Chew Lips

Catch,

London

24/11/2008

Brooklynites might have thought they were gonna have the girl-fronted electro-pop trio thang all to themselves, but tonight is proof that London’s response is ready to go – and what a glorious riposte Chew Lips are. The three-piece share the bleeps’n’beats soundscapes of Chairlift and School Of Seven Bells, but instead of being guided by valium vocals, they’re frogmarched forward by the incessant, brain-stamping melodies of singer Tigs, managing to look all mischievous and melancholic at once.

Tonight, as her two bandmates engage in a Casio keyboard-off behind her, she’s engrossing, pixie-dancing her way round the stage one second, mock-laser shooting the audience the next, and then stopping in her tracks, suddenly looking all Karen O-mournful. Just when you think she might be about to break the emotional barrier, though, she hip-swivels her way through the crowd and finishes the song from atop the bar. More fool us. The songs are similarly contrary; ‘Salt Air’ has a thumping, dancefloor-quaking bassline juddering beneath its aching vocal, ‘CLVRI’ starts off like a bittersweet PJ Harvey lullaby and quickly slides into a wicked, malevolent chorus whilst set highlight ‘Solo’ is the sort of intimate, introspective paean to life slipping away that you suspect’ll have everyone singing along by the summer.

Chew Lips will be the ear-seducing, dancefloor-dominating heartbreakers of 2009 – the Brooklynites can get their return flights booked…

Niall Doherty