The Breeders review β effortless pop gems from the grunge era
The Troxy, London E1
Undimmed by the decades, the Deal sisters mark the 30th anniversary of their classic album Last Splash with a masterclass in off-kilter melody
The first thing that twin Breeders guitarists Kim and Kelley Deal do when they hit the stage is begin feverishly adjusting their amps and effects pedals, calibrating their racket just so. The late Steve Albini, who engineered multiple albums for the four-piece, once noted band leader Kim Dealβs βabsolute persistence in trying to achieve the sound in her headβ. It was gushing hyperbole from a man known for his acid tongue.
The sound in Dealβs head remains both redolent of the grunge era, and gloriously, goofily free of it. The Breeders deal in bounding basslines, sticky guitars, weird noises and Kimβs own melodic vocals β all present on Saints, the bandβs opening track tonight β and re-administered at various titrations across the course of 90 minutes. βSummer is ready when you are!β sings Deal sweetly, of the pleasures of going to the fair β her midwestern girl-next-door manner long providing camouflage for the obsessive sound architect within.
Continue reading...Β© Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer
Β© Photograph: Antonio Olmos/The Observer