Pixie Sayter, Cruz, And So I Watch You From Afar @ Auntie Annies, 28th March


I was looking forward to tonight's gig.  Thanks again to Jen I was going to see  And So I Watch You From Afar - probably one of the most if not the most eagerly anticipated new bands, highly rated within the local scene and further afield. Whereas their near-neighbours in the province's post-rock scene, Tracer AMC, draw inevitable comparisons with Mogwai, ASIWYFA's gentle reverb-soaked melodies and more intrictae sound mirror Explosions In The Sky.      I had heard a lot of their material prior to tonight's EP launch but I wanted to see if the four-piece could step up a gear live and add the extra dimension to their already impressive reputation and material that would seal their claim to be the next big thing about to burst onto the big time.

But first a few words on Pixie Sayter.  Now I may have played a few too many drum and bass records for my ear's own good in my time but I was surely not the only one who felt the vocals were a wee bit quiet on Pixie's set.  A shame, as her eyecatching mohican pony-tail and sombre, sensual singing in the style of PJ Harvey give her all the tools she needs to be a great live act and a real songwriting talent.  Admirably backed up by her band the Sunshine Three I became less bothered about the acoustics and more impressed with her songs.  I'll be aiming to see this wonderfully bubbly and friendly Pixie by name and nature again some time soon in the future.

Cruz certainly warmed up the crowd for what was about to come, Cruz being one man, a drum machine, a guitar and a lot of looping and even more distortion!  This was firmly in the Mogwai soft-loud-soft-loud-soft-very-loud format and did everything in the requisite places that you would expect.  I guess I should be more impressed that one guy and some technology can rival Glasgow's finest Satan-Fearer's sound, but while suitably roused, nothing stood out as memorable.  That said, I would expect Cruz to quickly put together some more solid and unique material as his talent is undeniable.  

But the night was now ready for the headliners.  Launching their new EP This Is Our Machine And Nothing Can Stop It,   highlights included the beautiful simple looping introduction to The Voiceless, which is instantly memorable and surprisingly catchy, a rare gift in this scene.  It builds, gradually at first, slowly gaining momentum but building, and building, and *building* into something collossal, something fantastic.  Rory Friers and Tony Wright between them weave a powerful yet subtle guitar sound, and in bass player Jonathan Adger they have a beast of a man and a beast of a musician.  The drumming of Chris Wee sets ASIWYFA apart, both holding the tracks together and driving them forward.  
It is on new track, The Holy Lands at 4am, that the extra edge I am looking for comes bursting out in an explosion of distortion, a silver sword that suddenly turns into a cast-iron sledgehammer, and the crowd and I go wild.  

Yes, yes, and yes!  Having disproved my doubts that their ethereal sound might not hold up live or musically allow them to fulfill their potential, And So I Watch You From Afar are building momentum fast.  Tongiht I saw that truly, This Is Their Machine, And Nothing Can Stop It.  

John Lawson