w e s e t s a i l

As I walk in and make my way up the short, wide, semi circular staircase of the Hifi I can already hear the distorted guitars and sounds of the night’s first band, We Set Sail.

 We Set Sail aren’t like your average band. They are one of those bands whose sound is hard to describe without just rattling off a list of some of the best bands in alternative, instrumental and shoegaze music over the past 10 years. Taking the stage in a shared uniform of skinny ripped jeans, tight plaid shirts and low cut Vans sneakers, the band looked like they had just come from their support slot at some DIY punk show with Joan of Arc, Pavement and Cap’n Jazz at some suburban American gym hall back in the early 90′s, and their sound agrees. Showing elements of progressive hardcore and punk rock, We Set Sail can be likened to 90′s underground scene bands like Saetea and Circle Takes The Square but also shows the musicianship, subtleties and diversity of more recent bands such as Brand New and Moving Mountains. As the band move through into their second song, the first of their set that I get to hear in it’s entirety, the intricate nature of the music becomes more and more evident. The passion that this band shows for what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve is almost second to none and it transpires to the small but appreciative crowd with everyone in the room being completely captivated in a matter of minutes. Their music paints soundscapes that give your imagination and creativity freedom to go and do whatever the fuck it wants. It evokes emotion, passion, intimacy and in a more suited setting and atmosphere, has the potential to be some of the most stimulating music that you have ever heard.

 An elevated stage and crowd barrier meant the band couldn’t use their usual stage set-up, so guitarist and vocalist Paul Voge had to hide side of stage behind his newly acquired beard, instead of standing up front playing with his back to the crowd. It didn’t matter where they were standing though, I had only seen 2 songs and I could have left happy. Shit, the way this band made music I could have gone home, smoked a joint, put their shit on repeat and written all night. That’s the thing about We Set Sail, much like genre heavyweights, Explosions In the Sky and Mogwai, We Set Sail are inspiring and thought provoking. Their subtle, passionate and specifically used vocals are timed to perfection and the use of triggers to activate the Rocky, Al Pacino and Richard Dawkins quotes playing over the soft and beautiful instrumentals signify glimpses of absolute brilliance and leave you in a state of ponder over taboo topics such as religion and self worth and discovery. Ultimately, the drummer is the one behind the band and keeps everything in rhythm and time, even triggering the overlaying quotes and speeches throughout their set. I know that’s what a drummer is supposed to do but in a time when the latest drum beats are made by some 8 year old kid on his MacBook Pro it’s nice to see that some musicians are still kicking old school.

When all your songs go for 8 or 9 minutes, a half set just isn’t enough for most bands to showcase their entire catalogue of beauty, triumph, depression and musicianship, but We Set Sail pulled it off with nothing but elegance and beauty and an underlying sense of casualness.