On tonight’s performance, however, it’s a term that’s as pure and as true as a Belgian beer, because dEUS turned Academy 2 into a dazzling musical cauldron of invention, wit and brilliance. Their magic and theatricality are of a kind normally associated with tightrope walkers, fire-eaters or lion-tamers, always walking the line between greatness and disaster. Crazy time-changes, split second musical edits separating loudness and quiet, and subtle shades of tune and phrasing kept the audience rapt all night long. At first sight, it was hard to imagine that five middle-aged blokes could achieve these dynamic and intense musical moments. Partly because we’ve all become hooked on hype, stylisation and musical youth, but achieve them they did, and made many of 2005’s young musical pretenders pale into insignificance. With a smidgeon of Zappa, My Bloody Valentine and Tom Waits welded to their penchant for great tunes and understanding of light and shade, these lowland legends were a total inspiration, the highlight an amazing version of Instant Street from the Ideal Crash album. They’re returning in March – you’re advised not to miss out! |
