Howling Bells - Live

Howling Bells
Islington Academy
Monday, 9th February 2009

Howling Bells covering Britney Spears sounds like a lazy journalist's attempt at defining the latest electro-rock-pop, one-woman amalgamation. It isn't though, it's tonight's encore. Howling Bells are back with their second album and are clearly fixated on it outdoing their first smouldering triumph.

As they saunter onstage to face a sold-out crowd tonight, there is the tangible feeling they are after success; the kind that gets you on the end of talk shows and the start of charts. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as long as the tunes remain as creakingly, broodingly brilliant as before. Opening with oldie Blessed Night is an overdue welcome back to their fans, the chugging riff and sultry elusiveness of singer Juanita Stein stomping back into view.

Then it is into the new stuff, with sophomore record Radio Wars showcased solidly. It is certainly broader, the sonic scope of Cities Burning Down contrasting with the pop tart shimmer of Digital Hearts. However, despite the wider range, it lacks the focus of its predecessor in the live arena. When Wishing Stone is bludgeoned into action it’s a hearty relief.

Juanita is as enticingly as ever, her wispy, dreamy stage presence and infiltrating vocals holding the mood. Nevertheless, the chat between songs is grating, a feeling that annoying technical problems on Setting Sun only exacerbate. The slow-burning, creeper nature of their old sound never fully flourishes at this sold-out show, with flops such as the wet electro of Golden Web breaking it up.Regardless, there are highlights, not least the breezy single Into The Chaos. Former darkness forgotten, it is smothered in a pleasing, toe-tapping glitz. This new direction is aptly illustrated by the choice of encore. Rather than returning to former singles such as Broken Bones, Toxic is tackled. Juanita pulls off Britney's energetic playfulness well and its unexpected nature adds novelty, but there is little musically to match the original.

They have been away for quite a while, came back bigger than they ever were, but misplaced the nagging, blustery feel that made their music so alluring. Still, the textured nature of their new sound may be another grower and a repeat of this gig by spring could be transformed. There's just enough sprinklings of imagination to ensure most stick around to find out, but this is not quite the night their Radio Wars are won.