
Indie boys beware, this ATP-hosted gig is as far from your sha-la-la sing-alongs about escaping the 9 to 5 grind as you can get. Arriving at the venue just after support Gentle Friendly close their set, the crowd is already shuffling forward in anticipation as tonight’s opening of tranquil chimes and quaint fairytale bells is quickly smashed by a distorted wall of feedback; with Islet geting straight down to fuzzy basslines and tribal beats, finished off with chaotic freestyling.
Genres are mashed together a few tracks into the set, and Islet look like they’ve just stumbled across each other for the first time in the healing fields of Glastonbury, and we’re witnessing the jam night unfolding. If you’re waiting for the chorus, or working out who the frontman man is, you’ll be disappointed – this lot switch instruments, vocals, stage positions, wander around off-stage, and remove their clothes throughout a performance that feels very much like The Lexington’s end of year hedonistic homecoming.
As the half naked chap on-stage hammering at the keys starts to resemble a dazed and confused Will Ferrell in his own little world, he asks the crowd if anyone has ever “owned a bear” as discussion tangents off to tonight’s edition of BBC’s Frozen Planet, which we are all indeed missing – just one example of random chitchat from tonight’s similarly random sonic mix of brilliantly leftfield noise pop. Islet, thank you for seducing us out of the house.
Shane Daunt