Eat Lights Become Lights at Rough Trade East

London’s very own psychedelic electronica outfit, Eat Lights Become Lights, flooded the Rough Trade East on Wednesday night with the eccentric ambient instrumental that is their third full-length album, Modular Living. Playing to a marginally indecisive crowd that seems to meander between listening intently and perusing the record store, the four-piece, double-drummer band offers a five-track taster of what has been described as a “more organic approach to their trademark style”.

The cacophonous, yet entrancing, sound of the album’s title track erupts from the stage, with the droning synths gushing out to dance amongst the beer-swilling punters of Brick Lane. The near-deafening volume seems to suit the pack of dedicated fans bouncing in the front row and attests to the overall impressive sound quality of the show.

Perhaps the most intriguing feature for those audience members, who are less well-acquainted with the genre, is the spectacle of the two drummers playing in unison with driving rhythms and alternating flourishes. The visible dedication and discipline of drummers John Barrett and Matt Donovan is really quite remarkable, and is a testament to the band’s obvious commitment to their unique sound.

It is difficult, though, as front man Neil Rudd and bassist Al Baker lead the band through Electromagnetika and MOD-ULO-510, to discern between each track. It becomes hard to ignore the monotony that comes as a result of the repetitive pulse of the bass-line and the imperceptible variations between synths. This unfortunately isn’t helped by a noticeable lack of interaction with, what is largely, an excited, engaged audience. However, this may be a result of the confines of a 30-minute time slot and five fairly long tracks.

The intently focussed, toe-tapping, head-nodding members of the front row really say it all for Modular Living’s Rough Trade East debut. A booming applause and a few requests for autographs at the end prove Eat Lights Become Lights have impressed an undoubtedly loyal fan base.

Kayla Clibborn

For further information and future events visit Eat Lights Become Lights’ website here.

Watch the video for Heavy Electrics here: