Soviet Disco, Stockton Ku Bar

Soviet Disco

September 25th 2009

If you’ve got it flaunt it – that’s the way to do it – and Soviet Disco, a relatively new band from the north-east are certainly having a crack.

Much as the name suggests, Soviet Disco have an upbeat sound with four-to-the-floor bass beats and hissing hi-hats, but their politics might be more Teesside trash than Russian. Hailing from the tired seaside town of Redcar, their fare is definitely more dirty disco than glam and glitz.

Tonight, the four-piece kick off a Friday club-night in the backstreets of Stockton with and turn up with an impressive entourage. Opener ‘Groupie’ is Radioheadesque in its style, with the sort of chromatic guitar riffing that Jonny Greenwood excels at. However, it’s a bit more primal and bluesy than that, and it seems like a bit of a slow number for an opening gambit when you compare it with what comes later.

Frontman Phil asserts presence with knowing swagger, while the packed and tight-knit sound of the guitars spread heavily over Hicks’ accomplished drumming in ‘Martyr For The Fallen’. The closing double-header of ‘Insane’ and ‘This Is Dogging’ is always the highlight of a Soviet Disco set, both being perfect tunes for an indie disco, all smoky dry ice, echoey guitar hooks and intoxicating drumbeats.

Like the fun of The Rapture fuzzed up with the melodic distortion of OK Computer and the dirty, cocky blues of The Stones; we love it. All eyes are on Stockton-on-Tees right now, with bands like The Chapman Family deservedly breaking through – here’s another one to stick on your list of ones to watch.

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