After cancelling a myriad of festival appearances and rescheduling their UK tour due to front man Ben Duffy undergoing chemotherapy for Testicular cancer; Fenech-Soler arrived back in Leeds on a bitterly cold evening following this tumultuous year.The crowd or lack of scattered about the room was surprising as the date was sold out. With the majority of dwindling spectators stood in a row with their backs pressed against the walls, you’d have thought that they were watching Dancing on Ice in the heart of the room rather than a band.
The first mediocre support band’s songs blurred into one another and they successfully crucified Seal’s ‘A kiss from a rose’ with their synth laden interpretation. You couldn’t knock their enthusiasm but with a mix of weak vocals and a tough crowd; it was evident through gleaming smiles that they were counting down the songs, as were the audience until they could exit the stage.
Second support Paper Crows offered a refreshing set. The front woman who was caked in heavily laden eyeliner and resplendent in a black and white furry cardigan, prompted the expectation to hear her tear off into a mash of heavily screeched vocals. Surprisingly, the fusion of Kate Bush-esque vocals emblazoned with dub step undertones and her intense gazes provided a rousing performance.
Amidst a plethora of expectation as the crowd swelled and perspired; Fenech-Soler launched onto the stage executing an explosive set. Crowd favourites included the upbeat ‘Lies’ with its extremely catchy chorus that had everyone chanting along and ‘Golden Sun’ with its pulsating bass line. An accompanying yellow glow bathed the band and like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis; the crowd switched from a lifeless bunch to a bouncing sea of flailing arms and bodies. The venue became increasingly reminiscent of a bomb shelter with its curved ceiling adding an intimate feel to an already small, cramped room.
The instrumental beauty of ‘Stone Bridge’ and likewise with ‘Stop and Stare’ saw Duffy play the keyboard forming stripped back and tame moments in comparison to the mostly energetic set. Fenech- Soler with their direct, no nonsense electro pop and blend of faultless vocals are one band worth seeing before their foreseeable meteoric rise. It comes as no great surprise that they’ve secured a supporting slot alongside Example on his forthcoming tour. This may just be the platform to catapult them in to greater acclaim.
*This is online at Leeds Music Scene as well *
http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/15787/
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