Live: Daughter @ Portsmouth Pyramids.

by | Jan 20, 2016

Daughter at Southsea Pyramids

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Back in the 1990s, the shoegazing brand of indie rock was all the rage. Bands like My Bloody Valentine, Lush and the Cocteau Twins were masters of ethereal vocals, mixed with swirly guitar and big soundscapes. Even though I wasn’t one of the angst ridden students that it often identified with, I was a fan of the whole movement and lamented its passing.

Thankfully there’s hope on the horizon with Daughter and their new album Not To Disappear. Whilst fans of their melancholic first album will have plenty to keep them happy, this album has a much fuller sound to it and in a live performance, Daughter do floaty guitars and ambient soundscapes exceedingly well.

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

The first thing that strikes you is the low-key entrance from the band, with lead singer Elena Tonra almost apologetic for interrupting the crowds drinking time.  However, that low-key entrance is soon put to bed with the opening track How from the new album.  Crashing opening chords from guitarist Igor Haefeli and a wall of lights before they move into the restrained quiet and lamenting lyrics of lost love, the track is a great example of the warm sound of the new album, but maintaining the stripped back feel of a lone voice in the dark.  This theme is continued into the next track Tomorrow, from 2013s If You Leave album and reaches its peak in the bleak but beautiful new track Numbers, which has a distinct Editors-esque feel about it.

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Pausing for some banter with the crowd, there’s another good example of the broadening of their musical style on No Care.  This has a driving urgent beat reminiscent of Bloc Party and which keeps drummer Remi Aguilella extremely active, and also on the excellent Alone/With You which is possibly my favourite track from the new album.  It’s a quirky track with a chirpy, insistent backbeat, reminiscent of Sigur Ros, but definitely with its own style.

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Remi Aguilella of Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

But throughout all of the music, the one thing that’s unusual about Daughter is their ability to use silence to great effect.  “Less is more” is a hackneyed phrase, and it’s difficult to explain in respect of a live concert, but the times when very little was being played or sung were extremely powerful and added to the emotional pull of the band.  There was a respectful hush throughout the evening that was really quite unusual to experience and added to the whole ambience of the performance.

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

Daughter creating soundscapes at the Pyramids Southsea. Warm music on a chilly winters night (Andy Sampson)

That wasn’t to say the crowd weren’t enthusiastic.  Despite its tragic theme of the isolation and loss of self created by Alzheimer’s disease, Doing The Right Thing got a great reception, although the biggest cheer was reserved for Youth, from their original Wild Youth EP of 2011.

With its chorus line of “if you’re still breathing, you’re the lucky ones” this is pretty bleak stuff, but it’s a perfect demonstration of how Daughter mix beautiful melodies, with lyrics that try to rip your heart out.  If you’ve listened to any of their tracks, you know what you’re going to get with Daughter, but on the strength of tonight’s performance and the wider canvas of the new album, I have a feeling the band is going to grow and grow.  And shoegazing might be back!

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000xQ9j4VOXHtw” g_name=”Daughter” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

The full set here: Daughter Concert Photography

Live Review & Photography by Andy Sampson.                                                     Daughter Live at Portsmouth Pyramids on Monday 18th January 19, 2016

Andy has his own great website here: www.soundritualphotos.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Billy Idol @ Wembley Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

Billy Proves He Is No False Idol, But A Truly Authentic One At Wembley Arena

Fresh from being well received at the inaugural Forever Now festival as well as a surprise appearance alongside...
Wide angle photo of Opus Stage and Arena at DownloadXXII

From Chaos To Catharsis: Sleep Token Silence The Doubters As Day Two Of Download Festival XXII Delivers Big Moments And Bigger Emotion

We’re back for Day 2 of Download Festival XXII. Would today live up to the great start we had yesterday? Let’s see…

Bludfest 2025 @ Milton Keynes Bowl (Ruby Boland)

Hello Heaven, Hello! Bludfest Returns Bigger Than Ever!

The elfin Elin Hall makes for the perfect entrance music, America swirling like the threat of rain overhead, as...
Nine Inch Nails @ Scala (Kalpesh Patel)

Trent And Atticus Nine Inch Nail It At The O2 Arena

Every act craves that strong connection with their audience – but how do you achieve this in a cavernous space like The O2 Arena, filled to the brim with around 20,000 fans (all, naturally, dressed in black)? Well, in typical belligerent style, Nine Inch Nails meet this challenge head on – treating us to a set by turns poetic and punishing, and despite the odd technical hiccup, really delivering that all important connection.

L-R: Roger Taylor, John Taylor, Simon Le Bon & Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Duran Duran To Bring Their Spectacular Danse Macabre Halloween Party To Manchester’s Co-Op Live

British music legends Duran Duran have announced their first-ever UK Halloween extravaganza, set to take over Manchester’s Co-Op Live on Friday, 31st October 2025. Promising a night of haunting glamour, sonic mischief and spine-tingling surprises, the one-off show will mark the UK debut of the band’s acclaimed Danse Macabre Halloween Party.

Jane Remover @ Outbreak London 2025

Outbreak Festival Storms London: A Genre-Bending Baptism Of Hardcore, Chaos & Community

Outbreak has been the beating heart of the UK’s hardcore scene since 2011 at its home in Manchester, finally the...
Santana @ The O2 Arena (Kalpesh Patel)

A Higher Frequency: Santana’s Timeless Spirit Lights Up The O2 Arena

As London sweltered under a 32-degree summer solstice sun, a different kind of illumination awaited inside The O2 Arena. Carlos Santana—guitar deity, Woodstock survivor, and spiritual messenger—brought his legendary band and transcendental energy to the capital with his Oneness Tour, proving once again that music, when played with heart and soul, can truly heal.

Matt Bellamy of Muse @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Muse Return With Electrifying New Single ‘Unravelling’ — A Thunderous Taste Of What’s To Come

Muse have unleashed their blistering new single Unravelling, igniting excitement among fans as they return to the world stage with their trademark flair for drama and dystopian grandeur. The track marks their first new music since 2022’s Will Of The People and signals the beginning of a bold new chapter for the stadium-filling trio.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing