Music / Electronic
Review: Submotion Orchestra, Trinity Centre
Few bands can be labeled progressive as accurately as Submotion Orchestra. Their style of soul, jazz and dub infused electronica was unique when it first appeared in 2009 and has never ceased to evolve or excite since.
What’s most impressive is the incredible technicality and musicianship that’s on display, seven artists weaving tracks together flawlessly. They lead with instrumental track, Bridge, from new album Kites. It builds and swells, filling the room, so by the time singer Ruby Wood takes the stage the crowd are suitably fixated.
There’s a festival vibe in the Trinity, unfettered by the nasty weather outside and glitter makeup is out in full force. It’s impossible not to imagine festival weather when listing to Submotion orchestra though, with Wood’s sweetly ethereal voice conjuring up images of warmer times. Prism, is the first track from their latest and it moves from airy vocals to bass driven, showing off the Trinity’s sound system.
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The crowd are treated to a few new tracks as well as the chance to pick up the album early. Single, Variations, is piano led and eclectic in all the right ways, with strings taking over the second half and dominating, establishing them absolutely as an orchestra for a new generation.
The band breaks off into instrumental again for Chrome Units and the flooding brass of Thousand Yard Stare but it’s final song All Yours from their debut that shines the most. There isn’t anybody that isn’t singing along and Wood remarks gleefully that it’s “the best anybody has ever sung it.”
From the performance that glistened here tonight the next album is sure to be remarkable and I couldn’t recommend their live show any higher.
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