Although I’ve been a fan of Wild Beasts for many years, last night at their Brixton Academy show I was all about hearing their new album, Present Tense. The follow up to 2011’s Smother reached number 10 in the UK album chart when it was released in February, and saw the electronic-leaning sound of its predecessor refined further, and to triumphant effect.
Fortunately, the gig proved to be a kaleidoscopic tour of both Present Tense and highlights from the band’s back catalogue, and even the oldest tracks were performed with a nod to the band’s synth-laden new direction. Nine of the new album’s 11 tracks made the set list, including an electrifying rendition of Daughters, which delivered earth-shaking bass and fronds of green lasers, while Nature Boy saw Thorpe and Fleming’s duelling vocals take centre stage, converging to form one powerful, sneering voice.
Older songs were lifted and polished by the band’s new musical confidence: The Fun Powder Plot was transformed from playful guitar-pop into soaring, transcendental psychedelia, demonstrating how far they’ve come since Two Dancers in 2009. Lion’s Share throbbed seductively in the encore, a moody reminder of how Smother served as a stepping-stone from the band’s indie beginnings to today’s R&B influenced hooks.
The audacious light show must also take some credit for the way the band’s presence filled the venue to the rafters: the stage was drenched in atmospheric hues reminiscent of the Present Tense artwork, slowly building to an explosion of sweeping lasers that punctuated the second half of the set.
My only disappointment came with the decision to finish on the understated End Come Too Soon. Although this fitted perfectly when Smother was the latest in their arsenal, I couldn’t help but wish they’d dared to close an otherwise self-assured set with something new. Despite this, Wild Beasts’ performance demonstrated not only a fresh sense of showmanship, but a rare ability to play their songs live and make them sound more than the sum of their parts.
Present Tense is out now on Domino Records.
Set list:
Mecca
Sweet Spot
The Fun Powder Plot
Devil’s Crayon
Pregnant Pause
A Simple Beautiful Truth
Daughters
Hooting and Howling
Reach a Bit Further
Palace
Nature Boy
Bed of Nails
A Dog’s Life
Encore:
Wanderlust
All the King’s Men
Lion’s Share
End Come Too Soon
Living London 
Thanks for taking the time to read my Review, Bethan. Really enjoyed your account of the gig too.