Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Leeds Academy
26/04/2010

The first minute of tonight’s support set from Dark Horses is positively eerie. There’s a low, humming drone as Lisa Elle sings languidly through the chiffon scarf shrouding her face, recalling the faceless people in Rene Magritte’s ‘The Lovers’, and only a few violet lights pick Dark Horses from the shadows. Slowly the scarf is unravelled as the song takes form, and a restrained energy hangs in the air, heavy as a thundercloud. Intentionally uncomfortable, it creates a mood similar to the distorted soundscapes made by We Fell To Earth. Headliners Black Rebel Motorcycle Club also boast solemn, down-tempo songs which lull and soothe, but unlike Dark Horses they compliment and contrast with openly visceral rock tracks which so utterly thrill. You’ll find The Fly rocking on our heels to ‘War Machine’ and then feeling liberated as we dance to the oh so sexy ‘Berlin’. It’s baffling to see such a rich sound coming from only three people, but there is still that lo-fi garage band element lurking underneath it all, adding the vitality which new preened and polished rock acts often lack. 

Old favourite ‘Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘N’ Roll (Punk Song)’ may be the highlight for most tonight, but new tracks from ‘Beat The Devil’s Tattoo’ fit in seamlessly to create a beautifully coherent set.

Justine Trickett