Live review/Swim Deep @ The Exchange

By Francesca Frankis, Music Editor

Packed into the sweaty back room of The Exchange, Swim Deep’s Bristol headliner show was a gutsy and sparkling run through of the indie-pop outfits discography, if not a bit of a nostalgia fest.

A far cry from the fresh faced teens they once were, frontman Austin Williams nonchalantly paraded around the stage, microphone in tow. Breezily playing through their earlier hits like bubbly love-song ‘Honey’; you wouldn't expect any less of an on the mark performance from a Band approaching a decade since their formation. Recent album Emerald Classics, ushered in just as much excitement from the gig-goers, who seemed woozy at the sound of Williams’ voice as they chanted along to emotionally charged ballads like ‘Bruises’.

Elements of 80’s dance run heavy through the new album, and the live rendition of tracks like ‘World I Share’ sounded like they were sampled straight off a Madonna record; drum machines galore and pulsating synthesisers. Weaving in and out of their newer tracks and a decent amount of their earlier work added in for good measure, the crowd seemed to lap up every song, and limbs regularly reached out towards Williams as he charmingly danced up and down the platform.

If anything is obvious it’s that Swim Deep have done their best to roll with the times. Their once juvenile, happy-go-lucky style of music has evolved into a sound far more  polished. Yet at times, it seemed obvious that this is a band who perhaps had their heyday several years ago, and the legacy of their first album Where The Heaven Are We is still yet to be usurped by any of their recent releases. Nontheless, the night proved to be some kind of a nostalgic homecoming for both the band and crowd alike.

Featured Image: Francesca Frankis/Epigram