RUSSIAN CIRCLES – Live at the Brudenell, Leeds 2008

Before this year I only had faint recollections of this band from maybe 6-7 years ago… I wasn’t one for the Pelican/Isis/Mogwai shoegaze style that seemed prevalent by that point. The new Russian Circles album ‘Empros’ released late last year totally changed my opinion, it leans in a heavier direction and avoids the trap lots of instrumental bands fall into… being over indulgent & boring (eg. Pelican). The minor key, delayed guitar noodling, quiet/loud crescendo formula has been done to death. Russian Circles avoid that trap and keep things interesting by writing songs that are more dynamic (especially the drumming). This set was recorded a few years ago in Leeds (not sure by who?) and they would’ve been touring their second album ‘Station’. I think the music here definitely comes off better in the live setting. Photo taken from the Hive site.