On arrival, the queue into Mint Lounge is like a bank vault giveaway with the masses scrambling to get in. The madness outside the club is no mask for inside where the place is packed as Submotion Orchestra are just getting into their set (yes, I missed the start thanks to the carnage outside).For those unfortunate enough not to have encountered this septet formed in Leeds, tonight’s gig is the perfect introduction. Under the Ranking Records label, which has also released material by Gentleman’s Dub Club and Quark, Submotion consists of talented individuals who come together to work even better as a collective.
Self-described as “progressive live dubstep,” they wow a student-heavy crowd with Ruby Wood’s exquisite lyrical tones backed up by sharp synchronicity from drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion and trumpet. The band’s enjoyment radiates out to a crowd crammed into the club and literally hanging from the walls for a view. In particular, new single ‘All Yours’ (released last week through Exceptional) and the piercing, yet enchanting, vocals of ‘Finest Hour’ go down a storm. All of which is too much for one punter to contain, turning as he does to the nearest life form, which happens to be your humble narrator, and exclaiming his disbelief at the high quality on show.Following the band's set, the invisible seventh piece to the Submotion jigsaw, DJ and producer Ruckspin, occupies the decks to supply an injection of urgent bass to soundtrack the early hours of Tuesday.
In part due to the selection of songs played, the dancefloor just doesn’t stop moving, which is something drummer Tommy Evans alludes to after the gig. He tells Now Then Manchester that they were expecting an audience more suited to uptempo drum’n’bass due to the Hit&Run modus operandi, so were wary of keeping it lively. Visibly pleased with the reception from the crowd, Evans is already looking forward to returning to Manchester with the current Ranking Records roster's other live act Gentleman’s Dub Club, who are touring the UK throughout May.
For now, Submotion have finished their UK tour, but I urge you to track them down at one of their yet to be announced summer festival dates. High praise from Gilles Peterson, and myself, is not dished out to any old rabble and this lot are of the highest calibre.Words: Danny Doyle
Images: Gary Brown (GB Multimedia)
This is the band to watch - they will go far - saw them three times now and every time they are better and better culminating in a sold out gig at the Jazz Cafe in Camden. They were absolutely amazing and the new single All Yours should go to No 1.....
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