I've been waiting impatiently to see ENGINEERS for a while now, having missed the chance at Glastonbury due to not being woken up (again) by the Rugby fans amongst our crew.
Thus, I pounced on the chance in my home town of Essex. Ever since my first listen of their self-produced & eponymous debut album "Engineers", I fell in love with this band. At the time, one person I know squeaked "that's stoner music". Mere philistine, I concluded. I didn't want to join GreenPeace, hug a bomb, ban the whale even burn the whale or whatever is these people get up whilst not in the office.
Never before have I heard such a unique consciousness-expanding entity. They have bought their own rule book to the table that is the world of music by simply refusing to sound like anyone else (as much as that is possible) and be pigeonholed in any given genre. And you shoegazers out there can take a flyer.
Engineers seem a shy band, with only one thing on their minds, and that is the music they construct together, meticulously piecing a complete puzzle with an overwhelming sense of Euphoria and wellbeing, a truly remarkable four piece assemblage from rock's traditional guitars and drums.
The band's line-up is Sweeny on drums, mesmerising to watch, almost in a stick-on-skin trance throughout. Then there's immaculate Dan McBean lead vocalist and guitars, armed with such a sweet harmonious voice and the ability to change to a moody looking gaze when required. The show of talent from McBean was at its peak in the last song, with him singing a haunting version of Forgiveness all on his lonesome. The crowd didnt know whether to laugh, clap or cry, or all of the above. It was a true "hairs on the back of your neck moment."
|
Mark Phipps is the bassist, languished in a deep sullenness of heavy 4-string and enchanting rivers of electric sonorous sound. Simon Phipps is the control of all things ebony'n 'ivory. He adds a whole new dimsension of his own and is truly very important to the band.
In a style of build you up & ride the wave and then let you feather down, this is a band of truly epic proportions. The only similarities I can really live with is with a certain Pink Floyd, though only when they are in full symphonic flow. It is a real pleasure to be here in what could be half the size of someone's front room.
When the time comes and Engineers are playing Earls Court or similar sized venues, the people who were here tonight will enjoy the warm feeling of saying to themselves: " I was there in Essex". And there wasn't even a white Reebok classic in sight.
|
