News / / 08.03.13

MELODY’S ECHO CHAMBER

Deaf Institute, Manchester | March 4th

It seems like an age since Crack witnessed the first ever UK performance of Melody’s Echo Chamber in support of Pond last year. Melody Prochet and co. hadn’t released so much as a single by that point – all we had to go on was one Soundcloud track which was gradually building attention thanks to a humble note about Kevin Parker of Tame Impala on production duties. 

Lo and behold, we were rewarded generously that day with a short set of delicate, fragile dream pop, featuring a shy Parisian songstress and the big man, K.P. himself on bass, for apparently that night only.

A lot has happened in the past year, though. With a flurry of increasingly enchanting singles and an album-of-the-year contender, Melody has successfully dissolved her way into the public eye thanks to her stunning music, and more recently, an increasing presence as a fashion icon. Amazingly, March 4th is the band’s first Manchester date (and we’ve been waiting a long time for it), and there could hardly be a more fitting environment than the eclectic and quirkily decorated Deaf Institute.

Taking centre stage, Melody’s presence fills the room instantly. Formerly appearing nervous and unfamiliar, she still retains an air of profound modesty, as shown by the shy smiles that creep up on her face after each song is received with applause, but it’s clear that she truly thrives off this warm and loving atmosphere. Her undeniable beauty is such that the entire room is fixated upon her, prompting certain individuals to proclaim their feelings more vocally than others (with a few humble “merci beaucoup”s in return). But speaking even more loudly than her image and her fans is the skill with which this music is performed.

The sublime opening double-act of singles I Follow You and Endless Shore sends the crowd into a state of lucid submission, before a stream of English and French-language album tracks continue the hypnotic flow of colourful, dreamy, psychedelic pop. Substituting for the vibrant album production, the band jam out and improvise on tracks like Some Time Alone, Alone, whilst elevating the dynamics in the likes of Crystallized for some surprising, and utterly compelling sonic waves. The dual interaction of vintage teardrop rhythm guitar and fuzzed-out Fender Jaguar creates a rich and hazy blanket for synth trickles, snare-heavy drum shuffles, and beautifully melodic bass to swing through, all the while with that stunning voice soaring over the top.

The main part of the set is closed with the engrossing album closer Be Proud of Your Kids, before the band return for a fantastic instrumental jam as an encore, leaving one last time with smiles beamed across every angle of the room. A gig which could have gone on for hours – there was simply no faulting this performance.

 

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Words: James Balmont

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