MILLS OBSERVATORY 70th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT -
Altres: Mills Observatory, Dundee 13-10-05
No band had ever played at or in the Dundee astronomy observatory in 70 years - so it seemed fitting that the first concert should fall to Altres - Dundee and the UK's leading synthesizer/electronic-rock instrumental quartet. On this special night, they set up an arsenal of keyboards, guitars, devices, pedals and more wires than the London Tube system on the balcony of the observatory, outside, under an ever approaching starry sky.
As you stood on the balcony watching the band set up like bees in a hive, scurrying here and there, the sun was going down and, without a breath of wind, you could see over the River Tay in the far distance, over to Fife, not a breath of wind, the rain had long ceased, and the skies were clear - you could not ask for a better night to perform such a concert. In the air was a mix of expectancy, electricity and an almost romantic calm. Down below, people gathered out of curiosity and interest.
As the night began its starry course, around the country, in over 300 concerts, bands and audiences from Land's End to John O' Groats were celebrating the life of legendary DJ John Peel on what had been termed "John Peel Day", so it only seemed fitting, especially with my voice, that, at the request of Altres, I introduce them to the audience and dedicate the set to the memory of the late, great John Peel - a guy of whom, if he hadn't existed, I wouldn't be what I am today, musically.
In his early seventies phase, Peel would have loved Altres set. As the 4 shadowy figures began to stir on the balcony above, as swirling colours and abstract pattern were projected onto the Observatory dome and an adjacent huge tree in the grounds of the Observaotry, a cloud of amorphous, full-sounding, multi-textured synths music lifted off and filled the night air. For 45 minutes, the band played some incredible cosmic music under the cold night sky and it took your mind to the edge of the universe. Then a break........
We al raced in to the warmth of the observatory before part two - this time a tried and trusted Altres set. Started off with "Snakebridge" but a synth packed up so that had to be abandoned as they launched into the exoticism of their Middle Eastern synth track that carried you off on a journey to the east, rhythmic electro-percussive backdrops proving insistent as the synths swirled and the guitars chimed.
As the band then started to drive from cosmic to rocket-fuelled intensity that slolwly built up, a van pulled up just behind me - "someone's late" I thought. I watched - a shadowy tall figure stepped out - my heart leapt - it was Electra!! (singer -see elsewhere on this site for mlre about Electra). She'd come from Edinburgh to see the show but there were only 15 minutes to go. I showed her the projections as she was blown away by the setting and the music that was now roaring out with Altres' synths and guitars going supernova. "You must sing" I said, to which she sed "no - I've not come for that", so I took her up to where the band was playing and she saw the set-up. Brian smiled as he wrung space-rock guitar chords into the night sky and motioned Electra towards where a mic was set up. Unable to resist what was now a rising and roaring electronic and guitar-driven trip beyond the galaxy, she grabbed the mic and improvised. Wordless, female vocal soared above a Hawkwind-esque space-rock instrumental inferno and it was like the two had been made for each other. The effect was spine tingling as Electra's voice just flew above the swirling music, sadly all too brief, but if that's a portent of things to come from this collaboration, then look out world - you've not even begun to hear what this is gonna become.
The set stopped and everyone smiled - then ran into the warmth as the audience drifted and drove away.
A success - musically and more. One can only hope that this is just the beginning - not too often - but often enough - surely this has to be done again - next time with Altres as a quintet!!!