Cold Cave - Electronic music new hope!

***1/2

Dark Cure Esq. Electronica!

Supporting Nine inch Nails

Cold Cave ***1/2 are Philadelphia finest Electronica act, that just have hit the jackpot with a support slot to mega Industrial giants Nine inch Nails. Cold Cave was founded in 2007 by Wesley Eisold former vocalist of Hardcore groups Give up the Ghost (previously known as American Nightmare), Some Girls and Heartworm Press. Wesley is very different from other frontmen musicians, because he was only born with one hand. This complication has not stopped him from achieving his goals and he is an inspiration to us all, producing music to the best of his abilities and delivering a great live performance on big stages around the World. 

I managed to catch Cold Cave at two of the shows on their recent tour with NIN and saw that they are a really promising Electronic act. At these shows Cold Cave were a duo with Wesley being joined onstage by Amy Lee​ on keyboards, so Wesley could concentrate on singing and performing live. Opening up with 'Underworld USA' from their second come to form album 'Cherish the light Years'. This track has penetrating beats that bounce at you and when Wesley's haunting Cure Esq. vocals come in it really was brought to life. I like the use of the American flag on screens behind them during this song, it really helps to give it a good atmosphere and in a way you can't believe how much the vocals sound like Robert Smith but the music is quite different. 

I love the chorus on this song, it's really Pop orientated and maybe if it was released in the 80's or 90's would have been a really big hit for Cold Cave. I also really dig the feel and the fact it's coming from the underworld of Electronic music. 'Youth and Lust' off their first record seems to have a more basic feel to it, and shows that Cold Cave have come a long way from were they first started. It's Synth Pop basic melodies drift by as the duo sway from side to side producing the sounds.

'A Little death to Laugh' a more recent song, that was only released two years ago has a killer groove to it and it really haunts you and sticks in your head. It has a backing beat and real simple keyboard part but is as effective as a more complexed song and has a big impact and think would get a lot of the audience at the NIN hooked. Wesley moves round the microphone like a veteran of his genre and for the whole of the Birmingham show, I actually forgot he only has one hand because his sometimes pogoing and swaying motions look not out of place with the music.

He commands himself like a slight watered down Iggy Pop or a descendant of Trent Reznor. Maybe this is why they are on the bill because they are impressive. I think the reason they don't command more stars is because they are on with Nine inch Nails a band that in comparison is hard to compete with. Their live shows are always big and I feel Cold Cave didn't have enough of the stage to play with because they seem to be pushed way forward, almost at the edge of the stage near the photo pit. During 'A Little death to Laugh' the music video which you can watch at the bottom of this page, plays behind them and really grabs you in to the music.

The singer Wesley mouthing the words to the song is strangely mesmerising and really takes a hold of you and brings you into the song. This is something a lot of bands can't do, so it's a great use of imagery to bring across their messages like later when "People are Poison" comes onto the screen. This is a message that most people nowadays can relate to, when they are let down by friends or love ones. 'Love comes Close' another old track from the band shows Cold Cave's confidence in all their material, which I really like. This track really has a good atmosphere about it and bounces between the sound of Joy Division and The Cure while keeping to the Cold Cave formula. This is probably one of the worst tracks for me in the set but that is really saying something about the bands material because it's still really great.

'Confetti' in comparison is a very different track it's more up beat and the bass line has a really brilliant Manchester scene 90's sound to it, while the backing seems to tinkle on your taste buds. This is one of the best tracks in the bands set and one you should really check out to get into them. I love the tone on Wesley's voice during it and the parts when he joins his colleague Amy Lee on keys and the fact she joins in more on the vocal parts. The last really old track 'Heaven was Full' is very dark and brooding and is one better for your room than the live stage so is a low point in the bands set. Unlike new track 'People are Poison' which is far more upbeat and has that message we talked about earlier popping up on the screen at certain points.

This song has hints of Jesus and Mary Chain to it and a touch of old Goth and is simply brilliant. With bands like The Horrors and Toy this sound is really in at the moment and I think will take Cold Cave to the next level. They have just plucked this sound like the two bands I just mentioned out of the 80's and 90's and reinvented it for a new generation, simply a touch of genius. They end with the brilliant 'Icons of Summer' off 'Cherish the light Years' the album with the cover that just jumps out of the CD racks at you every time you see it.

This song really get's everyone moving in the venue and is the perfect song for the band to end on. You can even see people mouthing and singing all the lyrics back at them and clapping to the Depeche Mode clapping bit. This song soon goes into chaotic loops that sound incredible and show a new light to the band, this is Electronica at it's best and even though I would say that Cold Cave are no their quite yet.. I think they will grow in the next few years. I can't wait to see how the progress and I will certainly be buying all of the bands albums, I have already purchased all the great picture discs that they had on sale on the tour.

Cold Cave - Setlist
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Underworld USA 
Youth and Lust 
A Little death to Laugh 
Love comes Close 
Confetti 
Heaven was Full 
People are Poison 
Icons of Summer 

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

Check Out! the Video for 'A Little death to Laugh' Below...