Clock Opera - Weds 21st November, The Thekla, Bristol

"How long did it take you to grow that beard?" is the unimaginative heckle when ex-Nailsea resident Guy Connelly brings his band to the stage. Connelly confidently puts down the fan without offence and the boat begins to vibrate angrily to the opening keyboard chaos of 'White Noise'

It is without question an impressive beard that rivals Zach Galifianakis effort in The Hangover but beard-envy aside it has been a big year for electronic pop combo Clock Opera.  The debut album has taken 3 years to arrive but it isn't hard to see why with the band's intricate, tense and complex rhythm synth-pop assembled with such on-stage and studio perfectionism.  Clock Opera have been ever-present on the support slot circuit for the likes of Maximo Park, Temper Trap and Everything Everything but their first headline UK tour comes to an end tonight at The Thekla and the band are in celebratory mood.

Sounding more impassioned that on album 'Ways To Forget', the 200 strong crowd start shuffling to 'Man Made' a slice of 80's electronica that fuses the best parts of early Gary Numan and Depeche Mode.  Connelly's voice sounding like a more urgent Guy Garvey and the band's trademark off key and awkward time signatures somehow pulse through to cohesive effect.  They have received criticism from some for their over-reliance on technology losing a human feel to their sound (including a ludicrous 2/10 review from NME).  Whilst the album can be an awkward listen, it becomes clear that this is a highly creative quartet with carefully crafted songs that can connect with a live audience.

A vast majority of cuts begin with Doctor Who style burglar alarms except for the hypnotic piano intro of ‘Belongings’ which is reminiscent of Arcade Fire at their most bewitching.  The track builds in true stadium style with echoing harmonies and a chorus which threatens to cut loose into a rock out, instead giving way to an abrupt ending leaving with it a feeling of unanswered questions.  Connelly at one point pulls out what by consensus appears to be a giant rock and begins beating it savagely in time with Andy West’s furious bassline but then anything is possible with this band.

The poppier ‘Lost Buoys’ certainly sounds no worse than anything from the latest Coldplay album and provides a glimpse of a more accessible side to their work that could still draw airplay from the majors.  It is well received by the somewhat timid but appreciative audience who raise a can to yet another dramatic conclusion to a track which has a multi-layered and rich texture.  Penultimate track ‘Lesson No.7’ is a menacing take on Joy Division which begins inconspicuously but builds into a monster with a falsetto Connelly warbling ‘One rule for the weak and one for the strong, neither has nothing to lose’.  The track is their most celebrated to date and overall summarises an assured performance by a band that promise more. With the 80’s electronica comeback still in full swing it could just be their time.

Setlist:

1. White Noise
2. Man Made
3. A Piece of String
4. 11th Hour
5. The Lost Buoys
6. Move to the Mountains
7. Once And For All
8. Belongings
9. Lesson No 7

Encore:

10. Fail Better

Published online for Venue.co.uk: Venue.co.uk - Bristol Gig Reviews - Mike Harley

Best track - Watch online through link below:

Clock Opera - Lost Buoys