Earlier this year, Death in Vegas hooked up with Liam and Noel Gallagher; they produced some sessions for Oasis's forthcoming sixth LP. Although those were scrapped, the association wasn't surprising, given that both bands share a love of feedback-laden menace and tinnitus-inducing noise. But that was seven months ago. Since then, DiV's Richard Fearless and Tim Holmes appear to have had a serious change of heart.
Their reluctance to use distorted guitars and sneering guest vocalists - the band's former trademarks - can only hint at the damage warring Mancunian egos can inflict in the studio. This set is entirely instrumental - a bold move, since Death in Vegas's greatest hits to date have featured no less than Iggy Pop, Bobby Gillespie and Liam Gallagher on vocals. None are played tonight, but the change of direction allows lesser-appreciated qualities to shine through. The warehouse-style venue and midnight kickoff help matters, too, Fearless having warmed up the crowd with an electro-heavy DJ set.
Judging by the audience, the accepted way to enjoy Death in Vegas is to swing your shoulders as if under the weight of an invisible harness, then grimace with the strain. It's hardly surprising half the crowd seem to be in pain: Death in Vegas's music is a beautiful aural migraine. A thick soup of low-register grooves dominates until lighter, dancier flourishes bubble up through the mix. Reigen, a new highlight of their live show, paraphrases the acid house licks from Josh Wink's Higher State of Consciousness, but weaves them more subtly through the fabric of the song.
Seeking solace in his live band, Fearless seems content to cut a shadowy figure in a cloud of smoke and scarlet spotlights, revelling in his newfound anonymity. The other half of the Death in Vegas studio duo, Tim Holmes, never even makes it on stage, instead concentrating on engineering a flawless sound system from the back of the room. All hail the return of shoe-gazing dance music.
· At Ocean, London E8 (020-8533 0111), tomorrow and ULU, London WC1, (020-7664 2000), on Friday.
