Reviews

ArcTanGent 2014 - A Review

Posted on: 2014-09-02

ArcTanGent Festival is one of the best organised, best produced, and most creative music festivals I have ever been to. The bands were all big names in the math-rock and post-rock genres and I honestly cannot find a single flaw.

---

 

What is ArcTanGent ?

ArcTanGent Festival is the UK’s only festival dedicated to math-rock and post-rock. From the same people who created 2000 Trees, ArcTanGent boasts some of the biggest names in alternative music such as Tera Melos, Mono, maybeshewill, Russian Circles and The Physics House Band. The festival opened its gates for the first time last year and has already been famed for its impressive silent discos, great facilities, excellent food and inspiring atmosphere.

Thursday 28 August 2014

First Impressions:  The stage locations work extremely well. Far enough away from each other that there should be no noise interference but close enough to run between in the 15 minute breaks between bands. Recycling bins and toilets are in pretty much every direction and you are never more than a couple of steps away from one of the many hammocks, benches and shelters. The stages all have a shelter around them, in preparation for rain and the festival site even has a phone recharging station and locker rooms. Already, it is clear to see that the organisers have thought this through extremely thoroughly. The amount of bins and shelters ensure that everything will be clean and dry – which alleviates some of my fear of camping. I can also see why ArcTanGent won Best Toilet Award last year.

Band of the Day: A difficult one as all the Thursday bands were chosen because of their extreme popularity last year, meaning that each has its own winning formula. Added to this, they were all on the same stage so I managed to catch just about every band.

After some careful deliberation I think Band of the Day has to go to one-man loop-pedal machine Theo (AKA Sam Knight). It’s not often that one person alone can make music with the sound of an entire band, let alone live on stage. Theo has completely mastered the art of the loop pedal, recording each phrase separately, and then overlaying them, incorporating elements of percussion toward the end of the build-up. His songs present a wide range of emotions, combining uneven phrasing and odd time signatures to take the audience on a journey through his wide palate of sound. The first half of his set was familiar to fans, each song seamlessly sliding into another, while the second half was a look at some of his newer musical creations. The only injustice was that opening the festival meant that many people were either late, putting up their tents, or getting their bearings and the stage wasn’t half as full as Theo deserved. Anyone who didn’t manage to see him on the Thursday you can, and should, check him out at: http://loopsofdeath.bandcamp.com/

Notable Acts:  One of my personal favourite mathrock bands, TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns), played fifth and performed some incredible live versions of Gibbon and their haunting interlude, In the Branches of Yggdrasil. I was told after this performance, by Henry Tremain (the band’s vocalist and guitarist), that this would be the band’s last European date for a long time, as they were going to America after the festival and then returning to the studio. I can only hope this means a new album, as a new song was aired on Thursday and the band sounded on top form. TTNG also threw out a game of pass the parcel into the crowd, which included prizes such as albums, face paint and sweets.

Another act worth noting were Baby Godzilla who, although they were far from the most musically impressive, gave such a ridiculous spectacular that I feel I should certainly mention them. According to people who attended last year’s festival, this is normal behaviour for the band, but to the uninitiated it was both hilarious and terrifying. The moment the first song began, two band members leapt off the stage and climbed quite literally into the audience. Vaulting the crowd barrier with their guitars and mic stands, the band plunged headfirst into an already thriving mosh pit at the centre of the crowd, heroically playing through frenzied punches and kicks from those around them. When the band had had enough of this, they began to climb the stage. Amps, support beams, sound desks, whatever they could find, they would be climbing. Just before closing up their set, the band threw both themselves and their amps into the crowd. I have never seen a band with so much blatant disregard for a stage before – and I loved it.

The Physics House Band are also worth a mention – hugely in demand after their performance at last year’s festival and playing two at this year’s, they blew me away with their incredible wall-of-sound performance. The energy and emotion behind this band made them one of the massive highlights of the day, despite playing pretty early on the line-up.

Stall of the Day: The Glastonbury Wood-Fired Pizza Company. They make a pizza topped with baked beans, 2 types of cheese and Lea and Perrins. That says it all.

 

 

Friday 29 August 2014

First Impressions: Mud. The rain has completely soiled the ground and I’m hearing a couple of disgruntled campers reporting the destruction of their tents. To be fair, not something that ArcTanGent can control, and every measure has been taken to reduce weather problems. Despite the torrential rain that seems to come in fits and starts, the festival remains hugely enjoyable, but I pity those who didn’t bring wellies.

