MUSIC

Fleece, Bristol (Mon 12 Dec)

What strange beast is Amplifier? The name suggests a metal band. The groovy octopus logo screams 'prog'. (Gentle Giant, remember? Oh, please yourselves.) And when the short-haired Mancunian trio (augmented tonight by former Oceansize guitarist Steve Durose) appear on stage in matching, erm, black shirts and ties they look alarmingly like some dreadful Factory Records also-ran from the early 80s. It's all about defying expectations with this lot, who've been so determined to plough their own furrow that they got through two record labels in as many albums before deciding on an independent release for their pleasingly preposterous two-hour masterwork, 'The Octopus' (featuring guest vocals from Rose Kemp, formerly of this parish). But after 12 years, the stars finally seem to be aligning for Amplifier as they surf the crest of the latest prog revival. A comfortably full Fleece greets them as conquering heroes on what must be the most inclement night of the year.

Put crudely, Amplifier occupy a position somewhere on the continuum between Pink Floyd and Tool, with lyrical and instrumental nods in the direction of space rock. But unlike so many nu-prog acts, there's no single defining influence to pigeonhole them. It's as though an indie band discovered they could really play and decided to see where this would lead, without being encumbered by the history and conventions of the genre they stumbled into. Engaging frontman/songwriter Sel Balamir has a penchant for cosmic lyrics that would make Matt Ballamy – if not, perhaps, Jon Anderson – blush, but this is prog that's built from the groove upwards rather than the widdle downwards, the propulsive rhythm section of Neil Mahony and Matt Brobin driving the likes of 'Interstellar' through its full 10 minutes of epic soundscapery while punters jig along as though at a reggae gig. Yup, it's prog you can dance to. Although material from 'The Octopus' makes up much of the set, long-term fans are rewarded with the euphoric, hypnotically Floydian 'One Great Summer' from Amplifier's 2004 debut – reminding us that, like Anathema and Porcupine Tree, it's taken an awfully long time for them to finally begin to gain the recognition they so richly deserve. (Robin Askew)

Copyright Robin Askew 2011