Howling Bells are a breath of fresh air, or perhaps an old breath of fresh air. Instead of dragging out the legacy of done-and-dusted indie-brit-pop nonsense, the Bells have opted for something a little different. It probably isn’t fair to mention the ‘C’ word (country) of the ‘F’ word (folk) when describing the Bells, however.

The ‘C’ and ‘F’ words conjure up smelly leather hats, battered mandolins and at the very best, sparkly stilettos. Like Sons and Daughters, The Howling Bells have transformed the ‘C’ and ‘F’ words making them suitable for the 21st century by enveloping them in a dark and twisted Nick Cave-eque universe.

Tonight, Howling Bells play in front of their biggest headlining show. Clearly chuffed to bits, Juanita Stein and the rest of the Bells mesmerise the crowed by running through the contents of their debut self-titled album. Although the gig gets off to a slow start with the jangling ‘The Bell Hit’ and luke-warm ‘City Burning Down’, the gig really gets going with first single ‘Wishing Stone’ and brooding ‘Velvet Girl’. It is hard to see why Juanita and the Bells would not have everyone in the Koko under their collective thumb: the delivery of throbbing, bass driven rock (‘Blessed Night’ and ‘Broken Bones’) and shimmering, dusky ballads (‘A Ballad for the Bleeding Hearts’) perfectly showcases the shady world in which they inhabit.

The Howling Bells' biggest headlining gig shows just how seductive they can be on a musical landscape that is all too fond of churning out recycled musical genres (if you can call them that). The last track of the night, and latest single, ‘Low Happening’ underlines the fact that the Bells are about delivering dark, stylish rock with a twist of the ‘C’ word: they are completely enchanting and utterly alluring.         
(5/5)

Photo: Simon Hoyle