Chl├Âe Howl ÔÇô The Angel Hotel

At just 18 years of age, Chl├Âe Howl writes the sort of brutally honest, cynical lyrics about what it is to be young that youÔÇÖd expect from someone whoÔÇÖs lived through it already. Her talent as a synth pop artist was clear from the outset, with opener Rumour from her EP of the same name: high energy and a tight arrangement set the tone. Halfway through, the tempo was brought down with ÔÇÿa song about my friend, IndiaÔÇÖ. Howl confronted drug issues with a sensitive performance and a lot of heart, showing serious promise for her future as a singer-songwriter. The slot ended on her latest, faster-paced songs Downtown and Paper Heart, as well as new single No Strings from the EP. All were delivered with a resounding vocal and riffs harking back to ÔÇÖ80s pop influences, leaving the crowd cheering and convinced of her place on the British pop scene. This artist is one of a quality handful making a name for young British musicians in 2013, a far cry from the manufactured pop weÔÇÖve previously been used to.┬áHES

Frankie & The Heartstrings ÔÇô Clwb Ifor Bach

Having graced the Great Hall in support of The Cribs at last yearÔÇÖs festival, not to forget the subsequent front cover of Quench, Frankie & The Heartstrings returned to S┼Án and the smaller surroundings of Clwb Ifor Bach.

Sporting a new sharper look, front man Frankie Francis appears to have matured, maintaining what comes across as genuine enthusiasm but having put aside many of the unnecessary theatrics of 12 months ago. Although the crowd isnÔÇÖt quite as up for it as the band would have hoped they donÔÇÖt allow it to detract from their performance, which is lively and animated throughout.

The band play their way through a selection of material from their two previous albums, which doesnÔÇÖt offer much in terms of variety, but displays the sort of jangly guitars and catchy choruses that we have become accustomed to, with FrankieÔÇÖs regional vocal giving it the Heartstring seal of approval. ┬áLM

 

Sky Larkin ÔÇô Clwb Ifor Bach

The Leeds-based trio are back together from separate projects. Regulars in Cardiff, they returned for their second set in a month following their UK tour for the release of September album Motto. This time, Sky Larkin were slow to start but things picked up with upbeat single Loom. Beers in hand and a faultless unity throughout, the band attracted growing cheers with each song. The whole gig had an easy vibe with every member giving a straightforward, quality performance ÔÇô particularly drummer Nestor Matthews. With rich, resounding instrumentals, Sky Larkin have honed the right balance between addressing the crowd and playing a great set.┬áHES

 

Gulp ÔÇô Clwb Ifor Bach┬á

S┼Án saw Gulp, current project of Guto Pryce (Super Furry Animals), return to the scene of their first gig. GulpÔÇÖs brand of synth-drenched psychedelia saw Clwb packed out for the beginning of the festival.

Lindsey LevenÔÇÖs vocals are captivating and sincere, delivered in a way that invites the audience in to the melodic opening of the set. Following two unreleased tracks, the droning synth of ‘Game Love’ kicks in, signalling the beginning of the hazy 3 and half-minute journey through the bandÔÇÖs debut single.

The duo combine electronic and experimental influences to create a sound that is incredibly unique, a quality owed in part to LevenÔÇÖs delicate vocals. The pair bring an extra dimension to their live performance, with trippy visuals creating a fitting atmosphere throughout.

The set closes with latest single ‘Play’ followed by the upbeat dance floor-friendly ‘Diamonds’, the B-side from ‘Game Love’, leaving behind an audience likely to be hoping for and expecting much more from this band.┬áLM

 

Totem Terrors ÔÇô Clwb Ifor Bach┬á

Setting up, the awkward duo looked incapable of living up to their name. Fortunately, appearances can be deceiving: their post-punk material is minimal and unforgiving, with heavy bass lines, monotone vocals and the odd atmospheric yelp from guitarist Rosie. Sure, it was weird at times, but in a progressive kind of way. After a shaky start of forgotten lyrics, the pair won over the crowd with cheeky subject matter and a little self-deprecation. At one moment the duo would be seemingly unaware of having an audience; the next, theyÔÇÖd be moving through the crowd and grimacing at press cameras. Totem Terrors gave a quirky performance with a parting message to match: ÔÇ£WeÔÇÖve been Totem Terrors and youÔÇÖve beenÔǪ a bigger audience than expectedÔÇØ.┬áHES

