Hypothetics @ The Lab (02/04/25)

The Lab opened its doors for an evening of musical diversity when Bristol’s own Hypothetics brought their tour of debut album ‘The Crossing’ to Northampton. From grunge to folk, and drum machines to banjos, it seemed like it had it all with only the extent of one's imagination standing in the way as Picky New Promotions brought us another night of musical delight.

In a venue such as The Lab it’s always best to expect the unexpected with this evening having no exception. Being a playground for the experimental and outcasts of the contemporary there was no better place for a line up such as this assortment of alternative rock, post-grunge, electronic, folk and jazz to be hosted.

Shoom:

To start the evening hailing all the way from the Netherlands, Shoom kicked things off in a spectacular fashion, shocking an unexpected audience with their outrageous performance of ambient mosh-pit jazz. The five piece combine 20’s big band jazz with the chaos of punk, while also shaping their sound with ambience and dynamics some might see as resembling that of classical music. All this delivered in a display of virtuoso musicianship that keeps the audience hanging onto the edge wondering what comes next.

For a band playing songs with such harmonic and rhythmic complexity Shoom made the discipline of being a jazz musician seem like a walk in Abbington Park, playing with pin point accuracy and having a great time doing so. The energy these guys brought to the stage through the chaos and funkiness of their music had the audience buzzing, while the topline melodies brought by the saxophone gave something catchy for the ear to hold onto. 

The somewhat comedic element Shoom bring to their music despite being a vocaless band is a great novelty they seem to have potentially struck gold with. Of course I wouldn't say they were easy listening but the eccentricness and pure talent these guys put behind their music has the potential to see them do amazing things.

No words can explain the experience of seeing this band on stage which sure was a refreshing slap in the face of something out of the ordinary. Speaking on behalf of all present, we sure hope it’s not long until we see these guys again. 

Mindsigh:

After a mind blowing performance by Shoom I personally felt bad for anyone having to follow them with such a high bar being set. Mindsigh however did not fail to deliver as this three piece brought the pure spirit of grunge alive with their simple but effective arrangement of distorted downtuned guitars, gritty vocals and explosive drums.

This band's songs spoke volumes through their blunt live sound and angsty introspective lyrics, expressing the raw emotion at the heart of their music. Even just as a trio these guys managed to devour the room with their sound of heavy suspended chords, punchy drums beats and making use of doubling riffs on both guitars to give extra power 

It was great to see such an explosive performance on stage from the bassist as he brought twice as much energy with him, making up for the little their front man could do while singing and playing guitar. Not to say he didn’t bring his own attitude and presence to the stage, asserting himself with a strong vocal performance and nonchalant guitar solo.

The only minor drawbacks I saw from Mindsigh were the awkward silence between songs which could have been filled with a bit of audience engagement or some well crafted links between songs. Unquestionably with being a three piece there is only so much you can do while switching and tuning guitars however just a slither more engagement with the crowd during these time wouldn't have gone a miss.

I was truly taken by this band as they brought back memories of why I fell in love with music in the first place, and the self expression one can put in their art and reflect in others. There is no doubt I'll be keeping an eye on Mindsigh as they continue their rise through the local music scene.

Beings:

Following on with their mix of catchy guitar melodies, syncopated rhythms and synthesized undertones, Beings kept the night rolling while smiling in the face of adversity with their upbeat cathartic rock. Being Kettering's local noise makers and already building a big reputation for themselves with their distinct sound and societal challenging lyrical themes they showed The Lab what all the talk is about.

How easily relatable their lyrics are, coinciding with the funky rhythm section and infectious melodies gave the audience everything they had been missing so far in terms of fun easy listening music to move to. Front man Alex really worked his magic with engaging the crows through his causal yet assertive stage presence, painting himself almost as a spokesperson for an activist movement . 

Part of me can’t help but relate Beings to early years Enter Shikari with the lyrical theme they point at, Alex’s distinctive vocal tone, delivery and stage presence, as well as the use of synthesizers within a rock arrangement. Of course there are other great elements these guys bring to their music but it’s nice to see a rebirth of a beloved  late 00’s sound.

The diversity between songs gave the band a well rounded set with elements of indie rock choruses you could sing along to, along with breakdowns that could see the opening a few moshpits. Their use of backing tracks gave smooth transitions between songs making the experience of them being on stage feel more like a show. 

Finishing with their new single (Fists & Feet) went down a treat as part of their set, finding itself truly come to life on stage. A chaotic outro which saw Mario Kart arpeggiated synth was the icing on an already very delicious cake that left me wanting more.

Hypothetics:

Headlining the event with a playthrough of their recently released debut album ‘The Crossing’, Bristol based five piece Hypothetics closed the night in a spectacular fashion. Their concoction of experimental post-grunge mixed with folk and edm was a wonder to behold in such an offbeat venue such as The Lab. 

Sounding more like a ten piece band with their elusive soundscape of overdriven guitars, banjos, synthesizers, drum machines and other exotic instruments there was a lot to take in but also a lot to enjoy. From dream-like melodies and haunting harmonies, to cascading and theatrical song form, Hypothetics gave us an epic cinematic performance that leaked dramatism and left everyone in awe seeing such a thing come to life. 

The sense of drowning in sound and being taken to a different world is the only way I can express the experience of this band's music, with them almost creating vivid thoughts of the story they're trying to convey through the astronomical depths of their sound. From all the complexities and mesmerizing layers of their live sound I was blown away by the bullish nature these guys had brought to the rhythm section. A combination of both acoustic and electronic drums gave a real kick and depth to an otherwise lost element amongst a sea of noise. The bass sounded almost glued to the drums which gave a bed for the hazy folk melodies to work off, and a nice bounciness for the crowd to move to.

Just the natural element of watching the members moving between different instruments and wondering what they’ll pull out next was enough stage craft when the music already spoke so loud. They had a very humble air to themselves throughout their hour on stage, not speaking overly much but letting the sound work its mystics and allowing each song bleed into the next, much like the playing of an album.

Their final song being an acapella performance was a beautiful display of harmonies that brought the whole evening to an end, leaving a solemn yet euphoric atmosphere lingering in  the air. It was plain to see how much time and devotion Hypothetics have put into their art and the passion that drives them, making it truly moving to behold such a performance 

Final Thoughts:

By the time I had found my way out the door I had become so overwhelmed by the phenomenal flood of music I'd experienced I felt I had to drive home in silence just to let it all sink in. There’s no doubt there will always be a distinct memory of this evening in my mind.