Plaid

Venue:

Hare and Hounds Birmingham

Date: 23/11/2022

It seems bonkers that a group who have been going thirty years could be classified as challenging new music. But Plaid, part of that brilliant Warp Records roster of the early 90s, are still putting their grindy textures and jumpy time signatures out there. Having heard both Squarepusher and Plaid at this venue recently, Plaid have mellowed rather beautifully. Their tracks, many I am guessing from new album Feorm Falorx, blend into one another live to create a continuous soundscape. Chief elements are the classic Warp sub-bass frequencies and the klassic metallic klang keyboard sound of early techno. Live guitar over the top provides extra texture and if you’re in any way interested by beats and electronica (most stuff a chugging mid-tempo) it’s all pleasant rather than challeinging.
Stage left two blokes pecking away on laptops. They may be Plaid. Stage right two blokes pecking away on keyboard and guitar. They may also be Plaid. probably them really.
Not much visually going on is there? Well actually they give us something to occupy the eyes in the form of a continuous evolving set of trippy visuals. Not quite a feature film, but distinct phases matched to each track. Just as their sound evokes bits of 70s analogue synth from Jarre or Vangelis, the visuals evoke 70s visual icons such as Moebius, La Planete Sauvage and even (gulp) Roger Dean. Spaceships, future cities, giant trees, alien worlds take us from the gently trippy to the gently banging and after an hour and twenty it’s all over. No encore but everyone home happy.

The audience:

Fairly mixed in age and gender, but quite a few rave veterans and people from IT support.

It made me think..

Weekday gigs. Get on, do your set, get off. Also Neck Oil £6.30 a pint. Come on. I know the Academies are sharks, but its our local pub venue.

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