Untitled Document

4/5
Macrocosmica's Brendan O'Hare was thrown out of drone rockers Mogwai for telling jokes onstage. Tonight, his wit is unshackled to ludicrous effect. Like a lager-fuelled Billy Connolly, O'Hare adds a sense of bonhomie to a set of vicarious uneasy listening.
The Glasgow foursome are a refreshingly prickly proposition. So much so that 3CR guitarist Chris McCormack is heard marvelling at their use of "the most horrible chords in the world". As such Macrocosmica are the welcomed antidote to Britrock's cheery accessibility.
Tracks like "Rusty's Arms" and "A Horse Can Walk" are a collision between Sonic Youth, The Pixies, Sabbath and Hawkwind. Scratch the surface of "Orbit 48" and you find a riff that Nirvana would be proud of. The overall effect is one of uncompromising intensity and brilliantly engaging insanity.
This is compounded by closer "Spacegeek", which sees O'Hare and drummer Russell McEwan swapping places mid-song. Against the towering wall of noise, the Castle's resident eccentric quiffed-up rocker waltzes across the dancefloor. We are left with what looks like Animal from 'The Muppets' on drums and Henry Rollins' psychotic brother on vocals playing out a scene from 'Twin Peaks'. Macrocosmica: Fire walks with them. Flame on!
PHIL ALEXANDER