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The Spirit Store, Saturday, August 14, 2004

If we were in the business of putting money on up and coming potentially huge bands on the verge, then The Belles would surely feature prominently on the list. The Kansas lads have been causing quite a stir stateside of late with their debut album Omerta, as music lovers and the music industry alike have been waxing lyrical about them and claiming they were fans from the start, which is exactly what The Spirit Store have done(only messing).

Seriously, The Spirit Store have an uncanny talent for booking potentially massive acts early on, The Frames, The Thrills, Josh Ritter or Snow Patrol anyone?...Many of the audience here tonight have been reeled in through sheer curiosity, myself included, not really knowing what to expect....2FM night time listeners will have noticed The Belles radio friendly single Never Said Anything sporadically splashed all over the airwaves.

I'm glad to report a pleasant surprise is what we experienced.

The Belles play the kind of music that should be synonymous with summer (despite the fact some of the songs are about winter!)...Two spaced out American hippie kids playing lazy lo-fi, alt-country - its not new but its simplicity belies the essential honesty factor needed in a good band. Songs like So I Sing and Omerta are delicate, faded, organic and yes, relaxing. The perfect backdrop to a Saturday afternoon. The sun was out to play and so were The Belles.

With residing smiles all around, The Belles won us over with their stylized, retro music and oozing, Americana charm.

Singer Chris lusted out (Who will be) Here to Hear with a floaty, honey-like, harmonic voice quite like Ira Kaplan, the Yo La Tengo frontman. Knowing he was on to a good thing, Chris joked, "If George W gets re-elected back home, then well just take up residency here in The Spirit Store!" He was on our side! Some more compliments about The Spirit Store cementing its legendary status (flattery gets you everywhere) and an invite to their hometown and we were sold!

As we swayed along, seemingly lulled into serenity (or maybe it was just that new pear cider?), The Belles began to get a bit nosier. New single Never said Anything is instantly likeable, sweet and insidiously tuneful.

One of the intriguing factors of watching The Belles, is the mystical air that they are shrouded in. Behind their curly mops, Chris and Jake have a twinkle in their eyes suggesting that their songs contain hidden depths and are not simply about, birds, trees and winter. This depth leaked out on the beautiful chilling These Things Will Kill Me - a lament to a ghost. "We're actually a lot crazier then we seem onstage," said Chris, and we believed him.

On the last song they unleashed this wonderful, dark side and full blown mayhem ensued....a repetitive chorus, some indulgent riffing and squealing feedback (I have never heard such sounds from an acoustic guitar before), gave way to tribal drumming, as Jake knocked over his kit and continued drumming, now sitting on top of the drum as Chris crouched over the amp battering his instrument. Jake began spontaneously drumming on the back of Chriss guitar making a mighty bellowing noise, until the song climaxed and the duo threw down their battered instruments. "Crap, I knocked over my drink," Chris mumbled as he wandered offstage and surveyed the carnage.

A well deserved standing ovation followed.

What passion, what mayhem, what a surprise!

The Belles have been described as 'beautiful laid back lo-fi, the perfect soothing soundtrack for a Sunday morning hangover." However, this type of sentiment is entirely lazy. If you are prepared to listen to an album and withdraw its qualities, I'm positive that you'll find more potential on Omerta than a backdrop for a bad hangover.

The fact that The Belles have the ability to turn restrained, dazed music into highly complicated and wonderfully dark arrangements reinforces their deservedness of your attention and admiration.

Its obvious they have the sound, the charms and the talent. They are possibly on the verge of something great, whether they will unleash their potent potential remains to be seen.

As The Belles quietly knock on the door of the big time, you can always say you saw them here first.

Review By: Tia Clarke