by Abigail Smith
SWAPPING the 20,000-capacity O2 arena for the intimate surroundings of 60 Million Postcards on Saturday night, Post War Years proved that their electric whirl of twinkly synths, irresistible beats and stylised harmonies can go down a storm anywhere.
Having supported Mumford and Sons on their arena tour and been awarded Timeout’s Album of the Week for freshly released offering Galapagos, Post War Years now seem wonderfully assured. One of the band’s three front men, Simon Critten bantered with the bar staff during the fiesta-style sounds of Be Someone, while their obvious unity and easy stage presence overcame the odd technical hitch.
Alternately hunching over keyboards, punching electronic buttons and picking at guitars while drummer Fred McLaren puts in a formidable performance on drums, the four friends revel in the experimental prog pop music they play. The crowd moved appreciatively to belting previous singles The Bell and All Eyes, with the latter forming the crescendo of the set.
The evening was completed by support from Duologue, a Radiohead-esque outfit with a lead singer who looks uncannily like Bournemouth-bred Alex James circa the Blur years. If these bands show the way new music is going, we can all rest easy. More please.
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