Crack

Growing up with maturity and grace is a virtue not to be underestimated. Unless, like many other fading luminaries, you lose all sense of what made you decent in the first place and collectively disappear up an orifice.

The latest album offering by Los Campesinos is like a collective emergence from student puberty. Which is exactly what you’d expect from a band that have squeezed a unrivalled amount from their three years of effort to date.

Romance Is Boring should see Los Camp’s stock rise to a new peak. The assured sophistication of the new record comes from a touring schedule that has seen them conquer the US (arguably more so than the UK). Release three albums in three years of refreshingly consistent quality. Lose and replace a lead vocalist. And not spontaneously combust is a mesh of ideas, angst and sleeplessness.

Along the prolific, but comparatively short road, Los Campesinos have secured a committed fan base that most bands would dribble at. Despite the weight of musical output, theirs is a world with an attention to detail that leaves fans in no doubt what matters most. Limited edition vinyls, an intelligently written and established band blog and a very selective choice of gig venues, festivals and appearances means Los Camp have placed their credibility above a commercial cash-in at every turn.

Tonight’s gig at the Thekla showcases Los Camp’s fanbase at full throttle. At times wholly raucous, there is a subtle punk sensibility to the band’s sound. This comes to the fore in the live arena with something approaching a moshpit to fan favourites You! Me! Dancing! and set closer Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks.

Yet it’s the newer album material that carries most of the weight and gives the set real intensity. Real issues of love and loss have replaced themes of student idiosyncrasy and whilst this may cause those disenchanted lovers of all things twee to bin their Los Camp blazers in disgust, the band have surely found a whole new audience; many of whom pack the Thekla tonight.

Every member of the band gets a chance to shine in Los Camp’s live arena. Glocks are tapped and drums are whacked, basslines roll and Harriet Campesinos’ violin provides a firm referential to the twisted indie-folk sound they have carved out for themselves.
Thekla sweats on every off-kilter turn in musical pace as well as Gareth Campesinos’ whispered, spoken and sung lyrical twists. It’s a drama enveloping most of the crowd and a totally pulsating listen throughout. Festivals will no doubt be attacked with ferocity this summer. You could a lot worse on a summer’s festival day than see Los Campesinos. The beauty in their new direction is that that tonight’s crowd could do a lot worse than see them in the dark underbelly of a Bristol boat.



Tune: These Are Listed Buildings

http://www.myspace.com/loscampesinos

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