 

Heavy Petting Zoo ÔÇô Clwb Ifor Bach

Taking to the stage clad entirely in black, Heavy Petting ZooÔÇÖs uniform forms stark contrast to the white suited dancer theyÔÇÖve brought along with them. Deftly filling the gap in the crowd consistently formed by those either too cool or too shy to move forward, their snowy shape-thrower perfectly compliments HPZÔÇÖs darkly swaggering rock ÔÇÿnÔÇÖ roll. Downtuned and bassy, the set soon takes a turn for the weird as a conga breaks out around ClwbÔÇÖs infamous mid-floor pole. A brisk end-of-set undressing from the bandÔÇÖs alternative answer to Bez solidifies this as one of the most interesting ÔÇô if incongruous ÔÇô sets of the weekend.┬áTC

 

Ghostpoet – The Angel Hotel

Within seconds of taking to the stage, GhostpoetÔÇÖs bassy soundtrack tears down the stageÔÇÖs S┼Án Festival backdrop. This, coupled with the ÔÇÿpoet himself┬á (Obaro Ejimiwe to his mother) being shrouded in darkness, forms perfect metaphor for the subsequent hour and a half. This is not about the festival, this is not about the man; this is all about the voice. Warped and muddled by an array of pedals to EjimiweÔÇÖs right, it takes on a life of its own among the ornate surroundings of the Angel Hotel. As the crowd sways and bobs before him, it soon becomes clear that Ghostpoet is in fact less a poet, more a priest, and tonightÔÇÖs performance is a borderline religious experience.┬áTC

Outfit – The Great Hall┬á

ÔÇ£Thanks for coming early!ÔÇØ Frontman Andrew Hunt addresses the keen end of the crowd as his band Outfit are tasked with opening not just the evening, but S┼Án festival itself. As they launch into House on Fire, a curious crowd becomes an excited one, drawn closer to the stage by beautiful, skulking disco numbers.┬á One angular pop melody after another rewards the earlybirds, the heavy washed falsetto and pure funk bass of Thank God I was Dreaming allow a glimpse into what Hot Chip could be live on a good day. After the tightest of 40 minute sets, they end on album-closer and radio-favourite, Two Islands. A soaring chorus bounds over delicate synths, and after 4 minutes even those merely reserving a space for later felt sad to see them go.┬áJD

 

Dutch Uncles – The Great Hall┬á

The vocals get higher and the dancing gets stranger as Dutch Uncles respond to OutfitÔÇÖs opening set with their own brand of oddpop. And if thereÔÇÖs any band to move to, this is it. FlexxinÔÇÖ and Slave to the Atypical Rhythm provoke the exact response youÔÇÖd expect from such titles, as happy gig-goers shed inhibitions and get down in hilarious fashion. Frontman Duncan Wallis leads proceedings, interjecting bursts of song with spasmodic jerks and shimmys, and making it all seem normal. Amid the falsetto funk are darker moments like Threads and Fester (they donÔÇÖt mess around with track titles, Dutch Uncles) to grant us a momentÔÇÖs recovery, before the familiar tones of old single Fragrance invite movement once again. As exhausting, and fun, a show as youÔÇÖre ever likely to see outside of punk.

 

Everything Everything – The Great Hall┬á

Mancunian four-piece Everything Everything have evolved their live show. Gone are the grey boiler suits and stoic stage manner of their Man Alive tour; the band walk on in what look like utopian IKEA uniforms, but they walk on smiling.  The most notable change is in singer Jonathan Higgs, who emerges from behind the synth to play the part of frontman with relish, handing deliberately tricky lyrics over to the crowd while he peacocks the stage. Some manage to keep up with the rapid high notes of opener Undrowned, but most content themselves with filming it on their iPhones.

More songs from second album Arc follow, and are met with the same fervour as old favourites Photoshop Handsome and MY KZ, YR BF. Torso of the Week, in particular, prove the band still like to jam as many melodies into one single as decency allows. One thing unchanged is the solo rendition of Tin (The Manhole), a highlight of their last tour which continues into this. Responding to appeals for ÔÇÿone more songÔÇÖ, the band take an encore, Jonathan clears his throat into the mic, and they perform an exhilarating Cough Cough to a rejuvenated crowd, pounding drums to the largest cheers of the night.┬áJD