn’t really help with his early set time of 7.30.

The place begins to fill up, creating a feeling of being in a heated tin can, with its dingy, sparsely lit interior – a similar atmosphere to the backroom of the Croft. This helps create a close atmosphere. There is a building sense of excitement as the crowd fills out what was once a sparse space, there were a few new young faces who had never seen Errors and were new to the live experience.

Taking to the stage, Errors are swarmed by a roar of cheers, to which the Errors main man, Steev Livingston, looks out bemused and slightly stunned. The band go on to crack out a set that would largely demonstrate the band’s ability to mix elements of post rock and electronica together. With the huge dreamscape opening from Mr Livingstone and his synth playing, compatriot Simon Ward building waves of warm sound before James Hamilton took to the stage to break out the crashing beats.

There are some moments of pure Sigur Ros style beauty with Steev’s vocals put through an array of compression units and vocal effects, which make him sound high-pitched and ethereal. You can almost feel the sweat dripping from the ceiling. The tin can is heating up. The band even ask if there is any air-conditioning before taking us on wondering style journey, playing a mixture of material from the recent album ‘Have Some Faith In Magic’ and from new mini album ‘Relics’, has seen the band continuously grow both as a live act and on record.

What they have developed is a real cohesive feel, which has them being able to weave through post rock’s glacierial-like melodies with electronic shuffles. They are very much a band willing to put themselves on the crossing point niche of post rock and the heavier dance beat – with nods left right and centre, to the likes of Silver Apples and a glimpse of Kraftwerk, that give way to the likes of God Speed You Black Emperor stylistics. With the new material comes a new sense of self belief, as they plough through the set with real gusto, the title track from ‘Relics’ proves to a highlight, with a real Stereolab feel – lusciously drowsy as the sound bounces around the four walls like a perfect echoey chamber.

The set is tightly wound together with a real sense of precision playing with inter-laping guitars that build onto of synth melodies that find this reviewer discoing to the beats and the many colours in sound variations making for kaleidoscopic effects. Leaving in good time for tonight’s early finish. Early shows have a tendency to lack atmosphere, that’s one thing that tonight’s Errors gig most definitely did not lack.

Words: Jeffrey Johns
Photo: Vince Kmeron via Flickr

by 247 Magazine