Bristol
15 February 2025
The Cube is still probably my favourite Bristol venue; the calibre of the artistes, the atmosphere and the price make for an unbeatable combination and tonight was no exception. John Scott‘s Stereocilia was here for the launch of his latest album Phases, but joining him on the bill was Deb Googe of My Bloody Valentine and Thurston Moore‘s band fame, and local soon-to-be legends Ex Agent.
It was a packed house and we certainly had no preconceptions of Ex Agent, although the piano, clarinet and sax along with two guitars, bass and drums should have given us an inkling that we were in for a treat.
Considering their youth, there is absolutely no fear for Ex Agent; a five piece that use the history of leftfield music as a stepping stone to their own style. With two guitarists, one of whom sang occasionally while they sprayed action lines at one another, a stoic bassist, a pianist who caressed the instrument and a truly thoughtful drummer who droves the whole awkward shebang, they were a joyful surprise.
At times the vocals wailed and at others they were a predatory whisper. In fact, I was reminded of The For Carnation in some of the slow-build atmospherics, but their willingness to throw in some free improv sounds, the pianist with his head in the guts, a set of beaters in his hands as angular distorted guitar assailed us.
Elsewhere, the clarinet and sax lent slinky opportunities to follow more of a post-jazzy direction, but everything was nailed down by a drummer who knows exactly when to push and when to break the groove, allowing the others to overtake. All in all, a great set that shows Ex-Agent to be ones to watch.
Wrestling sounds from the guitar that you wouldn’t think possible, she recounted slow sultry tales with distorted heartbeat synth lending an anchor to the guitar peregrinations. If you closed your eyes though, you could be forgiven for thinking she had come onstage with a washing machine filled with gravel or a pedal steel taken over by surreptitious spiders. The vocals were quite heavy in places, particularly 2023’s Slither 12″ and it moved at the kind of soporific pace that allowed more time to abuse the slapped, slithered and looped guitar. It was only a half-hour set, but could have been longer and we’ll definitely be checking out her back catalogue.
The first two acts were a lot to follow, but we had every confidence that Stereocilia would not disappoint; and with an array of electronic gadgetry and his trusty guitars, an insistent, nagging beat started up over which paroxysms of guitar burst forth, reflecting the churning water of the projections. There was a heavy sci-fi sensation, a dystopian earthscraping drive that rolled across the audience; the beats deceptively simple and providing a blank canvas over which the guitars were layered ever more forcefully until it was Glen Branca-like in its orchestral overload.
John seems to have really upped his game with this set and the latest album bears that out. As for this evening, it was truly transporting and thoroughly enjoyed by all attending. When you hear talk of people spending hundreds of pounds to see a speck in the distance in some enormodome, this grass-roots network of music venues offering pure entertainment at great value for money is what is being eroded. We need to support the smaller venues and the artists who do it as much for love as money. Tonight was a perfect example of that ethos and long may it continue.
-Words: Mr Olivetti-
-Pictures: Michael Rodham-Heaps-
