Reviews - The Scottish Enlightenment

Callel (4 Stars)

Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Sat 3 Mar

INDIE

The Debuts (3 Stars)

The Scottish Enlightenment (5 Stars)

The crowd are still filtering in when the openers take the stage, but are slowly drawn towards The Scottish Enlightenment - a Dunfermline four-piece with the menace of Joy Division and the slacker indie cool of Pavement. Whether it’s their engrossing hooks, guitar flurries, or the occasional brooding soundscape, the band set a high benchmark.

The Debuts take a different direction, offering enthusiastic but workmanlike rock - apart from ten glorious mid-set seconds where they hit a Mogwai-does-Queen vibe, which is over all too soon.

Aptly, perhaps, Callel (pictured) attempt to bridge the gap between their predecessors. And, unsurprisingly perhaps, it’s a mess. Employing glockenspiel, kazoo and under-used strings, they seemingly aim to capture the essence of The Beach Boys, Weezer and The Delgados - sometimes all in the one song. Despite this excessive ambition, they have something; their airy tunes, lofty ideas, and engaging stage presence may see them become worthy bill-toppers on bigger stages.

More: Callel, Indie, The Debuts, The Scottish Enlightenment, Reviews (Music)

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