It would be practically libellous not to put this gig in the context of today being the day My Bloody Valentine release the follow-up toLoveless after 22 years of waiting. If it hadn’t been so out of the blue, you’d have been forgiven for thinking that tonight was a pre-organised celebration of their return. Shoegaze Sunday is in effect.
As befitting the genre, Tamaryn’s guitar sound is huge, the smallest loneliest note drenched in reverb as whole chords bend in and out of key, filling the senses. This is music to be submerged in, a sensation strengthened by the copious smoke and rippling projections Tamaryn swim their way through.
Tamaryn’s take is druggy and dark, her stage presence passionately disinterested, with dead-eyed sensuous tones enticing you as much as they alienate. They sound lush, spacious, tending more towards the slow tempo and forlorn. When notes of hope enter it brings a welcome reprieve as things become driving and distorted.
Not a word is said to the audience, but that’s par for the course with such music. Peeling the petals off a rose before discarding it into the crowd was the closest we got to interaction, an act that was beautifully disconcerting.
Based on the events of today and the wealth of Valentine-inspired talent on show tonight, the dream of the 90s is very much alive.
8/10
Words: Sam Coe
Photo: stereogum