Four Tet - Live In Gateshead With Explosions In The Sky
[Sage]

Looking like four chilled out pixies, Explosions In The Sky took their positions at the Sage, Gateshead, whether crouching on the floor cradling their guitars with slides or standing feet far apart moving their arms in synchronisation.

Explosions in the Sky controlled every aspect of the gig right down to the last drop of emotion, lulling the crowd into a sense of security as they gently plucked their guitars and twiddled with their amps, only to send the crowd crashing back to reality as the drummer called you to arms accompanied the crashing of guitar and the smashing of the FX pedal.

By the end of the forty minutes of pure instrumental music, emotions in tatters and leaving the crowd gasping for breath, Explosions In The Sky picked up their instruments and walked off stage.

To be followed by Four Tet aka Kieran Hebden. Kieran, in contrast to Explosions In The Sky was accompanied by two laptops, a mixer, a rickety table covered in colourful stickers and endless miles of cable. Sourcing his inspiration from psychedelic rock, spiritual jazz, funk and more jazz, Four Tet began twisting and turning, tapping and sliding, taking the crowd effortlessly from soaring electronic melodies to down right dirty, grimy beats.

At one point every tap, every slide of a button seemed to produce more and more new sounds, sending the crowd higher and higher and holding it their until it could be taken no more at, which point the music would soar gently back down again. At times part delicate, others dirty grime, Four Tet shows what there is to be done on an laptop as Explosions In The Sky remind us that the guitar has more depth and imagination in it than your average Indie band would ever be able to drum up.

Explosions In The Sky, instrumental geniuses. They like synchronised body movements while guitar playing, sitting on the floor gently plucking at their guitar strings, messing around with slides and feedback, placing cotton wool on their drumsticks and kicking the FX pedal to produce forty minutes of the amazing soul soaring guitar rifts and the drummer banged away as if calling the crowd to arms.