Death In Vegas at Electric Ballroom Review
- Bands: Death In Vegas
- Venue: Electric Ballroom
- Gig: Death In Vegas
- Gig date: 15th December 2011
- Posted on 21st December 2011 by Livemusic Team
After many years Death In Vegas are back onstage. Their excuse? Brand new material, ‘Trans-Love Energies.’ The question I found myself asking was, would I really miss anything if I didn’t see them playing live?
Looking at the hard-core fan base that filled up the Electric Ballroom in Camden on November 15 you would have thought DIV are still relevant. From my part, I have to say I find them neither cutting edge nor worthy of a nostalgic revision.
The problem is not the material, though. Tracks from their latest album like Your Loft My Acid - with which they opened - works wonders to settle the mood with its cinematic intro. The problems start when the song derivates into something else that's not good enough, and so does the gig: there are brilliant moments but the rest is just a semi-pleasant filling that takes you nowhere.
At least Richard Fearless and his mates touch different grounds, so you can take your pick and decide what works for you and what doesn't. I would have them any day playing their dark, dub-ish, sometimes industrial, keyboard and sample heavy loaded, Coum, Medication or Savage Love – the standout tracks of the night. Or even Blood Yawning, with its dirty revisited krautrock patented by Primal Scream circa XTRMNTR.
But when they go down the cul-de-sac of dated French cool electronica – Rinôçérôse comes to mind – with Scissors, or the play guitar heroes with Death Threat, it's time to call it a day.
By the time of the encore I was hoping they wouldn't come out again but the crowd - overdosed on stroboscope lighting and a homesickness for their youth - loved it when they did.
Moe Tucker tries to be playful with its repetitive and loud drum-kit, but the Velvet's little woman deserves a better homage – like the one by The Jesus and Mary Chain on 'Munky.' And then yes, finally, something gracious came along with Hands Around My Throat and a modified Rekkit, but perhaps those were a little too late.
DIV comeback has been a long awaited one, but the results are not too impressive. Richard Fearless, it's time for you to cover LCD Soundsystem's I'm losing my edge. The lyrics apply to you.
