Reviews

Xiu Xiu play the music of Twin Peaks at The Lantern on the 3rd October 2015

Posted on: 2015-10-05

Xiu Xiu presented us with an unnerving, disturbing but true to form performance that summed up the David Lynch/Twin Peaks vibe better than anything I have ever seen.

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On Saturday the 3rd October, Xiu Xiu performed the music of Twin Peaks to a sold-out crowd at the Colston Hall in Bristol.

When I saw that Xiu Xiu would be playing in Bristol, I leapt at the chance to attend. Their terrifying, beautiful, destructive sounds set them apart from all other bands; they create a whirlwind energy that builds in intensity, as their 'unemotional emotion' strikes to the very centre of anxieties and fears. Hardly Easy Listening. I then saw that they would be performing none of their own songs, but instead the music of Twin Peaks, which got me curious.

As much as I adore Twin Peaks, and admit to owning a few copies of the soundtrack on varying formats, I was a little put out that none of Xiu Xiu’s crazy masterpieces would be performed considering this rare occasion of their arrival in Bristol. But my fears were soon put to one side as I witnessed not only one of the best gigs I have ever been to, but also a glorious piece of performance art that shocked, repulsed, and delighted.

Support was provided by Circuit Des Yeux, who really deserve a review of their own. Their otherworldly vibe slotted seamlessly into the night’s theme, and the fact that they performed as  a two-piece yet filled the whole room was a huge achievement. Walking on at first, two slight girls dressed in plain clothing – one hiding behind a sheet of hair, one with a hoodie obscuring some of her face – it was hard to know what to expect. But all our guesses and postulations, however obscure, could not have prepared us for their performance. As a reviewer, this puts me in a difficult position, as there is no effective way to describe the voice and sound that was produced by these two girls. The vocalist, through her sheet of hair, produced this gorgeous, bizarre, incredibly rich vocal tone, going far lower than many women would dare to go. Her shimmering, deep voice was unlike any that I have ever experienced. Haunting, fearful songs with added flute glimmers and emotive guitar… I believe I may have hit on a new favourite. As hard is their sound is to describe, you can listen to it here and see for yourself.

When Xiu Xiu came onstage there was no pomp or pretension, they set up their own instruments and readied themselves for performance. A large projector screen behind them played a looped video of the iconic ‘bedroom landing shot’ from Twin Peaks, where Laura’s bedroom is seen and a fan rotates, the only thing unchanged by the events that have occurred. As the image darkened and took on an unnatural colour, the band began to play. The deadpan and expressionless faces on Angela and Shayna as they played piano and Xylophone were complimented by the fury on Jamie Stewart’s face as he sat in silence with the odd thrash at the drum kit. This in itself gloriously encapsulated the beginning of Twin Peaks, though I may be going all ‘English student’, as each deadpan character and nonchalant, emotionless camera shot gave way to an anger and fear that fuelled every action.

The three musicians swapped instruments, playing for each other and using all manner of objects to create sound. This was effective as there was a palpable sense of chaos onstage, unsettling and confusing. Each song was performed with a loveable affection that would no doubt please David Lynch himself, but it was in no way a normal ‘covers’ project. Xiu Xiu have done many covers in their time, dedicating whole albums to the cause, but never have they sounded like carbon copies of the original. Quite the opposite. And here we were presented with an unnerving and disturbing but true to form performance that summed up the David Lynch/Twin Peaks vibe better than anything I have ever seen.

Jamie jumped and danced his way around the stage during any crescendo, as the girls stood dutifully and played on, giving way in time to slower and more reflective pieces that utilised Jamie’s distinctive vocal ability. He sang like a man possessed, though Bob was nowhere to be seen, rolling back his eyes and eking every word out through a twisted smile. It was a glorious thing to watch, and became a total performance art piece when Laura’s diary was read aloud to the sound of sinister music and videos of the sawmill. I genuinely found myself with goosebumps, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention for this ridiculously artistic performance.

Xiu Xiu always take everything they do and pump it through an emotional amplifier. I haven’t worked out how, but every single time they perform anything there is a sense of emotional draining left within the audience afterwards. Albeit a satisfying one. This was honestly one of, if not the, best performance I have ever seen in Bristol. They deserve more than 5/5… And I hope their touring brings them back around soon.

5/5

Reviewed for 365Bristol by Miri Teixeira

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