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MONEY, Northumbria University, Newcastle

  • Written by  Lee Hammond

 

Tonight is a triple headed beast, headed up by former indie rockers turned Nine Inch Nails wannabes Wild Beasts. However, it falls to Ardyn to open this eclectic show, the brother and sister duo indulge tonight's early arrivals with a set of sickly sweet songs infused with a delicate synth pop edge. Their sound lacks originality and is quickly becoming the landfill 'indie' sound of choice. 

There is some emotion there but it fails to grab us as it is masked by their over reliance on their aesthetic. In many ways this is a case of style over substance, as they're merely pandering as to what is in vogue right now. The same cannot and will not be said for MONEY who following on from the release of their incredible second album Suicide Songs earlier in the year are still riding this wave of success.

Suicide Songs is one of the most powerful and emotive albums around and tonight its songs come alive once more, singer Jamie berating those ignorant enough to dare to talk through his powerful works. The passion and the power so telling in his delivery, these songs of excess and heartbreak draw you in. The odd glimpse of humour as he chastised those too careless to listen, really though this was the building of anger before his next outpouring of anguish. 

The likes of ‘I’m Not Here’ and ‘I’ll Be The Night’ bring the set to life but it is closing track ‘Cocaine Christmas And An Alcoholic New Year’, after numerous attempts to silence the naive he rises above them continuing in fine form an exceptional closing swan song. The cacophony of his band brings to an end what is only too short a set on this occasion, Wild Beasts are quick to follow though.

Where MONEY had passion and power, Wild Beasts put on a set of two distinct halves. The former being their old unique, intriguing and exciting selves and the latter a sub par rendition of Nine Inch Nails as we alluded to before. Their sinister themes are now masked by an overzealous mix of heavy beats and suppressed is Hayden's defining falsetto, all bands have to move on but Boy King feels like it may be a step too far.

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