Crystal Antlers truly are an explosive force on stage.

Lead singer, Jonny Bell’s, voice is as raw any of the desert rock vocalists we’ve heard in recent years and it’s every bit as arrestingly cactus throated live as it is on record.

Despite the scuzzy nature of the CA sound, the massive key changes and sudden shifts in tempo on songs like ‘Andrew’ and ‘A Thousand Eyes’ ensure that live performances are not just a wall of fuzzy guitar noise. And speaking of walls of guitar noise, CA were joined at Koko by fellow agents of mass destruction, Deerhunter (pictured) and HEALTH – making this very special one-off night an all out American attack on the senses.

While Deerhunter’s headlining set provided a brief escape from the onslaught – with light relief in the shape of vocals from Japanese singer, Satomi Matsuzaki - HEALTH proved the apex of the unrelenting noise rock theme, delivering perhaps the most memorable set of the evening.

Playing a mix of songs from the first and second albums, this was heavy synths, thrashing guitars and characteristically pounding, repetitive drums all the way. Second album stand out song, ‘Die Slow’ was the highlight of the night as HEALTH played with an energy that threatened to rock the chandeliers right off the ceiling.

So often acting as host to NME parties and club nights these days, we don’t think Koko was quite prepared for the waves of feedback provided by these three US rockers, but the walls seemed to somehow hold up okay. We got out alive…

Just.

Michael Wylie-Harris
photo: Rachel lipsitz