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My Bloody Valentine Live: Manchester Apollo

01st July 2008 | by Aidan Williamson

Tonight's performance from the recently reformed shoegaze giants My Bloody Valentine showcases a new kind of fade-out. Instead of gradually diminishing the sound levels until they cease to exist, these guys will play the same barrage of organ destroying cacophony until your ears capacity to hear sound-waves is gradually reduced until that capacity, likewise, ceases to exist.

Around fifteen minutes of sheer decadent noise is how they choose to end their set, a move which really underlines the fact that this band are here because they still want to try new things, not to please you and me. Our only regret is not taking the venue up on their complimentary earplugs when they were offered.

Amidst the sea of bespectacled kids, ranging from “I bought 'Loveless' when it came out” to “I was only just born when 'Loveless' came out” and maybe even a couple who expected to hear 'Scream, Aim, Fire' (luckily we didn't) the sense of excitement was palpable, and although the quartet stuck to their stoic performance roots (excluding the quite frantic guitarist who never seemed to stop) - and sure enough, had eyes trained intently upon their footwear when not using the microphones - none of it detracted from the air of wonder which the band nonchalantly exuded.

Despite a few small hiccups (the backing track for stand-out track "To Here Knows When" starting a little too early and forcing a restart for example) and in spite of the almost torturous finale there will be few here tonight who wouldn't consider it worth the wait.

VIDEO: My Bloody Valentine - Live @ Manchester Apollo 2008