Almost three years ago to the day, Fenech-Soler were playing to a capacity crowd in Brighton, bringing their electropop debut to life with a sharp precision and infectious energy. Tonight, though the venue is bigger and there’s a new album worth of songs to choose from– Fenech-Soler rise to the occasion to deliver a technically flawless show that is infused with emotions from the band and audience alike.
First support act for the night are Duologue, a band who’ve caused many a rumbling around the music scene over the past year. Their brand of experimental electro-indie almost defies categorisation– and they manage to assemble it into an enthralling live performance. They show a depth of technical skill that far surpasses their band age– although it is slightly marred by some glitchy technology. Their stage-presence is still a little patchy– blowing both hot and cold within the same song– but they certainly do show a flicker of potential to move beyond just being mysteriously experimental in the future.
On paper NYPC (formerly known as New Young Pony Club) shouldn’t be supporting Fenech-Soler given how they’re on album 3 and arguably are more widely known than the headliners. But tonight’s performance highlights why– though they have all the musical ‘moves’ which makes them an interesting listen, they fail to really inspire any emotion. The physical distance between the stage and the audience seemingly translates into an emotional distance between the two parties– their entire set feels like you’re watching a performance rather than being part of it. It’s a shame.
Fenech-Soler have no such worries. Even as their opening instrumental, ‘Ritual II’, filters out over Shepherd’s Bush Empire you get the feeling that this is much more than show to the band– this is a celebration of how far they’ve come in spite of adversity; and a celebration for all those that have been part of that journey.
‘Last Forever’ is a sweep you off your feet start– and if you’re not behind them now, you never will be. Ben Duffy’s vocals soar, accompanied by the roaring echo from the audience singing the chorus back with true conviction; as if you sing ‘we can make this last forever, we can waste time together‘ it might just happen. ‘Somebody‘ (my personal favourite from Rituals) seems to up the ante– where bouncing, singing and dancing is compulsory and there’s not a static person in sight, both in the crowd and on stage.
Despite their debut now being three years old and probably toured to death by the band, there’s no evidence that anyone has gotten bored of it. The band bound back and forth with their various instruments during ‘Lies‘ and despite no longer wearing the gold sequins of Audio-gone-by, they’ve never really sparkled so much. It’s impossible not to be caught up in their joy and energy– and feel it yourself.
‘Two Cities’ into ‘Stonebridge‘ slows the juggernaut of electropop momentum– but allows for admiration of Fenech-Soler at their softest. The tender melodies are constructed with ease– each of the band seems very much aware of how to be both individual and create a unit at once. It’s also a testament to Fenech-Soler’s lyrical ability that despite these being the quieter, more introverted songs, the audience still sing along with as much gusto as the rest of the set.
It is ‘All I Know’ that brings the moment that the evening has been building towards– the triumphant finale. It’s a stomping, cheering, shouting, dancing monster that sounds far brighter and bolder live than it does on record. And despite it being 80 minutes from their start point, there’s still as much energy being thrown in to their performance– if not more– which almost explodes as the song comes to an end.
As the lights flick back on in the Empire, I find it hard to blink back into the reality. Tonight Fenech-Soler proved themselves to be masters of the electropop performance– approaching it with a heart and soul that many others seem to forget. Performing here tonight might have been a long time coming for the band; but they’ve proved to be more than worthy of the challenge. Bring on Brixton Academy I’d say.
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