Hirameka Hi Fi
Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

review by Thalia

Hirameka Hi Fi were also interviewed this issue

Sadly it's unusual to see threesomes up in these isolated Northern parts, unless you're talking the 'two-bottle-blonde-pissed-geordie-slappers-and-a-horny-footballer" variety. A far more wholesome trio is on offer tonight however, namely the 'Days of Chunder' Gringo Records tour, of which Hirameka Hi-Fi make up one third.

First visit up North for this Colchester-based band and life is not particularly peachy. Support band Orrin de Forrest left a a broken bass amp in their otherwise fairly unremarkable wake, leaving Pete from Hirameka with unreliably patched equipment and generally unimpressed. This is still not enough to calm the tumultuous wave of noise that Hirameka generate however, sound which far exceedes the size of the venue itself. The set opens with the art-punk-stomp of 'The Formalists', a shouty anthem-sized beastie which rants authoritatively. Continuing with their own brand of algorithm and rhyme, Hirameka rawk da house with tunes that sound like vitriol shaken up champagne-style and then sprayed liberally over the audience.

Pleasingly, unlike some artists of their vague genre, they don't view lyrics as some kind of alien, medieval concept and concequently aren't afraid to use them from time to time. Highlight tonight is 'Miriam Vale', a meandering soul-filled piece which seems to channel frustration into intense chanting, then builds into an instrumental soundcape of eloquent noise. It may entreat you to 'embrace your own defects', but if Hirameka carry on in such a promising fashion they won't have any to embrace at all...