★★★★
As I type this it is in no uncertain terms, twonking it down outside. But, rather than the soaking I got last weekend in Salford, I'm in the dry being spat at by Thor, rather than being (almost) hit by him.
Crikey, it can certainly rain in the North-West and none-more-so than in Greater Manchester, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm for the night's show at Salford's creative mecca, Islington Mill. Tucked away just off The Crescent, this converted warehouse space proved to be the ideal venue for its very own thunderstorm of edgy industrial dance (AAAK), shuddering electro new wave (Section 25) and a healthy serving of party-bangers (MC Tunes - difficult to tell after the beers I'd had).
AAAK have a new double-CD of 'greatest hits' out, many of which got aired at ear-blistering volume, so much so that those who have previously suffered at the hands of similar bands, took shelter in the garden or hovered in the entrance. They certainly sounded determined to start the evening with a bang - and they did, testing the foundations of this fine building with a bruising danceable onslaught.
Headliners Section 25 promised a new set and delivered it with a rejigged stage line-up and more interaction with 'newcomer' Jo Cassidy (vocals, keys and hitting things VERY hard). They kicked off tentatively with new song 'Pitch Black Box', oldie-but-goody 'Wretch' and the sublime 'CMSV', all of which suffered from muddy sound - until 'Inner Drive', that is. Perhaps my least favourite on the super new album 'Dark Light', here S25 made it a statement of intent, encapsulating the album version by some degree.
The sonic onslaught continued with 'Girls Don't Count' (which lost its way in places) and the 'ravetastic' 'My Outrage' (sharp as a tack), before things calmed down with two more album excerpts, the vastly-improved 'Memento' and ought-to-be-a-single 'Early Exit' which thankfully didn't act as a portent - we still had another four songs to go, one of which recalled an early cover-version favourite. Kraftwerks' 'The Model', like 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' or 'This Charming Man', should be left alone by any lesser band but S25's effort was a game hybrid of lounge-jazz and beer-soaked bravado, leading straight into another highlight, From The Hip's 'Desert'. More similar to the Retrofit or Eigengrau versions than the funereal original, the low-ceiling space helped to create an intimate reading nonetheless.
Not surprisingly, US club-smash 'Hilltop' triumphantly brought proceedings to a penultimate conclusion before Beth rightly dismissed the tiresome ritual of 'coming back for an encore' and launched free-fall into closer 'Dirty Disco'. By now S25 were firmly locked into a relentless groove and could have carried on all night - if only. Still, a dozen songs after the earlier deluge outside, Section 25 proved that they can whip up their own storm when required. I secretly rooted for 'World's End', 'Crazy Wisdom' and 'Remembrance' but no matter, it was a pin-sharp show supported by a suitably partisan, but friendly and appreciative crowd from miles around. Good work, the Cassidys and Stringer!
Later, as all-time classics such as Indeep's 'Last Night a Dj Saved My Life', Jocelyn Brown's 'Somebody Else's Guy' and A Tribe Called Quest's 'Can I Kick It?' warmed the after-show crowd for a little while longer, I began to wish the venue had an early morning license....
As I type this it is in no uncertain terms, twonking it down outside. But, rather than the soaking I got last weekend in Salford, I'm in the dry being spat at by Thor, rather than being (almost) hit by him.
Crikey, it can certainly rain in the North-West and none-more-so than in Greater Manchester, but nothing could dampen the enthusiasm for the night's show at Salford's creative mecca, Islington Mill. Tucked away just off The Crescent, this converted warehouse space proved to be the ideal venue for its very own thunderstorm of edgy industrial dance (AAAK), shuddering electro new wave (Section 25) and a healthy serving of party-bangers (MC Tunes - difficult to tell after the beers I'd had).
AAAK have a new double-CD of 'greatest hits' out, many of which got aired at ear-blistering volume, so much so that those who have previously suffered at the hands of similar bands, took shelter in the garden or hovered in the entrance. They certainly sounded determined to start the evening with a bang - and they did, testing the foundations of this fine building with a bruising danceable onslaught.
Headliners Section 25 promised a new set and delivered it with a rejigged stage line-up and more interaction with 'newcomer' Jo Cassidy (vocals, keys and hitting things VERY hard). They kicked off tentatively with new song 'Pitch Black Box', oldie-but-goody 'Wretch' and the sublime 'CMSV', all of which suffered from muddy sound - until 'Inner Drive', that is. Perhaps my least favourite on the super new album 'Dark Light', here S25 made it a statement of intent, encapsulating the album version by some degree.
Not surprisingly, US club-smash 'Hilltop' triumphantly brought proceedings to a penultimate conclusion before Beth rightly dismissed the tiresome ritual of 'coming back for an encore' and launched free-fall into closer 'Dirty Disco'. By now S25 were firmly locked into a relentless groove and could have carried on all night - if only. Still, a dozen songs after the earlier deluge outside, Section 25 proved that they can whip up their own storm when required. I secretly rooted for 'World's End', 'Crazy Wisdom' and 'Remembrance' but no matter, it was a pin-sharp show supported by a suitably partisan, but friendly and appreciative crowd from miles around. Good work, the Cassidys and Stringer!