Word on the Killers On Camera is that their music is distinctly ‘early-80’s’, as in PiL, Fall, Magazine…but then, with the success of The Strokes and Franz Ferdinand after having similar comparisons hurled their way, surely the best word to describe KOC’s sound would be ‘now’.

Killers On Camera are very now – and now is good.

Tonight, in a cramped but enthusiastic Castle, they have the looks, the style and most importantly, the sound. KOC’s tunes are jagged and satisfyingly punchy, and, here, delivered with force. They sound great, and make it look easy: guitars are stabbed effectively and drums hit bloody hard. Great stuff.

There’s no doubt the boys look good on stage too, and seem to know their

attitude, akin to an early Interpol show before they could afford matching suits.

In ‘My Town Face Down’ they could have a hit, too – its catchy stop-start riff and disaffected theme (‘Oh friends, have we ever been this low/Have we ever been this high?) would prove memorable if they chose to release it.

Singer Paul Riley encourages the crowd with his stage banter and doesn’t push the moody frontman act too far. The band genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves; thankfully, like Franz, they know their music’s big, their songs clever, but don’t take it all too seriously. And Lee Chapman’s keyboard could be the ‘Magic Ingredient’ that sets their sound apart from contemporaries – a little extra chime and subtle substance to KOC’s

music.

All in all, a promising act, and one that could shine brightly (darkly?) in 2005. Watch this space…

Review by Peter Dodds
Pictures by kid sampson

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