Cloud Control at Heaven

The Aussies were out in full force in Embankment last night to support their fellow countrymen Cloud Control. The Australian band are considered one of the best acts to come out of the country in recent years, winning the Australian Music Prize for their debut album Bliss Release in 2010.

The alternative rock band seem to have drawn inspiration from many quarters and on display here was an eclectic array of sounds. The night started on an ambient note, and the first couple of songs felt like they were being dragged along. However, the song Dojo Rising helped bring some clarity to the drone, with its wonderfully glum pronouncements. The upbeat song This Is What I Said helped pick the pace up a little. The song had the boppy sound of Vampire Weekend mixed with a Stone Roses-esque guitar riff. The band then proceeded to dedicate Happy Birthday to a fan who had stolen a guitar from them during their previous concert in Manchester, but as they gratefully acknowledged them, the thief later returned it in a fit of sober reflection. The song is a slightly infectious number with an ironically happy undertone, but is at the same time agonisingly monotonous.

The following song Meditation Song #2 mixed acoustic guitar sounds with grungy reverberations, producing a hypnotic, psychedelic 60s call for release – cue synchronised clapping from the crowd. The spirit of eclecticism raged through the whole performance as their song Moonrabbit possessed the prominent bass and dreamy style of the Beach Boys, while their song The Smoke, the Feeling, with 80s funk written all over it and MGMT-style vocals, failed to successfully strike a chord. The raw, catchy Promises (the closest the band come to The Pixies) succeeded triumphantly.

Thoralf Karlsen
Photo: Olivier Lestoquoit

For further information and future events visit Cloud Control’s website here.

Watch the video for Dojo Rising here: