Glasgow venue-cum-record label Bloc+ hosted a celebratory
end of year showcase two weeks ago, featuring performances from experimentalists
Kill the Waves, grunge outfit The Van T’s and indie four-piece Cherri Fosphate.
Bloc+ Music’s stated aims include promoting artists
that are “in a stage of development where they deserve to reach a bigger
audience”. It's this supportive approach that makes Bloc+ one of my favourite labels in the country. Unsurprisingly, each band displayed attributes that suggest they’re
on the cusp of success.
Take twin-sister led The Van T’s for example, who have already found their niche with an
overtly 90s rock inspired sound. The sisters’ impeccable vocal harmonies stood
out as ever, but it was the wailing grooves and shoegaze-inspired guitar tones of
new EP tracks Growler and Another Sun that gave their sound a discernible edge. Though the band didn't make any of their end-of-year lists, I'm beginning to reconsider. Their EP 'Laguna Babe' is well worth a listen.
Cherri Fosphate also provided a fresh take on a well-trodden genre. Though
their template felt overly reminiscent of early 2000s acts The Strokes or The
Libertines, vocally in particular, the band displayed greater a sense of sonic
adventure. I'd say that their set had the rhythmic guile of Foals but with a
greater emphasis on hooks and punchy riffs.
By contrast, Kill
the Waves had a more drawn out approach. The experimental six-piece were
billed as electronica-inspired, but their best tracks tended to be their slower,
more textured tracks. Combining the talents of two strings players and a more
rock-based set up, they offered a colourful style of post-rock that ebbed and
flowed nicely.
The peak of the set proved to be a cover of Sia’s megahit
Elastic Heart. Vocalist Tim Kwant wisely sidestepped the difficulty in belting
out dramatic chorus hook with a tasteful echo effect, while the strings and
guitars conveyed the song’s drama powerfully.
The cover summed up the potential of Bloc+ Music’s
acts: not necessarily ground-breaking, but undeniably creative. It'll be interesting to see whether they recruit any more acts over the coming year. I'll be watching with interest.
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