Band of the Day: Band of the day has to be Tera Melos, who started their set with Weird Circles, one of their most-loved tracks. Everyone watching had some sort of dance going on, and the excellently intimate Yohkai stage provided the perfect surroundings for this band. The band, hailing from Sacramento, play a brand of music characterized by quickly alternating rhythmic patterns, start-stop dynamics, improvisation, two-handed guitar tapping, extended open-ended bridges, and the use of effect pedals and samplers. They are considered massively influential in the math-rock genre and whenever they perform live it becomes clear to see why. All three members have such demanding roles, especially Nick Reinhart who seems to pull of extremely complicated guitar riffs whilst singing these delicate and complex vocal parts. The turnout for this band was incredible, and the set was put together with care, making them one of the main highlights of the festival.

Notable Acts: Tellison, who recently played at Bristol’s Louisiana music venue with Kevin Devine, had a short but brilliant set in the late afternoon. Sadly clashing with Enemies, the band probably had a smaller turn out than they should have had, but still the crowd spilled out from under the stage shelter and across the field. Offering something a little different, more of an indie/pop-punk feel than mathrock as such, Tellison performed a selection of their most popular songs and a couple of newer additions to their catalogue.

Ef were also impressive on the Arc stage, harnessing a relaxed ambient beat that swelled to a great crescendo, armed with three guitarists who all add to the texture of the songs. The music is very atmospheric – with the drummer using brushes and mallets to manipulate the sound and create a huge sound. A massive turnout for this band, with many people waiting hours beforehand to catch Ef’s performance.

Stall of the Day: It sounds obvious but after last night’s torrential downpour, the stall selling groceries and camping supplies at very reasonable prices seemed extremely relevant today.

Perhaps more exciting was a sweet tea/book shop located on the top deck of a double-decker bus. This quirky and unique little cafe provided delicious tea and above all – shelter.

Saturday 30 August 2014

First Impressions: The last day of the festival and yet more mud. Some massive bands played yesterday and everyone seems increasingly pumped for the third day of music. The site is looking extremely clean; there isn’t really any litter to speak of due to the brilliant facilities on offer. Honestly one of the best thought out festivals I have ever seen.

Band of the Day: Band of the Day today goes to LITE. A band who have come all the way from Japan to play their music at ArcTanGent, LITE played a selection of songs from their substantial catalogue, including Bond which received perhaps the best audience reaction of the whole festival. In every direction, people were dancing and even the band had to crack a smile at the enjoyment of those they were playing to. Their intricate instrumental sound provided an awesome atmosphere that resonated across the whole festival, a real treat for any fans that haven’t the funds to travel to see them play.

Notable Acts: God Is An Astronaut are always worth a mention, arguably one of the best ambient bands to play the festival. They combine space-rock and post-rock formalities to create an epic and kaleidoscopic soundscape that conveys emotion and personal passion with each note. GIAA are one of those bands that blast you with their sound and leave you silenced in awe afterwards. Definitely a band worth checking out if you missed them at the festival.

As the last day of the festival, it was crammed with impressive, innovative, captivating and passionate bands. Acts such as MONO (who’s performance at ArcTanGent was the only time they could be seen this year in the UK), Jamie Lenman (The former frontman of Reuben), Mylets, Waking Aida and Mutiny On The Bounty all gave exceptional performances and it would be unjust to say any were not worthy of note. The perfect ending to a perfect weekend, the curators of ArcTanGent really know how to put a festival together.

Stall of the Day: There were a lot of good stalls at the festival, not one that disappointed. All food was delicious, reasonably priced, and quickly prepared and there was a first aid and Samaritans tent open the whole time. Stall of the Day today maybe goes to Fernhill Farm’s very own food stall, which offered authentic home-made and freerange food and a lovely eating area with benches roughly hewn out of tree trunks.

There was also a larger stall filled with ethnic and handmade clothing and it seemed every other person at ArcTanGent was wearing one of their beautifully colourful ponchos, a shisha lounge which was very popular with the festival goers, an elderflower cordial stall that specialised in everything elderflower, and a baked potato stall with all kinds of fillings. The stalls were varied and appropriate, and offered something fun to do when the music died down.

Miri says:

Overall, ArcTanGent Festival is one of the best organised, best produced, and most creative music festivals I have ever been to. The bands were all big names in the math-rock and post-rock genres, the atmosphere was continually carefree and relaxed, and I honestly cannot find a single flaw. For a festival only in its second year, ArcTanGent is absolutely thriving and I would urge anyone to attend next year’s, which is sure to be even bigger.

5/5 and ticket sales are open for 2015 already at www.arctangent.co.uk.

Review and photos by Miri Teixeira and friends for 365Bristol

---