Last evening (February 9), Squid<\/a> debuted tracks from their upcoming second album \u2018O Monolith\u2019 throughout a one-off headline present at London\u2019s SCALA. See pictures, footage and the setlist under.<\/p>\n As introduced this week, the band\u2019s second album will arrive on June 9 through WARP<\/a>. They launched the follow-up to 2021\u2019s acclaimed \u2018Bright Green Field\u2019 <\/a>with lead single \u2018Swing (In A Dream)\u2019.<\/p>\n Squid had been initially set to headline SCALA in April 2020, following the discharge of their 2019 EP \u2018Town Centre\u2019 \u2013 tracks from which had been notably absent final evening. Slated to be their first London headline present, the gig was rescheduled by means of the lockdowns and quickly scrapped, giving strategy to an up to date touring schedule round \u2018Bright Green Field\u2019, earlier than announcing their eventual arrival on the King\u2019s Cross venue<\/a>.<\/p>\n Almost three years later, the band lastly appeared at SCALA to provide followers a primary have a look at \u2018O Monolith\u2019 \u2013 debuting a extra complicated, intentionally avant-garde incarnation of Squid.<\/p>\n Aside from lead vocalist and drummer Ollie Judge, every band member moved between a number of devices through the meticulously-choreographed set. The tracks had been moreover fortified by touring percussionist Zands Duggan, biking by means of an array of congas, shakers and triangles.<\/p>\n The set opened with \u2018Undergrowth\u2019 \u2013 a melodic reduce from \u2018O Monolith\u2019, driving in direction of a melancholic last act during which guitarist Louis Borlase moved to synths, and keyboardist Arthur Leadbetter switched to cello. Next got here \u2018O Monolith\u2019s noir-ish nearer \u2018If You Had Seen the Bull\u2019s Swimming Attempts You Would Have Stayed Away\u2019. This noticed Laurie Nankivell\u2019s bass slink by means of a storm of percussion, with Borlase utilizing a guiro, Leadbetter taking on a cowbell, and the Duggan taking to a small, chest-mounted washboard.<\/p>\n Having met these new tracks with rapt consideration, the group erupted in welcoming \u2018Bright Green Field\u2019 spotlight \u2018G.S.K.\u2019. Following this with new observe \u2018Devil\u2019s Den\u2019, Squid appeared to level to \u2018O Monolith\u2019s grander musical scope. Led by an eery half-croon from Judge, and sustained synths recalling the strings from \u2018Tehellim Pt. I\u2019 by Steve Reich (the band\u2019s said enthusiasm for Reich is extra evident in these new songs), this observe\u2019s sudden structural shifts palpably caught the room off-guard \u2013 incomes the most important applause up to now.<\/p>\n The stage then went quiet for a trumpet solo by Nankivell, looped into the opening sequence of latest observe \u2013 and clear set-highlight amongst followers \u2013 \u2018After The Flash\u2019. Driving in direction of a stunning ascending synth line, paying homage to Samuel Barber\u2019s \u2018Adagio For Strings\u2019, this appeared to be a band\u2019s favorite as nicely \u2013 its members bouncing by means of its triumphant crescendo.<\/p>\n Returning to play synthesisers, Nankivell, Borlase and guitarist Anton Pearson delivered a sprawling digital piece, marked within the setlist as \u2018Fieldworks\u2019. \u201cThat one\u2019s from the third album\u201d Judge stated. \u201cFuck knows when that\u2019s going to come out.\u201d<\/p>\n With Judge\u2019s announcement \u201cthis one\u2019s called \u2018Houseplants\u2019,\u201d the band broke into \u2018Bright Green Field\u2019 observe \u2018Narrator\u2019 \u2013 the one earlier single within the set, and closest the viewers acquired to these pre-album tracks. The set closed with \u2018O Monolith\u2019s newly-released lead single \u2018Swing (In A Dream)\u2019.<\/p>\n The ever-terrific Squid enjoying new stuff at The Scala this night. @squidbanduk<\/a> #squidband<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pT1GliTYP8<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Toby Cotton (@TobiasCotton) February 9, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Squid, on the Scala \u2014 El Turko (@steventurko) February 10, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Squid tonight at Scala, what a gig, a lot power and so ridiculously gifted, fully good#squid<\/a> #omonolith<\/a> #moshpit<\/a> #scala<\/a> #livemusic<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/TTrYvjSxaA<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 VeryNearlyHalfWitted (@BoysKeepSwingin) February 9, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2018Undergrowth\u2019\n
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![\"Squid](\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/SquidGig-Scala-2.jpg\")
![\"Squid](\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/SquidGig-Scala-3.jpg\")
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A promised gig. A band with thrilling concepts set out in an album but to be launched. And a “hit” single the viewers will shout for and be ignored.
A pandemic and three years later, and we’re in a lot the identical place.
I used to be late, however what I noticed was very fulfilling. pic.twitter.com\/oKuNlRYksi<\/a><\/p>\n\n
Squid Played:<\/h2>\n
\u2018If You Had Seen the Bull\u2019s Swimming Attempts You Would Have Stayed Away\u2019
\u2018G.S.K.\u2019
\u2018Bank\u2019
\u2018Devil\u2019s Den\u2019
\u2018After The Flash\u2019
\u2018Peel St\u2019
\u2018Documentary Filmmaker\u2019
\u2018Fieldworks\u2019
\u2018Narrator\u2019
\u2018Swing (In A Dream)\u2019<\/p>\n