Gloucester Place’s accommodating One Church is not only hosting a ‘Winter Festival’ – celebrating 10 years of Southampton co-op innovators, Sotones Records – but also welcoming Moulettes back to the UK after a relentless two years of touring the eclectic opus, ‘Preternatural’.
Drummer and vocalist (the band members being renowned for swapping instrumental and vocal duties) Oliver Austin cites Frank Zappa, Laura Mvula, and tUnE-yArDs as references for the record, along with a New Scientist article on microscopic creatures that shook up understanding of living organisms. During a Moulettes gig, you’ll be similar taken aback by how such disparate genres – folk, electronic, prog, avante-garde, rock – can collide to form a pleasantly enjoyable aural experience. Fans of Tori Amos, Regina Spector, Nick Cave, Pink Floyd, and The Unthanks will be drawn to this glorious mercurial mix.
Also look out for a double LP of Sotones artists (Band of Skulls, The Diamond Age, and Sleeping Tigers among them) on sale, plus performances and DJ sets from Ed Hicks, Ottersgear, Anja McCloskey, Willkommen Collective and Rose Hill Arts Hub.
“We are the force of nature/we cannot control/can’t control,” Moulettes repeat in the album’s third track, ‘Coral’. However, this is completely at odds with their skill at reigning in the swirling chaos before it becomes a cacophony, assisted by honeyed harmonising with newest member, Raevennan Husbandes. We recommend a trip to church for a revelation culminating in singing their praises yourselves, or for seasoned Moulitia to get their fix before the band have a well-earned sabbatical.
One Church, Saturday 2nd December 2017, 1pm – 11pm
