Signals. [Live Review – The Star, Guildford, 19/10/14]
To say that I was looking forward to this show would be an understatement. Long-time TMMP followers will have already seen me wax lyrical about this Southampton-based math-pop quartet – but until this night, I’d not ticked off the final – and most important – box on the ‘Band To Watch’ checklist: The Live Show. No matter how good a band sounds on record, if they suck live it’s going to be tough to justify really getting behind them.
Although I could go on and on about Dawn‘s beguiling harmonies, the extra jazzy touches added to Recuperate, the crushing punch of latest single Sleep Talk and the almost inhumanly pristine musicianship used to push every single song up a level, I’d rather point out something much more important. A large part of my joyous ranting and raving has recently been directed at Marmozets – a band who’ve dropped TMMP’s album of the year and are fast heading for even more major achievements. Having now met and interviewed both Signals. and Marmozets as well as checking out their discographies and live shows, I have to say that those bands represent two sides of the same math-riddled coin.
Signals. are to pop what Marmozets are to rock. Both bands boast awesome songs that stick in your head despite being mind-breakingly complex, along with stellar instrumental mastery, epic production teams, engaging personalities, a winning sense of humour, and a level-headed awareness of how the music business works. Aside from the pop/rock divide and where they currently are in their careers, there’s very little to separate Signals. and Marmozets.
In time, I can easily see Signals. hitting the highs that Marmozets have – and eventually progressing even further beyond that. If you doubt it, see the poster above for the remaining Sleep TourK dates.
Links
Signals. on Facebook and Twitter.
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