ArcTanGent

Fernhill Farm, Bristol | 28 – 30 August

In an overly saturated festival market where dozens of new festivals spring up every week covering just about every genre and twist imaginable ArcTanGent achieves the impossible; it is truly unique. Hidden within ArcTanGent’s seemingly narrow niche lies every inch of the post, math and noise-rock spectrum and is a rare opportunity for a music community that rarely gets to converge and indulge its desires to be bombarded with crescendos and soundscapes. ArcTanGent allows every manner of beard wearing, post-rocker to indulge until there are no build-ups left to delicately craft, no time signatures unexplored and no screams left unscreamed.

Much like the festival itself ArcTanGent’s Thursday night is like no other. Unlike most festivals early arrival days which are fairly low-key; ArcTanGent’s is ferocious. Taking on the form of a an extended medley of last year’s highlights from the likes of math-rock’s poster boys This Town Needs Guns, post-rock heroes Three Trapped Tigers, And So I Watch You From Afar and the cinematically epic Nordic Giants Thursday night dives right in dragging everyone lucky enough to have Friday off work with it.

Friday morning brings rain but acts as low down the bill as Suffer Like G Did and Olympians draw high-spirited enthusiastic crowds who are rewarded with consistently impressive performances through the early hours. As the sun threatens to poke through Human Pyramids instantly capitalise, bringing their notably sized, endlessly talented entourage along for the ride. Their effortlessly uplifting neo-classical euphoria brought to life through the gleeful conducting of Axes’ Paul Russell. Up next on the tiny Bixler stage Tellison flirt with pop ideals; sing-alongs, inappropriate crowdsurfing and happy faces are abound from crowd and band alike. Meanwhile This Will Destroy You who, rivalled only by Alfred Hitchcock in the art of building suspense, aid the transition from the jovial atmosphere of the afternoon into the epic throes of a post-rock night.

Maybeshewill pack the Yokai stage to the rafters for a typically explosive clash of piano, guitar and synth and as the cold night and swirling rain rage on it almost seems Russian Circles planned accordingly. Their carefully crafted, hypnotically powerful set fits perfectly only aided by the intensity of the weather in the ferocity of their performance.

Anyone who’s ever said ArcTanGent is guilty of repetition is faced with a rude awakening on Saturday. Samoans kick-start the day with a more typical rock sound than is the norm in this far from normal field. Rife with energy and unique twists towards toward their post-rock brethren they prove why they are one of Cardiff’s most exciting exports. Later Jamie Lenman litters his energetic solo material with nods to his celebrated past with hardcore favourites Reuben. This is not the last time this weekend a cult status band rewards ArcTanGent’s tentative hopes as last minute additions &U&I treat their elated crowd to a cover of Blackfish hit Ringo Starr – 2nd Best Drummer In The Beatles closing perhaps even more surprisingly on Seal’s Kiss From a Rose.

As with last year it is a late afternoon performance from Tall Ships that is the highlight for most. This year upgraded to the main stage but still in utter bewilderment at their adoring crowd the set essentially consists of one big sing along stitched together with promising new material that wouldn’t be out of place in a headline slot here or anywhere else. Lite later channel their inner Battles with funky synth lines, complex polyrhythms and a generally feel-good atmosphere. Japan’s biggest post-rock export, Mono wrap up the weekend, bringing a much more serious tone than the rest of the day. There is little movement in the packed out Arc stage as an atmosphere of silent awe and powerful emotion sweeps the room as they carefully craft their apocalyptic soundscapes.

As the music draws to a close and the echoes of the endless sing-alongs of ArcTanGent’s final ace card, the silent disco, begin to fade the slightly out of shape, scraggly bearded post-rockers retreat to their far flung corners of the earth. The mood, one of satisfaction. Much like the gathering of a family once a year for a big Christmas Dinner, ArcTanGent has fed its kin well, spoiled them with presents and until next year, sent them on their merry way.

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Words: Henry Boon

Photography: Ed Sprake