After adequate support from ONE UNIQUE SIGNAL and 93 MILLION MILES FROM THE SUN, I was interested to see how THE TELESCOPES would hold up against the vitality of the younger bands (excluding the former, who are comprised entirely from members of the telescopes). As they take to the stage, all doubts are immediately quashed as the band explode into life amid a maelstrom of triple blistering guitars, instantly bringing the attention of every observer to this huge droning monster.
Singer Stephen Lawrie is amongst the crowd within seconds of the opening number, allowing those up front to join in and get lost amongst monolithic walls of feedback. The bands longevity (they formed in Staffordshire in 1987) is obvious, with a set of granite heavy songs, which drag you down into the sonic fun whether you want to or not and they do it with enough energy to put younger bands to shame. At their best, they sound like Jason pierce with ten spiralling guitars playing in a cathedral, which has been buried under concrete. At their worst, the wall of noise aesthetics, which take the place of melody, can get monotonous and the bands 90’s shoegaze sound may not hold much substance or relevance for 2012’s casual observer.
Although arguably the bands most well known song, the perfect needle, gets the crowd and band really moving, the power of the songs seems to dwindle during the last quarter, with some of the band looking lost or bored. These are all minor vexations however and they bands dizzying dynamics bury you under a triple guitar landslide, which has to be seen live to be truly felt.
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