The Portsmouth Pyramids appears all but sold out tonight, with little space to move, and a twenty-one minute wait to get served at the bar!  IMPORTANT NOT TO THE OWNERS OF THE PYRAMIDS CENTRE: if you are putting on a gig where an audience of 1,000 plus is anticipated, PUT ON MORE BARSTAFF.  There were probably less than eight people working behind this venue's two minuscule bars - now is the time to have a modest refit to MAKE THE BARS LONGER, INSTALL MORE TILLS, and THEN EMPLOY MORE STAFF.  Do you not want our money?  I MISSED THE SUPPORT BAND'S ENTIRE SET DUE TO STARING AT THE BACK OF SOME BLOKE'S HEAD WHILE WAITING TO GET SERVED.

Right, that's got that out of my system.  From what I heard with my back to the stage while at the bar, support act The Ravonettes had a tightly-played and extremely well-mixed rock sound - to the extent that I had to listen intently before realising it wasn't simply a mixed and mastered recording being played while the band tuned up.  Just a shame I never got to see them...  So how was the main act?  Bloody good, actually.

The Cooper Temple Clause have moved on a great deal from their debut album to the latest, gargantuan effort 'Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose', which has already taken on the role of a modern classic.  Incorporating all manner of weird and wonderful electronic sounds into their otherwise traditional "indie band" setup, if the band can move on an equal distance between their second and third albums, then the next long player shall be a truly essential item.

The Cooper Temple Clause have already given new life to the recent songs, with arrangements changed and performances honed, compared to their earlier live outings at the Isle Of Wight Festival during the summer.  The gig is well-mixed, clear, and on the evidence of such songs as 'New Toys' the band are already exploring more jazzy influences and expanding into other, previously uncharted musical territories.  While The Cooper Temple Clause's live music is more ideally suited to the festival arena, this was unquestionably a good show from an exciting act with genuine potential to become steadily more interesting as the months - and releases - progress.

Review: Andrew Morrison
(Extracts from this review also appear at The Cooper Temple Clause's official website CooperTempleClause.co.uk.)