Detachments
Oakford Social Club, Reading
27/03/2010

Detachments provide the entertainment tonight at an unveiling of the new décor of Reading’s Oakford Social; a venue that has over the last three years hosted the likes of Adele, Jack Penate, The Temper Trap, Friendly Fires, The XX and Florence & The Machine on their way to the top of the musical stratosphere.  In-between breaking superstar bands, The Oaky (as we like to call it round these parts) still finds time to support a host of local Reading favourites on their own musical journey including Pete & The Pirates, Does it Offend You, Yeah?  and newer kids on the block like MidiMidis, theCOLOURS & White Sunday. That’s today’s Berkshire history lesson over; learn anything?  Good.

There’s no need for any support bands tonight, as per usual the Saturday night party atmosphere is in full swing by the time Detachments take to the stage at 11pm on the dot.  Teasing The Fly into their chiming 80’s guitar melancholy with ‘I Don’t Want To Play’ and ‘Circles’ it is however, a colder, slick, dark futuristic sound, with electronic pop sensibilities akin to Kraftwerk rather than another Madchester Stone Roses wannabe outfit  that embodies the true flavour of Detachments’  work.  It’s a taste The Fly is salivating over midway into the set for the live favourite that is ‘The Flowers That Fell’, as The Oakford regulars’ pointy shoes start toe tapping their way across the crowded dancefloor, with regimented precision.

It’s a short, sharp, set tonight from Sebastien and co, but it’s very much objective achieved  as they pack down and move out to conquer the next territory via the M1 and back to their Northern stronghold.  And with a bit of luck, they may also be joining the Oakford star-cast band A-listers. Time will reveal all.

Shane Daunt