PodcART Says:
Trapped in Kansas confirmed for me last night that the world is actually a pretty astonishing place. Well, that which we have yet to discover of it is at least. That is where Trapped In Kansas take us. To pastures new. As I sit now enjoying a bacon sandwich that is inducing a very similar opinion of the world as I already know it, I am reflecting back upon the TIK performance of last night.
I must say, I was absolutely humbled by their mention of Glasgow PodcART, and even a track dedication was thrown in our direction. I have been listening to this band religiously for some months now. I was just about as excited about seeing them yesterday as I was when going to see Deftones for the first time when I was about nineteen. I love when a band manage to conjure that teen feeling of anticipation and excitement. It reminds me of the feeling when I was first properly starting to discover music, and my passion for it there of. Having even a mild reminder of that feeling this week in the lead up to seeing Trapped in Kansas live, has been an immensely invigorating experience. I was in no way disappointed.
Trapped in Kansas have been referred to by some as math-rock. I have to say this is a label attached to this band that disgusts me somewhat. Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes and space using reason and usually a special system of symbols and rules for organising them. Where is the similarity? This is a comparison far too lazy for my liking. So much more needs to be said. Trapped in Kansas are a band that conjure images of a distant land undiscovered. A land that offers new and undiscovered wonders that will all make our lives better. I find myself looking off in to the distance, visiting such places of fine spectacles and idealistic vistas. Let it be known. In my humble opinion, Trapped In Kansas are a band with no flaws.
Their labyrinthine deluge of organic musicality douses all preconceived beliefs of music and sets them aflame. As much as I may be able to understand what people may be trying to say when likening them to math rock, I feel that their creation is smooth in transition at all times in a way that is just far too drenched in warm, emotive and down right delectable qualities of affection and unknown delights to be reasonably compared to mathematics. Their music lives and breathes. It has an individual personality that evolves and grows independently of the musicians that produce it. It has colour and texture. It doesn’t have a series of set principles that it lives by. It has complexity beyond definition, proof or solution. It is Art, it is literature, it is a natural phenomenon. It is not mathematics. The half hour set I saw was filled with burning charm. It made my toes tingle a little. I think sorcery-rock is a much more fitting account in speech or writing of what Trapped in Kansas produce. Sometimes words don’t quite suffice to define though do they. When you see them the definition will be within, and I bet you too are short for words to describe it.
The set is opened by the wonderful imagery of ‘Antlers’. The meandering rhythm and perfectly graduating progression of vigour are intervolved with the complementary ‘two guitars as one’ intricacy. Finn Le Marinel provides a main vocal that takes position just perfectly atop this epic monster, and he has the best Scottish accent of any Englishmen I have ever met! On our journey through, we are treated to new tracks ‘Frances’ and ‘Carpathia’. These tracks have barely been off of my play list since the band sent them to me, and hearing them performed live makes me want to run up the wall, along the ceiling and down the other side. They have an effect on me similar to smarties, red bull and too much jagermeister………………….all at once. Sheer hyperactivity-happiness disorder is induced!!!
‘Frances’ has some magnificent stop-start moments that thoroughly cement it in the head and hearts of all witnesses present that they are experiencing something truly important and special. Goosebumps? Nah! I am on my way to goosemountains, and I am not alone. I overhear some girls speaking excitedly of how they will definitely be seeing TIK again. This brings a huge smile to my face, as I am simultaneously thinking of how many times I’ll manage to catch them hopping around Scotland in September with the mighty Bronto Skylift. A little later we are provided with a further highlight in ‘The idiot’, which at certain points we become very aware of how important the selectively placed harmonies of Chris Ward, who also provides the workhorse bass lines that manage to interconnect this conglomerate of intentional chaos as one. Said track also treats us to some simply immaculate drumming from Iain Symes. What he does is so SO important to making TIK as wonderful as they are.
Our journey is drawn to a gigantic conclusion with ‘Wake Me When It Thunders’, and my god is it thunderous. The engrossed audience are encouraged forward to participate in the hand clap intro, and participate they do. The band look genuinely delighted and reciprocate the audiences appreciation admirably. The roaming, gigantic, almost travelling guitar of Gregor Fair is so addictive. It really gets under your skin and has an effect of exciement, while also concurrently inducing a feeling of calm and contentment. The warmth of applause is so pleasing, and I shall take great pleasure in doing all I can to make sure that more people are treated to this distinctive, captivating and memorable live experience. I am generous that way.
www.myspace.com/wearetrappedinkansas – A split EP with Darien Venture is available via this link for a tiny fee of £4.
Other bands on this fine evening were ’The Whiskey Works’- www.myspace.com/thewhiskyworks – I shall certainly make them the feature of my attention with a review soon. Also, ’Shapes’ – www.myspace.com/weareshapes – A crazy progressive alt-rock explosion of utter mayhem. Please check them out too.
Words and Image by Ally Burton
Ally@glasgowpodcart.com