Chvrches, ICA - review

The Glasgow trio have struck gold with their muscular beats. With a bit more oomph, they could be destined for the big time
Chvrches: one of the best breakthrough bands of last year
2 March 2013

Formerly called Churches, the Glasgow trio re-titled themselves after becoming “tired of competing with Jesus for internet hits”.

Since then, they’ve been setting the blogosphere ablaze on the back of a handful of buzzworthy tracks that have seen them compared to Swedish electro types The Knife.

As tends to be the case with “overnight sensations” such as these, the various band members actually spent years toiling in a number of lesser-known groups. As Chvrches, however, they seem to have struck gold. From the opening bars of Lies, the muscular ballad that began last night’s set at the ICA, they sounded like a band destined for the big time.

Their focal point was birdlike singer Lauren Mayberry, whose regional singing voice casts her as Scotland’s answer to Ellie Goulding. Flanking her on synths and inaudible backing vocals were Iain Cook and Martin Doherty.

“We almost didn’t make it tonight,” admitted Mayberry early on. “We were involved in a traffic incident: we knocked over a motorcyclist. But it’s OK, he’s fine.”

If the band were happy to tell all between songs, they were slightly standoffish during them: Mayberry held on to the mic stand the way one might hold on to a rubber ring in the north Atlantic. Perhaps to alleviate some of the pressure on his bandmate, Doherty took over lead vocals for Under The Tide. However, the subsequent three minutes are unlikely to prompt calls for a reshuffle of musical responsibilities.

In their natural formation, however, Chvrches were rarely less than brilliant. Recover, the band’s Radio 1-playlisted new single, was a thrilling blend of muscular beats and a skyscraping melody. Set closer The Mother We Share was as heartfelt as Hot Chip on Valentine’s Day. With a bit more oomph, mass devotion must soon be theirs.

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