If ever a lineup represented the breadth of music that may not strictly qualify as post-rock, but which has emerged from the fissure in music circa 2003/4 which was the point at which post-rock became a ‘thing’, then this is surely it. It seems entirely fitting, given that Her Name is Calla, who first came to the attention of many while touring with iLiKETRAiNS (as they were back then) in 2007, are marking their 10-year anniversary with this tour. And while many of their peers have fallen by the wayside, with Maybesehwill having just announced they’re calling it a day, it’s testament to the band’s tenacity and cult appeal that they’ve endured.
Thomas Ragsdale, one half of worriedaboutsatan proves he’s no slouch as a solo performer. While his sound is very much reminiscent of WAS, as is his invisible presence (shrouded in darkness, hunched over synths and a laptop), his set is most definitely his own. Veering toward the glitch / dark ambient side of things, the set is carefully structured and builds through a series of perfectly-placed swells and crescendos which make it simultaneously mesmerising and captivating.
Tomorrow We Sail are a band whose recordings I’ve reviewed – and appreciated – on a number of occasions, but had never caught live before. They don’t disappoint: the six-piece demonstrate that they’re capable or replicating the nuanced, textured depth of their studio recordings live.
Backed by an adept and subtle drummer and a guitarist who peels of screeds of shimmering textures rather than conventional guitar lines, Evi Vine makes for compelling listening. Her vocals are strong, but she doesn’t go all out on the gale force gusts, a la Florence Welch, and instead calls to mind Zola Jesus, although the stark soundscapes behind her magnificent vocals also contribute to the comparison. Definitely an artist worth keeping an eye on.
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Her Name is Calla have undergone numerous lineup changes, but recent years have seen a more stable core evolve around founder Tom Morris, and the relatively recent addition of bassist Tiernan Welch appears to have cemented the band perfectly.
In what you might justifiably call an intimate venue, they treat the fans, many who’ve travelled from further afield, to a set that offers a fair representation of their decade in existence. They open with ‘Meridian Arc’ from last year’s triumphant third album ‘Navigator’. Culled from ‘The Quiet Lamb, longstanding live favourite ‘Pour More Oil’ provides the set’s centrepiece, and ‘Wren’ represents debut ‘The Heritage’.
While eschewing the monumental crescendo songs that often produce cathartic set climaxes, no-one in the room was going to be disappointed when they rounded off their hour-long set with an emotive rendition of the 20-minute epic that is ‘Condor and River’. I found myself spirited straight back to 2007, when they opened their set with this truly remarkable track. And yes, it still hits the spot, with the two violins jousting over surging guitars and tempestuous drums at the climax of the song’s colossal intro before winding onwards toward its sublime conclusion. It’s a magical ending to a special kind of night.
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