What a difference a few months away and a trip to American makes. Last time Temples toured the UK the four members were enough to recreate their trippy, ‘60s-drenched debut Sun Structures (Rough Trade’s Album Of The Year) in a live setting. This evening, during their biggest London show to date, additional musicians were brought onto the stage to add to the dreamy, Beatles-esque soundscape, including string and brass sections, a xylophone and – no word of a lie – a harp.
Although not sharing the space for the entire set, the seven extra bodies played along with cider drinkers’ favourite ‘Keep In The Dark’ (more T. Rex than The Beatles) and The Golden Throne (more The Byrds than T. Rex), adding an extra dimension to the band’s sound, while the swirling colours on the projection will have surely infused any gig goers who ensured that their psych-night out was properly prescribed. Although at times it was difficult to work out whether their mics were switched on, their presence showed growth in the band’s aspirations, and gave an idea of what we can hope to expect from the follow up to their home-made debut.
Live favourites ‘A Question Isn’t Answered’ (more solo Lennon than T. Rex) and B-side ‘Ankh’ (more Tame Impala than solo Lennon) provided further highlights, although it has to be said that the band’s return to their home country’s capital city was unfortunately greeted by a crowd flatter than a fart from a witch’s tit; it’s likely that there would have been more life in the fans of the ‘60s bands Temples model themselves on, and it’s something that didn’t go unnoticed by frontman James Bagshaw either.
Regardless of this, however, the show was drawn to a close with new single ‘Move With The Seasons’ (for me, the highlight of the album and – particularly with those extra musicians – the show) and ‘Mesmerise’ which, with an outro the longer than length of the original track, is worth the ticket price alone. Perhaps the fans were hoping for new material (“We don’t have any more songs, we have to go and write some more!” Bagshaw told one heckler) or perhaps they hadn’t been away for long enough to miss them, but either way, Temples’ make their take on the ‘60s relevant, and with so many inspirations to pick up on (favourite ‘Shelter Song’ is more The Beatles than anything else) it’s going to be interesting to see which way they go next.
Dan Bull
@danbull7609
Dan Bull
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