Official Secrets Act: Roadhouse, Manchester: 26.3.09
Descending into a club is I think always the best way to start a gig.
The process of walking down the stairs into a dark pit of music, which is full of a hubbub of anticipation, always builds the excitement within me before I see a band.
And I think Manchester’ Roadhouse created the perfect atmosphere at for viewing Official Secrets Act (OSA) and for bands of their ilk in the brooding synth pop sub genre. White Lies anyone?
Visually OSA have the modern sharpened faces and shoes of Franz Ferdinand, all except the George Michael-esq (circa Gitterbug) open shirted type on keys.
Musically they came across well. There were vocal similarities to Peter Perrett of The Only Ones - which really show up on their nice new single ‘Girl from the BBC’.
Their classic synthy-intensity coupled with pop harmonies give them a real sense of 70s New Wave.
The range of songs wasn’t that extensive but I would buy the album for the two tracks I enjoyed on their myspace. So I’ll have to nip down to HMV for ‘Understanding Electricity’ on 30 March 2009.
I do like to see a front man posturing and Tom Charge Burke managed that - his glittering cardigan working wonders on the groupies at the front of the stage under the Roadhouse lights.
Steve Lamacq has described them as “the most lyrically erudite band I’ve heard in a while”, and Artrocker were on the money when speaking of their “acute sense of poetic lyricism, incredible knack for pop harmonies and wonderful sense of Englishness.”
I say: “I wasn’t blown away (not even with the help of the atmospheric setting). But OSA have some pretty good elements and they’re a bit of a laugh. Check them out see what you think.”
Words: Will Astbury
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Reply #1 on : Sat November 14, 2009, 01:12:57