Teleman
Full of easy charm and charisma, Getintothis’ Mike Stanton sees Teleman proving once again they are a must-see live band.
Opening act NZCA Lines are another of those in the never-ending conveyor belt of 80’s inspired synth-pop bands. They are above the average but still have a familiar, radio-friendly air about them. Here they are a member down and it’s left to Michael Lovett on keys and guitar and Sarah Jones on drums to carry the show and they do so with aplomb. Elements of Anoraak, and Chromeo are evident as they add an electro-funk vibe to the proceedings.
Two Hearts is an absolute standout. It is easily their most accomplished song and is exactly what electro-pop should sound like. In contrast the rest of the set just doesn’t stack up, however they possess undoubted quality are an easy alternative to the more progressive and experimental electronica out there.
London 4 piece Teleman, born out of the ashes of Pete and the Pirates kick off their tour at The Buyers Club in Liverpool. With a new album on the horizon they treat us to some of their, now, trademark electronic tinged indie pop. At times resembling a fusion of Clor and Squeeze, their understated 80’s inspired vibes fill the room and thrill the sell-out crowd.
Fronted by the hugely charismatic Thomas Sanders (vocals, guitar) and supported by Jonny Sanders (keyboards), Pete Cattermoul (bass) and Hiro Amamiya (drums) they give the crowd an entertaining and fun-filled hour of dreamy harmonies and at times prog-rock inspired jams.
There are moments of pure krautrock-inspired brilliance as motorik beats and spacy jams have the audience bouncing and moving. At other points Sanders’ distinctive delivery, short, punctuated and cleanly controlled, drives the songs forward adding pace to the set and complementing Amamiya’s syncopated rhythms.
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Fall In Time is full of down-tempo spookiness with Sanders’ siren-like wailing synths adding a sinister edge to what, on record, is a breezier affair.
Tangerine, a new song, is fun and loose, a track they are still, as Sanders’ put it, ‘working out’. It rocked, with great hooks being pulled out by the guitar and synths. Cattermoul’s bass, as always underpinning the groove and drawing focus to the prog-tinged arrangements.
Skeleton Dance is met with a warm round of recognition and pushes the band into math-rock territory. Full of movement and jerky energy, it plays with hooks delightfully. Sanders’ voice is particularly paired back and economical.
It feels the middle third of the set drifts slightly with tracks merging and blending but by the final third they have things rocking and the audience bouncing.
Steam Train Girl is a motorik-beat driven krauty delight of charging synths, Neu-inspired guitar and vocoder. It sounds likes something straight out of the Berlin School and they are having obvious fun playing it. New single Dusseldorf shimmers and sways. Closing out with prog and Krautrock-inspired Not In Control they cap a really enjoyable set.
Teleman are one of those bands that totally engages with the audience. Full of easy charm and charisma, it is evident why they sell-out their gigs. They are a band you want to see live. On record their sound is mute and lacks any real edge, live they are a different proposition and transcend the recorded medium. It seems their music is designed to be played live, to experience raw and unfiltered.
Pictures by Getintothis’ Martin Waters
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- Teleman
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- Teleman
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- Teleman
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- Buyers Club
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- NZCA Lines
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- NZCA Lines
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- NCZA Lines
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