ONE thing the impressive Exit Calm cannot be accused of is being Arctic Monkeys wannabes.
That can surely only work in their favour. And the fact the Sheffield quartet have songs to get serious about.
Think more early Verve, with ethereal guitars and slow-burning atmospheric arrangements. By the time they've peaked and faded, nuggets suc
h as Higher Learning and We're On Our Own feel like waking giants. There's intensity and patience born of uncanny maturity, although occasionally they over-egg the pudding slightly. But more than once tonight this recipe adds up to beguiling.
Their singer is apparently a little more wordy than usual, his previous silence between songs in danger of being taken the wrong way.
Here it is clear he's maybe feeling a tad lost for what to do or say in the gaps. It cannot take the sheen off a glowing performance from a band which already has significant admirers.
James Mudriczki owns a voice part-angel, part- geezer. His falsetto drives Puressence's trademark more delicate offerings such as new single Don't Know Any Better and rockier Pallisades. It amazes me these Manchester veterans have struggled to strike out much beyond this level.
David Dunn
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