Cheatahs musical output over the last four years is impressive. The London based quartet have released two albums and four EP’s during this time, with earlier efforts of 2012’s SANS EP and 2014’s self titled debut album perfectly showcasing their brand of shoegaze infused rock. These releases culminated in the band being labelled as one of the most exciting prospects in alternative music, with 2015’s sophomore effort Mythologies justifying this claim. The 13 song set documents a musical progression, proving to any doubters that Cheatahs were much more than your average shoegaze revivalists. Mythologies took more of an expansive approach to song-writing and sound, with psychedelic elements and anthemic refrains combining perfectly to make it one of the best albums of 2015.
Their mesmerising set tonight at London’s XOYO is testament to this progression. They kick things off by rumbling into ‘Sunne’ before dishing out a rapturous rendition of ‘Murasaki’, complete with its stark, misty synths and Japanese verses. The onstage patter is kept to a minimum throughout the set, but this does nothing to dampen the performance as each song is delivered with such aplomb. The bands vocal duties are split between bassist Dean Reid, guitarist Nathan Hewitt and keyboard/guitar player James Wignall, with the interchangeable nature of the vocal setup making for an excellent listening experience. ‘In Flux’ is the perfect example of how Cheatahs benefit from this vocal variation, as Hewitt’s hushed, sultry voice perfectly juxtaposes Wignall’s brash tone, making it a standout from tonight’s set.
The delicate ‘Seven Sisters’ follows suit and captures Cheatahs at their ethereal best, as the tracks radiant synth work and shimmering guitars take the crowd on a psychedelic journey that never lets up. Despite the tender and swirling sounds that figure throughout the night, Cheatahs also make it clear that they haven’t forgot how to go balls to the wall and rock, something that is evident as they launch into fan favourite ‘The Swan’ and plough through new cut ‘Freak Waves’. It’s on tracks such as these that drummer Marc Raue comes into his own, pummelling his way through the wall of reverb provided by the rest of the band.
The spiralling ‘Su-pra’ looked to have closed the set in a flurry of cascading keys and driving guitars, but the band resurfaced for an encore that saw the mystical trip of ‘Signs to Lorelei’ act as the parting gift. It’s a fitting end to a night that sees Cheatahs justify the hype that has surrounded them since the release of Mythologies late last year. They have established themselves as one of the most vital bands in the alternative scene right now.
Words by Joe Connell