The Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
In support of their sublime new album “Hope is Just a State of Mind”, Little Comets started their UK release tour in Nottingham following a recent appearance in store at the newly founded Rough Trade in the Lace Market. Their latest release marks a continuation of their signature sound, as the first insight of a live translation beckons to the bustling audience inside Rescue Rooms. Inevitably, there is an air of excitement and expectation for a band who have continued to thrive in their niche year after year, and we happen to be lucky enough to sample their latest offerings for the first time.
Despite missing local singer songwriter Sam Lawrence (sincere apologies, Sam), I manage to catch the entirety of main support High Tyde’s set, whose instant pulsating rhythm and infectious guitar-led melodies ripple perfectly alongside the elated atmosphere already humming round the venue. As highly danceable synth patterns overlay their tropical tangent of indie rock, their sound springs to mind a fusion of Vampire Weekend and Years & Years, suited perfectly for sound tracking any Summer festival. It’s their confidence, lively presence and distinguished dynamics in their performance which makes them such a refreshing sample of the variations possible within their genre. There are particular highlights in their set from upcoming EP “Fuzz”, but the consistency in their material will come with time; as their youth shows, time is on their side. Ultimately, this band could easily takeover during the festival season, so catch them terrorising the support role while it lasts.
It’s expected that the first night of a tour, especially when touring a new album may come with nerves, a coat of rustiness and an immature live interpretation of new material; but for Little Comets, this isn’t an option. Known for their stunningly intricate refraction of indie rock, this outfit have formulated a recipe for their craft which has seen them stay true to their art, yet reach the speculative quality of the forerunners in their genre. In a display laden with breath taking harmonies, audacious instrumentation and the utmost precision, they prove that the distinguished class and sonic beauty of their material can without a doubt be replicated in their live performance. Front man Robert Coles’ soaring vocal prowess blends into their angelic harmonies to coincide with their exquisitely polished, multi-layered buffet of tasty grooves and sweet melodies.
Material from the latest chapter in their back catalogue, “Hope is Just a State of Mind” sits impeccably alongside their former offerings, as the likes of “B&B”, “Salt” and “Little Italy” translate perfectly alongside the classic brilliance of “A Little Opus” and “Joanna”. Each member strives for absolute perfection, as the sweat pours down their concentrated faces to ensure that they deliver each brittle complexity with dedicated execution. The fluency of their set gradually escalates into the more upbeat material from their buoyant debut release, as the likes of “Dancing Song” provides the opportunity for their restless supporters to let off a short burst of steam before drawing the evening to a close.
Fortunately, their set ends with a blissful rendition of “My Boy William” to leave an almost Medusa-like impact, as the crowd freeze in a captivating moment to conclude a truly enlightening and awe-inspiring performance. Little Comets have set themselves on a path in which they are cultivating a rousing niche to achieve the heights they deserve. Instead of lowering themselves to gelling alongside the latest fashion, they have bravely conquered an attempt to continue their signature sound and are all the more sustainable for it. It’s an outstanding live translation of the immense quality the band possesses and suggests that Little Comets could be set to redesign the very fabrications of indie rock itself.
Little Comets – “Hope is Just a State of Mind” is out now (digital/physical)
High Tyde’s EP “Fuzz” is set for release 9th March
Pre order from iTunes here.
Links
https://www.facebook.com/littlecomets
https://www.facebook.com/wearehightyde/
Words by George Fullerton.
