Intense yet optimistic: Gnoomes at Delicious Clam
Gnoomes descend on Sheffield for the first time, and their pulsating blend of kraut techno and kosmische pop delight a sold-out Delicious Clam.
Hailing from Perm in Russia, the touring two-piece duo of Masha and Sasha Piankova make up Gnoomes. The Slovenia-based band use the term ‘stargaze’ to describe their mix of shoegaze and techno, and their first visit to Sheffield is met with a sold-out crowd at Delicious Clam, a collectively-run independent label and venue in the centre of town.
Dearthworms were the main support act, a five-piece experimental post-punk band originating from Sheffield. Recently signed to Redundant Span Records, their latest single ‘Strike Low’ showcases the brilliant balance between Nick Potter’s raw vocals and Edith Rothwell’s more dynamic voice. If you’re a fan of bands such as Squid and Shame, make sure you check out their new album Sapsucker, due to be released on 26 July.
Gnoomes had a lot to
live up to as the headline act, and they duly delivered. They open
with ‘Ural Sun’, the first track on the critically acclaimed
album Ax Ox. Despite this song being relatively distorted and
unnerving, the tempo soon shifts during ‘Severokamsk’ with its
beautifully arranged synth rhythms, and the pulsating beats of
’Utro’. When I interviewed the band a couple of months ago, Sasha
expressed how they are “really into playing the transitions between
the tracks. We are exploring new territories with jamming between the
tracks and so on.” These transitions take the gig to another level,
with the energetic edginess remaining throughout.
Two original band
members have remained in Russia which has meant Sasha and Masha have
had to rearrange certain songs, successfully. ‘Eternal Trans
Siberian’ sounds excellent – its pounding drum beat turning into
blissful ecstasy by the end. Born from the sense of danger that arose
from lockdown, ‘The Neighbor’ is pure intensity with a punchy
atmosphere – a real gig highlight.
The combination of a brilliant performance and a top-draw venue makes the evening pretty special. Listening to a band portray the monumental challenges they’ve faced in the form of intense yet optimistic music, in a community-run DIY venue, is difficult to compete with.
