Cloud Boat were an exciting surprise at James Blake's recent Borderline Club gig as part of HMV's
'Next Big Thing' tour. The tour literature didn't reveal much in the way of support acts, so it was literally as
they ambled on stage and introduced themselves that I realised there would be a support act at all.
The tickets were only a tenner so I wasn't sure what to expect.
For those who don't know the Borderline is a small 200 capacity venue situated on the fringes of Soho.
As Cloud Boat took to the stage The borderline was still less than half full and generally people seemed uninterested
at the prospect of any band other than the main event James Blake.
But from the moment their set began a respectful silence descended and people seemed genuinely blown
away.
Cloud Boat are Sam and Tom from London. That's pretty much all I know about them. They currently have no recorded material, so in order to get what these guys are about you really have to see them live.
They sound like a dreamy digital raft sailing across a sea of marshmallows... just kidding. They are kind of an experimental electronic-ish folky guitared, high pitched vocal noise duo( is that a thing?), not so far off the James Blake sound, less dark, more magical.
James Blake gave a great performance too, but his set felt somehow pressurised and self-aware. Probably due to the weight of expectation very evident in the room. The highlight of his set was The Wilhelm scream, really stunning, sad that he didn't drop CMYK, but it's an incentive to see him again.
There is still time to catch Cloud Boat as they will be touring alongside James Blake on his U.K tour.
upcoming shows:
(all w/ James Blake)
23/02/11 - Thekla, Bristol
24/02/11 - St. Pancras Old Church, London
26/02/11 - Band on the Wall, Manchester
27/02/11 - Nice n' Sleazy, Glasgow
10/03/11 - St. Pancras Old Church, London
23/03/11 - Thekla, Bristol
24/03/11 - St. Pancras Old Church, London
26/03/11 - Band on the Wall, Manchester
27/03/11 - Nice n' Sleazy, Glasgow
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