Eeebleee, I think you'll agree, is a very silly name indeed. I doubt if even Brian Harvey would endorse having that many E's all in one go. But Eeebleee's name, rather like Eeebleee's image, is very much a peripheral matter. In a half-full Metro Bar in central London, Eeebleee are about to show us that what they're doing is all about the music.

The lead track from new single 'Apologise' is a solemn tale of a lost relationship in which Dave treats us to such beautifully introspective ponderings as "How many books have you read, and how did you fit them all inside of your head?". The melody is a winner, and the song glides along like a big fluffy cloud drifting through a sky of sorrow (no, really!)

Having only recently acquired live drummer Mark Wilden, Eeebleee are still in the process of adjusting to life as a four piece. More akin to using drum loops and synth sounds to underpin their sound, having a human being doing the beats has added a whole new dimension to their live performance.

But with newcomers comes new problems, and there are some (minor) teething problems tonight.  At one point singer Dave is so absorbed with the intro to 'Lost In The Riddle' that he fails to notice Mark is on the wrong side of his kit, adjusting a sea-sawing bass drum that has partially lost its legs after getting quite a zealous beating in previous song 'Save Your Breath'.  Not to worry though, a swift hurdle later and the intro to 'Strange' kicks in with dramatic effect, reminding us that we are in the presence of true professionals.

Ben Ulph's guitar playing is creative and masterful, working so well because every sound is made for a reason.  What we get with Eeebleee is a holistic musical experience, where swirling textures envelope us, drawing us deeper into their sound and not letting us out until we've been totally consumed.

The real highlight tonight is set-closer 'Dirty, Dirty Choir', an upbeat track where double-bassist Jo Edge gets heads rocking and feet tapping with a killer stocatto bass line, while the song builds into a whirling swirling chaos that is both violent and tender, blatant and subtle.

In an age of identikit BRMC haircuts and immitation style-over-substance bands with only half an idea to keep them afloat, it takes bands like Eeebleee to remind us that what is really so great about music, is music.
(4/5)

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