salford concerts series 1

Monday was the first of the Salford Concerts series previously mentioned with zoviet*france and the trio of Seth Cluett, Benedict Drew and Lee Patterson playing at Islington Mill. Although it's hopelessly misleading the trio of Seth, Benedict and Lee will just be referred to as the trio from now on to save time and patience.

Although some of the people santiago expected might be there weren't there were enough people he did know to make it a comfortable evening. The place was pretty full and people were attentive through both sets.

The trio were first up and visually had most going on. Rather than standing behind banks of kit as was the case with zoviet*france they were sat at individual tables covered with all manner of noise making and noise manipulating paraphernalia. Consequently it was easier to see what each was doing - although with three people doing things all at once it wasn't always easy to see who was doing what or where particular sounds were coming from. On the whole the set was quieter than zoviet*france and although santiago was really in the mood for something harsh caustic and physically painful the trio's set held the attention more strongly. Possibly this was because the journeys from silence to noise and back again felt more natural and nuanced. The set had what the best improv has - different currently playing subtly off one another or cutting across each other or dropping out to leave the others more audible.

Not that zoviet*france were bad. They were excellent and built up a great racket at times it was just that there were more moments that sounded conventional. Sections of the opening that were close to being ambient for instance - and the odd moment that drifted into the realm of sounding like a tune. But the combination of manipulated sounds generated by the duo, samples and electronic noise were compelling nonetheless.

And to end on a cheap shot, anything likely to irritate traditionalist dimwits like Oasis who prefer 'real music played with real instruments' has got to be encouraged.