Live Review: Death To The Liberty

The ‘death’ of a venue is always a bittersweet affair. Sure, it’s sad to see the institution go but, being a beloved venue that has wet weirdos’ whistles for such an extensive period, tonight the walls are packed with black for its final dance ‘til death.

Starting things off, Vacuum, the collaborative project between Nun's Jenny Branagan and Chrome Dome et al's Andrea Blake, are sample-heavy and rather experimental with digitised sounds making it hard to decipher the mesh of sound that becomes occasionally rather rhythmic and, at times, despite its concept, accessible.

Up next, Regional Curse (aka Stacey Wilson) follow a similar flavour, but what we receive is far more textural and atmospheric in its delivery. The tempo generally sits on the slower side of things, if present at all. Considering the not exactly night-out-fun-time sound on offer, when we look around the rest of the audience seems quite immersed in these soundscapes.

As it begins, the mix for Miles Brown feels tinny and quiet. Watching the day job Night Terrors frontman ponder about the stage looping everything he touches bar his trademark theremin feels dull. As we progress, however, these initial disheartened beginnings essentially become lost in dance. Brown simply delivers, especially in the set’s dying moments. Coupled with a boatload of fog and lasers, the synth-pop on offer translates into the highlight of the night.

Rounding out the (live) portion of the evening, Repairs don't necessarily deliver. While the collection of analogue synthesisers and other bits of gorgeous tech being used tonight sound amazing, it is the sound that the band have cultivated that feels ‘been there, done that’. Nonchalant, inaudible ramblings slathered in reverb over the top of some synths (and looking like the bastardised version of Kraftwerk-meets-The-Rolling-Stones-that-stole-from-Joy-Division) isn't anything new and while the rabble seem to enjoy it, it just doesn't come through as something headline-worthy. Repairs could almost be any 'dark' or 'underground' band that came to be post 1981.

On the decks throughout the eve and after, longstanding soundtrack makers for this grotto Requiem and bits of Nun hit play on a bunch of tracks. For the most part, if that is your purpose for coming out tonight then you would find it cheaper to go home and dig out your 13-year-old self’s CD collection and have a whale of a time.