DMA’S: Global Concert Online

A dark stage fades in from black, before the band are revealed, standing a metre apart alongside their respective instruments. Orange lights flit from behind, reflecting off the floor. This gives the whole stage a bright and fantastic gloss, like rain on a pavement. No introductions, just music and soul: they begin.

Feels Like 37 is a kinetic opener drenched in red, purple and strobe lighting. Its steady pace bleeds into the rest of the set list. Lyrics talk of never agreeing, never wanting the same things, but in the end finding something in someone to hold onto. This sets a precedent for the main theme of the concert, which is filled with the falling out of love and making up, holding on and letting go. Silver sees light and cool shades; the contrast against the orange bouquets behind the band makes the gloss on the floor even more prominent. This enhances the allure and romance of the lyrics, evoking the desperation of putting feelings into words.

Throughout the night, the vocals struggle over the instruments, which dampens the enjoyment for certain songs. Life Is a Game of Changing, with its techno beats and taste for dance, is one of a few instances where the overwhelming presence of the instruments drowning the vocals actually works, creating a psychedelic hysteria. This track in particular exudes sunset vibes, with the brilliance of gold soaking through the performance. The highlight, however, comes as a succession of three tracks with Tape Deck Sick, Criminals and Delete.

The first is slow, with Tommy O’Dell’s voice shining through the simplicity of the acoustic guitar. Even as new instruments ebb in and out of the performance, his sweet and gentle cadence remains, hitting long notes for extra impact. Criminals is piano-bound with a touch of electric guitar magic. The light show here creates a path in the background that merges together, coinciding with the lyrics. Delete is immersive, with blue lights creating a galaxy of stars alongside soft vocals, stripped-back and intimate. Everything comes together in perfect harmony.

Overall, this show would have been much better enjoyed live. The constant stream of instruments is a little overwhelming for a stay-at-home listener, especially when there are no breaks between sets, but there are hidden gems where the vocals really do come through.

Mae Trumata

For further information and future events visit DMA’S: Global Concert Online’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Silver here: