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Maximo Park are, as a concept and a reality,
more than they should be and less than they sometimes
promise. Rebelling against the glut of aimless rebellion
that they were borne out of – the post-Libertines new-wave
scattergun that otherwise gave rise to the likes of
The Others and Dogs and other such flotsam – they embraced
literacy and tidiness, but did bolt on a goggle-eyed
elastic disposition to their rigid spine. If critics
are to be believed their elasticity has all but given
up springing back, with more grounded and assured record
‘Quicken The Heart’ having just arrived. But instilling
confidence in their backbone and opening up discussion
of longevity on your 3rd album is no mis-step in our
book and besides, the litmus test with them has always
been the live performance; something that, in spite
of their mid-table indie placing ensured they packed
out Newcastle Arena with a feverish home town throng
in 2007.
And tonight – the second of two such nights – Brixton
is accordingly frontman Paul Smith’s drunk cross-eyed
panting puppy dog. “The fireworks in Brixton…” bellows
he ruggedly through the bundling melody of new song
‘Roller Disco Dreams’ and that seems about right. Naturally
the audience go off the hook for dead certs like ‘My
Velocity’, ‘Graffiti’, ‘Limosol’ and ‘Going Missing’,
but more surprising is how the less manic new songs
ruffle their hair up and light the touch-paper with
a comparable if not equal virility; ‘Calm’ is anything
but, ‘The Kids Are Sick Again’ is quickly approaching
the rapture of all their other first-singles-off-albums
and ‘Overland, West Of Suez’ complete with Bryan Adams
‘Summer Of 69’ likeness is properly anthemic. Paul Smith
has lost none of his panache either; jacket off by the
end of the fourth song, attacking each lyric physically
as if it has its own dance move.
Verdict: Maximum taste. Bags of sugar.
Best In Show: ‘The Kids Are Sick Again’
Download: ‘Roller Disco Dreams’
Playlist companions: The Rakes, The Futureheads,
Franz Ferdinand, Esser
Brixton Academy shots
more info:
http://www.maximopark.com
Photos & Report ~ James Berry for Crud Magazine
2009©
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