The Cooper Temple Clause
+ The Rain Band
+ Medium 21
Cambridge Junction 7/5/2003

Medium 21 as their name suggest veered towards melodic mediocrity. Though the band seemed to be enjoying themselves, their particular brand of indie mixing the more sedate moments of the Flaming Lips and the Boo Radleys could see them become the new Cast. As Alan Partridge once lamented ‘No need for that.’

The Junction was briefly reduced to silence upon entry of The Rain Band for it appeared that the Stone Roses seemed to have reformed before our very eyes. Not satisfied with basing their dynamic sound on the baggy movement it also appeared their lead singer has a face so similar to Ian Brown several vagrant types were confused into enthusiastically requesting ‘Fools Gold’ and ‘Dolphins Were Monkeys’. However The Rain Band deserve success in their own right with this performance justifying the significant fan base they have gained in their native Manchester as they mixed electronica with more straightforward melodic guitar sounds.

With a live reputation only rivalling the quality of their haircuts, exotically hirsute sextet The Cooper Temple Clause shuffled onstage before explosively opening the Cambridge leg of the extensive UK tour with recent single A.I.M. New material followed thick and fast with next single ‘Promises, Promises’ re-invoking the raw rock edge which characterised ‘Been Training Dogs’ and ‘Film Maker’. Other tracks from their forthcoming album, such as ‘Blind Pilots’, explored the more experimental territory, which has left the band standing alone amongst their ‘new rock’ peers. A hectic touring schedule has clearly honed the band’s live performances, and the more focussed approach allowed the full quality of their material - both old and new - to come to the fore. The levelling of Cambridge with the trademark bedlam of ‘Panzer Attack, (the best song Primal Scream never had the bollocks to write) brought the show, and its accompanying aural assault to a climatic close. The Cooper Temple Clause are fast becoming essential.

Tom Bage and Nick Adams