Thursday 27/03/08 Longview, Exit Calm @ Dingwalls, Camden

Thursday 27/03/08 Longview, Exit Calm @ Dingwalls, Camden

* by Chris Cummins
* Monday, March 31, 2008




Last years music scene was largely dominated by Indie posers pedalling very enjoyable, but at times, not very exciting Indie pop. With a huge crop of new bands all breaking into the album charts it would appear that British music was at is strongest for years. However almost everyone who we spoke to over the age of twenty five, about new bands, would simply reply "they’re all right." It wasn’t until Gigwise started delving into the pre 1994 section of our record collection that we started to see why. Having been used to hearing the likes of Nick McCabe and John Squire send you on a sonic journey through sound armed only with a blistering overdrive pedal, it is easy to see why the Brit school’s latest output seemed to be failing to excite the original fans of British Indie.

So when we were invited down to Dingwalls Gigwise was looking forward to hearing some well crafted and interesting music. We’d been assured that Exit Calm were good live with plaudits coming from British music heavyweights, Mani from Primal Scream and Tom from the Enemy. Before the band took to the stage, there was a buzz of anticipation about the crowd and murmurings of comparison with the Verve’s debut ‘A Storm In Heaven’. However nothing could prepare us for what we were about to witness. Crowded onto the tiny stage in the dark basement of Camden lock, five lads from Yorkshire began to play some of the most mesmerising music we’ve heard in years.

Their sound instantly fills the room. Beginning slowly with ‘Don’t Look Down’, they quickly build to new single ‘Higher Learning’, a song which over loads the senses leaving you transfixed by their powerful and ethereal sound, which deserves to be filling arenas, not a basement in Camden. Throughout the rest of their set they deliver lyrical poetry combined with the most beautiful, delicate but earth shattering music, with real passion and energy.

With just enough time to steady ourselves with a quick pint from the bar Longview began to play. The crowd was full of their fans, which mainly consisted of ageing Indie boys, reminiscing about their student days and the great bands that they had seen. Having been around a few years, Longview has had plenty of time to perfect their sound. They deliver very mature and broody Indie effortlessly. The highlight of the set is probably their biggest single to date, ‘Further’, a song that builds into an uplifting classic. Their musicianship at times is sublime, with superbly crafted melodic songs that remind us of the great early shoegaze bands. They’re not songs that you will hear often on the radio but if you have the time, they are well worth a listen. By the end of the night they have pleased their fans with their epic sound and superb musicianship.