Ganglians are a difficult band to attach a label to. With their musical output now spanning three albums, their catalogue references many genres - spookily harmonised folk, psychedelic garage rock, and fuzzed-out tropical wig outs to name a few. Their influences range across a musical spectrum creating a varied and eclectic musical tapestry, which is displayed throughout their show tonight.
Despite a relatively low turnout, the band don't seem at all fazed by this and go about their business with a healthy amount of aggression and intensity. The vocal and instrumental talent is evident from the off with the band creating tightly layered melodies that intertwine perfectly to create a dense patchwork of harmony and melody. The band are certainly advocates of using technical effects to elevate their sound, and tonight they take it to weirder and stranger heights than they appear to on their records. Like many bands that have crossed the Atlantic recently (especially from the Californian region), their songs are drenched in reverb, creating a sparse and open feel to their music. While other groups have sometimes used this effect to hide behind, Ganglians musical ability still shines through and is used tastefully, only being turned up to the maximum when neccessary.
During songs like 'Drop The Act' and 'Hair', the band seem at their most aggressive as singer Ryan Grubb flails about with seemingly little control bashing his delay pedal. During the calmer parts of the set, like 'Jungle' and 'That's What I Want' the band appear a hallunicagenic Beach Boys, their music hypnotizing and transfixing the band and the audience alike.
Unlike the band's recorded output, which can sometimes become repetitive and slightly grating, Ganglians' live show is encapsulating and alluring. The members of the band seem fully eclipsed in the music they are creating as they twist and writhe to each note. Front man, Grubb, plays with no shoes on, which he later tells me is so he can feel the vibrations of the music on stage, while bassist Adrian Comenzind holds an intense stare throughout, looking slightly chemically unbalanced but at the same time totally immersed in the dense layers of the sound. Ganglians add an extra dimension to their live show as they are able to deliver a more accute and seductive element of their music and create a powerful and memorable experience for anyone watching.