Mr Maps, Hazards of Swimming Naked, and Screens, The Zoo, 9th July 2011

Hazards of Swimming Naked

I've spent the last few weeks in a complete Roxy Music/ Brian Eno haze, for two reasons: One, I bought the first two Roxy Music albums (yes, a little late considering I have a review of their concert on this very site), and Two: Just after discovering both of these to be MOTHERFUCKING MASTERPIECES, I finally watched Velvet Goldmine, a film that to me is a sort of parody tribute to Bowie, glam rock, and all that whole time of sexual liberation and glitter. About half the songs in it are Roxy Music or Eno or something else Eno produced (but NO BOWIE- as he refused to put his music to the film, which I think was secretly a blessing). Hence it was a perfectly timed viewing, and a great backdrop to becoming completely obsessed with these songs. I so love feeling completely immersed in something that has been around so ong that there is even more to explore, and I'm very happy to graduate from 'casual fan' to having my life much enriched by Roxy Music music.

Before all this however, I went to the Zoo on a Saturday night to check out a few local bands on a friends' recommendation, Mr Maps, and Hazards of Swimming Naked. I was not familiar with either band nor the whole post-rock genre, so I was keen to hear something a bit out of my usual comfort zone (that wasn't an R&B club) but also a little nervous as to whether I would enjoy it.

Turns out I needn't have worried. Screens opened the Zoo, flanked by synth, guitar, drums, and a few vocalists. The female vocalist of the group had an amazingly haunting voice and style, which complemented the eerie, haunted, almost numetal songs. Her moans hovered over the top of rolling drums and screeching guitars as if a ghost coasting through a warzone. No really. The whole effect was pretty interesting, and while a lot of the songs sounded similar to me without a standout song, I really enjoyed them, particularly during soft build ups to very satisfying hard-ish rock crescendos.

Next was Mr Maps, which involved a cellist, guitar, piano and drums. I compared them a little to Mogwai, the closest I've come to anything so drawn out, instrumental and epic. But really that comparison is unfair, as they were so much more than a band that sounds a bit like another band. Their individual bits and pieces combined to create a mood in each song that surprisingly drew me in, and while it was a style of music I don't normally seek out, I wasn't bored with it and very much entertained. As a whole, the set was very tight, and lovely from start to finish. My only criticism would be a technical one, which is that you could barely hear the cello, which remained just a faint accompaniment in the background.

The music was so interesting without vocals, i wondered what it would be like with some lyric attached. Although I figured it would probably ruin the effect, and take the focus away from the intricate arrangement.

Hazards of Swimming Naked was the last to play, and it appeared that everyone in the audience knew someone in the band. They were also quite excellent; while more drawn out and harder than Mr Maps, they shared that same vibe. I guess that's post rock! I felt similar about Hazards of Swimming Naked as I did with Mr Maps, which also worked together to create amazing sounds and a penetrating dark vibe. I have to admit however that I wasn't quite as drawn in and entertained... I think this was partly as the music was a bit more hard-rock and teetered dangerously on my threshold for that kind of music. Nevertheless I could still appreciate it for what it was and I can definitely see, if that's what floats ones' boat, why it floats. I was pleasantly happy with my enjoyment of all 3 bands, and while I haven't fallen completely in love with post rock, I have become more interested in it as a genre and would see them again (particularly Mr Maps).

I have listened to a bit more Mr Maps since the gig, and I get the feeling that to really appreciate them, you need the live experience. While it's quite intricate music, it easily falls into the background if there is nothing to visually attend to you. This is the way I can sometimes feel about musical acts such as M83 or Panda Bear. I shall keep listening however, because it is very pleasant, and a lot of music I initially dismissed as simply ambient, did begin to stand out to me and engross me later on.

Screens, Mr Maps and Hazards get 7 out of 10 distortion pedals.

Next: all the other reviews I have procrastinated on posting. Stay tuned!