The expectation that comes with being labelled as the “best band in London” by an act as revered as Shame could weigh heavily on the shoulders of some artists. However, Black Midi are managing to justify this claim. The four piece from Selhurst have risen up from the burgeoning South London music scene, armed with their mind melting math rock. The band are as mysterious as they are ingenious; operating under the cover of darkness, with posts on their social media channels being swiftly deleted and upcoming gigs appearing out of the blue. Their first release, the Dan Carey produced ‘bmbmbm’, set tongues wagging in the mainstream music press - as the band relentlessly toured throughout 2018. They played everywhere from a 50 capacity DIY space in Bermondsey to Latitude festival; beguiling audiences and critics alike with their progressive take on guitar music.
Tonight they make the journey across the Thames to headline a sold out show in the darkest reaches of Hackney Wick. The band appear after a distorted dance track rings out around the venue – arriving on stage without acknowledging the audience before launching into their set. Enigmatic frontman Geordie Greep's body contorts with every strum of his guitar, as he stalks the mic stand like a young Patrick Bateman weighing up his next victim. The band behind him proceed to bounce between displaced time signatures - melding math, psych and post rock all in a matter of minutes. It sounds like a clusterfuck and it really is - a sonic assault on the senses with each deranged turn. There's even an air of Black Francis’ influence during bassist Cameron Picton’s spoken word segment on one track, as the quartet threaten to fall apart in front of onlooking eyes, only to be caught by Morgan Simpson’s ridiculous drumming prowess.
Simpson's performance itself is something to behold; like a proverbial escapologist, he manages to wriggle his way out from every tight space in tonight's set. As a result, it’s easy to see why there is such a buzz surrounding Black Midi. ‘Ducter’ slowly builds up until breaking point, with Greep’s sullen cries of “She could never break me” lulling the crowd into a false sense of security, before exploding into a cacophony of feedback. ‘Of Rivia’s’ jagged guitar leads poke and prod attendees into action, before climaxing in Greep incoherently jabbering on top of a frenetic drum sequence - a moment that perfectly captures the organised chaos on display tonight. The gargantuan breakdown on ‘bmbmbm’ then brings proceedings to a close, before the band quietly down tools and retreat - once again without so much as a glance at the audience.
Ultimately, Black Midi are like lightning in a bottle. A rarity. A multifaceted band fully deserving of the furore surrounding them; from their impeccable musicianship to the originality of their mystique. What’s more - with their debut album on the horizon - you get the impression that they are only just getting started.
