LIVE REVIEW: The Algorithm @ The Fleece, Bristol

French duo THE ALGORITHM are one of the most rare acts on the planet, given that they actually possess more than a slither of originality. Their glitch-core noise has built a strong following over the years, and the refinement of their sound has meant that on their third album Compiler Optimisation Techniques they sound even more focussed and razor sharp than usual. Now touring their new record to the masses, the group passed through The Fleece in Bristol for a night of frantic rhythms and technicality.

Opening the night are the local death metal act EMBODIMENT, who are the last band one would expect to open up a gig like this. As they play just before doors open due a late start, the room slowly begins to fill as the band blast through a hefty selection of fine death metal that boasts intricate technicality that due to a poor sound gets lost in the mix like a corpse in an abattoir. When EMBODIMENT come together they sound beautifully frantic with a real dose of horrible aggression. It’s a great start to the night that has already proven itself to be a journey from extreme to extreme.

Rating: 7/10

The journey continues with NEOSLAVE, although this is a stop that could be done with avoiding. The solo DJ act draws a good crowd, but it’s only out of sheer curiosity of what the hell is happening on the stage. As NEOSLAVE dances around the stage, the pulsing synthwave attack never lets up, crashing down wave upon wave of horrible wobbles and weird noises that do little for anyone who isn’t already deeply involved with the dark synthwave sound. There is a distinct lack of hooks, instead NEOSLAVE opts for swelling builds that crash into nothing just for it all to start over again. If you liked this genre before then this is was an ideal set, but for anyone else who lacked the curiosity this was just a slog before the main event.

Rating: 4/10

THE ALGORITHM should surprise people with the fact they are only a duo. The noise and complex combination of rhythms makes for a truly unique sound, as the live drummer blasts along with mastermind Rémi Gallego’s sampling and chugging riffs that cut through the mix with ease. The newer songs are the ones that stand out the most, the extended length and general better composition means that they guide the audience through movements that alter and transition smoothly, making for a deeply enthralling experience considering it’s only two blokes on stage.

The light show was minimal but worked incredibly well, flashing in time with the duo and adding a tangible atmosphere to the venue, even if the momentum started dwindling in the second half of the set. Starting off with such gusto, and also plenty of newer songs, meant that the disparity in song quality between new THE ALGORITHM and old really effects their live set, and a better mix or set list order could’ve bridged this mid-set slump. Regardless of the nitty gritty, THE ALGORITHM are genuinely improving with age, and as they have shown, the only way is up!

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action from Serena Hill Photography here: