LIVE(STREAM) REVIEW: Holding Absence @ The Greatest Mistake Of My Life Live & In Colour, Portland House, Cardiff
Back in mid-June, before their captivating set at Download Pilot, HOLDING ABSENCE made a very special announcement; that they’d be putting together a livestream showcasing their stellar second album The Greatest Mistake Of My Life, in full.
Given the relative dearth of gigs at the time that’s only now starting to show signs of alleviating after nearly eighteen long months, it was a momentous occasion for fans of the band indeed. In order to make it as special as possible and to help bring the songs to life as much as they could, They also recruited Toby Evan of CASEY to provide additional guitar and Arwel Brown of NIGHTLIVES on synths; finally, they brought in Caitlin Woodland, Lucas’ sister who features on the album, to provide backing vocals to make the experience as special as possible.
And special it was – from the opening of Awake to the glorious, soaring “I’m alive!” in Celebration Song, it’s as stunning an opening as it is on record, if not more so. The band sound incredible too, thanks not only to their prodigious talent but also the assistance of celebrated producer Romesh Dodangoda whose mix is outstanding. This isn’t happening in the moment – the band are performing to cameras after all – but they don’t let that hold them back, Lucas speaking to all the fans tuning in whenever that might be. While it’s fair to feel a little cheated that we’re not all in the same room, given the glaringly obvious reasons why this is the best way of seeing the band and has the added advantage of being available on catch up for an entire two weeks afterwards.
With band members facing inwards, toward each other, rather than outward to the crowd they’re able to fully lose themselves in the music for the full runtime. Lucas belts every note and sounds as emotional as ever, Scott Carey gets in a few throat-tearing screams during nomoreroses and Ash Green’s drumming is almost show-stealing with how energetic he is. Actually stealing the show and without upstaging the band, however, is Caitlin Woodland. She handles the duet of Die Alone (In Your Lovers Arms) beautifully but it’s in the backing vocals and the harmonies she provides that the vocal interplay between the siblings reaches its zenith, with In Circles being a particular highlight. They’re truly stunning and you’d be forgiven for wanting to hear a lot more of the two of them singing together in future.
It’s also beautifully shot, director Zak Pinchin capturing both the band at their best (including some choice shapes thrown by Lucas and guitarist Scott Carey playing like it’s his last night on earth) as well as the grandeur of their setting, Cardiff’s Portland House. It’s stylish too, not only with the band in their Sunday best but each song is introduced with large font the same as the album cover. It reinforces this as being separate from a ‘real’ live show but at the same time, it’s very special in its own right as a limited-time (for now), live performance that takes the album to new heights. A mesmerising spectacle, with one of the UK’s finest bands performing one of the most emotionally arresting and best albums of the year.
Rating: 10/10