Photo: Chris MacDonald
Everything Everything's performance at Hackney's Oval Space last night confirmed they are at a crossroads in their career.
The Mancunian art-rock outfit - known for their surreal tongue-twisting lyrics and body jerking rhythms - are set to release their third studio album in June. Get To Heaven will see them either evolve into a Foals' style headline act or merely continue to rule the small stages.
Based on last night's performance it would appear they are ready to make that step up. Even with the majority of the set being taken from a record that no-one has heard, they manage to convince the (admittedly highly partisan) crowd. The new material, produced with the help of Stuart Price, certainly sound bold - they've clearly evolved since Arc and not just in the sense they've ditched the designer boilersuits for some particularly bright orange and purple tailoring.
Opener 'To The Blade' revealed that the band haven't been kidding about a more aggressive direction - it's as sharp and to the point as frontman Jonathan Higgs' haircut. The title track of the new album has a balearic disco vibe, accompanied by some near highlife guitar. 'Regret' is even hookier, with a near Motown-quality bassline and some nice Metronomy-bothering guitar work: when Higgs launches into a manaical laugh it makes complete sense.
The rest of the new material had much to recommend it. 'Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread' has a twiddly charm all of its own and the lines "I'm going to kill a stranger / So don't be a stranger" will no doubt be quoted and misquoted over the summer (we're still at a loss what was going on with a lyric possibly involving a baboon stealing someone's face.) 'Distant Past', despite only being released in February is greeted like an old friend: stabby house keyboards, driving rhythms and odd sound effects combine to devastating effect.
Naturally admid the new material, the band's back catalogue shines through. "Do we have any fans in with a falsetto voice tonight?" says Higgs before launching into 'Kemosabe', In turn 'My KZ Ur BF' stomps down and the chirping intro of 'Schoolin' is greeted with delight. The band's biggest hits have lost none of their power - 'Photoshop Handsome' and 'Cough Cough' are both received rapturously.
'No Reptiles' is the night's deciding moment - a new track debuted this week on Huw Stephens show that proves the band are going to have a spectacular summer. If they're not producing romper suits with 'It's ok to feel like a Fat child in a pushchair old enough to run old enough to fire a gun." then they are missing a trick. Last night proved to be a bold showcase of what should be one of this summer's most surprising album. We just can't wait to hear the album in full - and not only because we'll be finally able to decifer quite what Higgs is articulating so delightfully.
The band play Manchester's Academy 2 tonight and will be performing at Parklife 2015 alongside Disclosure, Nas and Mark Ronson this summer. For tickets and more information click here.
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