In Lisbon, there are plenty of spaces that someone can get lost in if they are searching for exploratory music. One such place is the Galeria Zé dos Bois – or ZdB, for short -, a venue that instigates the research and investigation of artists involved with visual and performing arts, as well as film and music. A lot of interesting projects have stepped foot in and performed at this small venue, including names, such as Sunn O))), that would go on to achieve greater audiences. On this auspicious night, it was time to revisit a band that was itself revisiting ZdB – Big Brave, who were going to present one of their latest releases, A Chaos of Flowers. Before them, however, we had the pleasure of seeing NECRØ, the latest project from the mind of João Vairinhos, a Portuguese musician with an already renowned career in the electronic arts. Always accompanied by the wonderful vocalist Sara Inglês, NECRØ gave the audience a showcase of some of the best darkwave that is being produced out there today, playing not only tracks from their debut EP, Necro Beats, – such as “Surviving Pessimism” and “Narcissist” -, but also material from their brand-new record, Into Oblivion, namely “Cold Cut”, “Perfect World” and “Scissor Lips”. As the introspective and somber tunes were heard, the audience moved their bodies as if pushed by the soundwaves, in a sea of motion and emotion. A perfect start for a perfect night.
Next came the New Orleans multi-instrumentalist and producer Melissa Guion, under the guise of MJ Guider, performing for the first time in Lisbon. Despite playing a musical style that is differs entirely from that of the previous band and the headliners, the distant sounds clouded in fogs of eternal reverb that MJ Guider crafts out of thin air served as a marvelous bridge between both acts. And that’s not relegating her to a status beneath the others; it is merely to emphasize how special MJ Guider’s music truly is. Hiding being veils of smoke that were coming from the side of the stage, MJ Guider sent us on a journey of melancholy and eeriness, with soundscapes that grew bigger as time passed, accompanied by MJ Guider’s voice that felt as if echoes of a ghost were speaking to us from a distance. The beautiful “FM Secure” closed an amazing, yet short performance. I wouldn’t mind if MJ Guider decided to play a much longer set; I would just sit still and quiet, absorbing all the complex and vast sonorities until there was nothing left to hear. But it is also understandable when artists prefer to play shorter sets, especially if the music itself is much more intense than normal. And speaking of intensity, after such a delightful performance by MJ Guider, it was time for Big Brave. As previously mentioned, the Canadian experimental doom trio were presenting A Chaos of Flowers, which they played in full. I realize I mentioned the band being a trio, but this time around they were actually a quartet, as Liam Andrews was collaborating live with the band, bringing his deep ocean bass swell, which complemented the cacophonous heaviness that Big Brave create on a live setting. Crushing and powerful, Big Brave’s sound is something to behold; the vibrations that emanated from the band’s instruments pounded our flesh successively, slowly chipping our bones away and bending our minds. The only proverbial comfort we got during the experience was Robin Wattie’s voice, a radiant beam that cut through the chaos, giving a sense of hope amidst the dread. Another brilliant performance that ended this most auspicious of nights at the ZdB in amazing fashion. Until we meet again.
Words by Filipe Silva
Photo by Nuno Martins, courtesy of Galeria Zé dos Bois
