Telescopes, The: Live. Aftertaste (Vinyl LP)

A livid document. Recorded in past-present-future tense. In 2010, highly influential/inspirational noise/psych revolutionaries The Telescopes gave a rare and memorable glimpse of their classic debut Taste. This album stormed the independent charts over twenty years ago, sending waves beyond the realm of natural vision that resonate still.

Within moments of them walking onstage, I forget where I am and what year it is. Immediately I'm hit by a tidal wave of noise, which sets the tone for the rest of the show... the relentless energy that Stephen injects into his performance. He is in no way a conventional frontman, and his onstage demeanor is just as I imagine it would have been 20 years ago. Stephen is free to leave the stage and stumble around, dragging the mike stand behind him and colliding with anyone foolish enough to stand too close. He curls up in a fetal ball or rolls around the floor, frequently getting tangled up in his microphone cable. The anger, fear, and frustration that he exudes can be uncomfortable. Stephen looks genuinely tormented and I believe this is his way of dealing with traumatic events in his life.

I have not seen a performance this cathartic since Michael Gira fronting Swans. As the final song, "Suicide", heads towards its ear-splitting climax, I begin to wonder what Stephen has in mind to finish the set. He picks up a bottle and I'm worried that he is going to do himself some serious harm, but instead he calmly leaves the room, while the noise inside gradually diminishes to a single piece of feedback. Much of the excitement here comes not from actions themselves but the tension of not knowing. It reminds me that there was a time when gigs were often confrontational, and dangerous for both audience and performer. Today's live shows are often very safe in comparison

1. There Is No Floor
   
2. Sadness Pale
   
3. Threadbare
   
4. Violence (Live)
5. Please, Before You Go
   
6. Suicide (Live)