Jeremy's Indie Music: Chvrches, Manchester Sound Control, 2nd May 2013 4/10

This was one of those hotly anticipated shows: Chrvrches is a buzz band, they long since sold out the small venue, and I arrived early to get a place on front rail. Pitchfork has raved about them (which in hindsight might be seen as a warning), and reviews of earlier dates in this tour have been rapturous. As yet, they've only released a 4 track EP Recover, yet there is already much excitement for their album release later this year. After coming fifth in the BBC Sound of 2013 list, they played SXSW (winning an award for developing non-US act) and sold out a New York show. They emerged only last summer with the on-line release of the single Lies, but all three members have played previously in other Scottish bands. Martin Doherty on drum machine and vocals performed for The Twilight Sad, and Iain Cook on synths was a guitarist in Aereogramme. Meanwhile lead singer Lauren Mayberry, the youngest of the trio at 25, sung with the indie folk band Blue Sky Archives.

Grimes has Tweeted about Chvrches, and I’ve seen nothing but positive press, so there’s there was no reason to believe that they’re an ephemeral buzz band who’ll disappear into obscurity once the hipsters discover the next great promise. Yet, on this evidence, it’s difficult to understand the hype. Lies was hardly an auspicious opener: Lauren’s delicate voice was initially drowned out by the thunderous bass around her, and whilst the balance improved later in the set, it was boomy throughout. Chvrches alleged promise comes from the combination of Intelligent lyrics with pop of mainstream appeal. There’s no doubting Lauren’s writing ability or intelligence: she has a law degree and journalism qualification, and helps to run a feminist collective. Yet this was undermined by the difficulty in hearing those carefully crafted words above the bass last night.

A more serious problem was the almost total failure to engage the audience. This is music with a strong beat, intended to be danced to, and yet everyone stayed static and the applause was polite at best. The contrast with Electric Guest, another electro-pop group I’d seen two days earlier, couldn't have been starker. At the root of the issue was Lauren’s lack of experience of stagecraft: she stayed practically static in front of her microphone, seemingly unable to articulate a physical response to the huge sounds engulfing the room. This particularly surprising since she wasn't playing an instrument. Perhaps it was the consequence of exhaustion on the last night of their UK tour, but Chvrches urgently requires some coaching in maintaining interest on stage. This isn't intended to be contemplative, cerebral music, despite those lyrics: it only works in a live context if an atmosphere is created. Perhaps they should study Zola Jesus, who turns a similar musical style into a theatrical performance, or look at the way Grimes has developed her act to incorporate dancing.

Martin fronted the song Tide and whilst he appeared more engaged than Lauren, his vocal performance was less than dazzling and the musical content mundane at best. The two most successful songs came towards the end of the set: Recover and The Mother We Share. Chvrches is deliberately aiming for the mainstream: Lauren stated 'we want our melodies to be up-front and immediate.' Yet on this evidence, I'm not sure that she has the extrovert personality to deliver this promise live, and perhaps her talents were more effectively harnessed in her former indie folk musical life. The earthbound nature of this performance was also underlined by the staggering energy of the support band Young Fathers, a hip hop group from Edinburgh who were totally committed. Their act had a primeval, tribal quality, and was an overwhelming explosion of dancing, drumming and acting.

I’d normally avoid publishing a critical review of an emerging band: it’s incredibly difficult to break through in this industry, and young musicians deserve a chance. I should perhaps wait until I see them for a second time before reaching conclusions based on an evening which I can't imagine the band themselves would rank amongst their more memorable. Whilst I strive to see performers in small venues before they take off, it’s entirely possible I was too eager to see Chvrches early, and I'm sure their act will develop. Lauren’s self-depreciating charm in the chatter between songs was appreciated, and provides a basis for them to build a relationship with audience. However, as always the music is central, and despite 2 or 3 hits, I didn't detect enough variety or creativity in the remaining songs in the 45 minute set to fulfill the promise of their EP. So on this basis, they've they've the victim of too much hype, too soon.