Ought
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER –
Well summer’s over, the tent is packed away and the sun cream remains unused. Don’t shed a tear though, because dark nights drawing near ushers in months of fantastic gigs. Two days into September and we’re already under way, another stellar line up from prolific promoters Now Wave.
Headliners Ought formed in the thriving DIY arts community of Montreal. Despite signing to Constellations – the label home to Godspeed You Black Emperor and Do Make Say Think – they eschew the epic and often abstract sound of their label mates in favour for art-punk inspired by the likes of Talking Heads and The Feelies.
All of which makes Shopping the perfect opener. The Londoners share in the DIY ethic, heavily influenced by trailblazers like Gang of Four and ESG. Spiky guitars cut through off kilter rhythms, creating a sound a million miles from the mainstream. Long Way Home, the choice track from the debut, still sounds fantastic and the new material promises another great record.
Talk of one promising second LP to another; Ought are just a few weeks shy from releasing their hotly-anticipated second LP. Their debut, More Than Any Other Day, released little over a year ago was, hands down, the best release of 2014. That turnaround alone would be impressive enough, so with a brilliant Fugazi-meets-New Order EP flung out in between – they’re approaching Mark E Smith levels of musical fertility.
From the gritty opening bars of ‘Pleasant Heart’, it’s clear we’re in the presence of a band at the top of their game. Despite contemporaries in abundance – Viet Cong play with the same force, Parquet Courts can match them riff for riff and Cloud Nothings churn choruses for fun – none are more than the sum of these integral parts in the way that Ought are. From infectiously catchy ‘The Weather Song’ to the breakneck delivery of ‘Today, More Than Any Other Day’, it feels like you’re in the presence of a band capable of anything.
Geek-cool Singer Tim Beeler shows precision can still be venomous and manages to snap the A-string on two guitars before borrowing a replacement from Shopping singer Rachel Aggs. The band continues without missing a beat, still sounding incredible. Which brings to mind another point; the clarity of sound amid the noise is testament both to the band and the incredible sound system at The Deaf.
As you may expect from a band formed during student protests, there is worldly poignancy to many lyrics – “well you think you were born powerful and you wanna stay that way?” from Clarity – in particular. Handily, these are usually delivered in the form of a catchy refrain giving melody to meaning.
The finale sees Rachel Aggs back onstage, reunited with her Telecaster, allowing singer Beeler to unleash his inner Jarvis Cocker, all gangly finger points and shoulder twitches; he’s a natural frontman. Not only is it a rapturous end to an incredible show, it asks a burning question – would freeing the singers hands and employing a touring guitarist catapult Ought to the audiences they deserve? Whatever the answer, they deserve it all.
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Features Editor and gig reviewer
