Tim Hughes witneses the return of art-punk individualists Young Knives as they play new album Sick Octave all the way through

  • Young Knives
  • The Cellar, Oxford
  • Saturday, November 26

There is something oh so refreshing about seeing a great band who just don’t give a hoot what anyone thinks. No posturing, no crowd-pleasing, no eye on radio play or commercial success... just playing for the fun, and art, of it.
Young Knives have never much cared what anyone thinks. The Leicestershire-born, Oxford-based art-punk-rock three-piece have ploughed their own furrow since their debut more than a decade ago. Along the way they have enjoyed hits, but the overriding impression has always been that success has been on their own terms, and that they have never particularly enjoyed life in the spotlight anyway.
So the band seem particularly in their element tonight at a packed Cellar, where fans (who appear to  have followed them since those heady early days when the band sported tweed jackets and ties) have gathered to hear new album Sick Octave played in its entirety.
The album has been described by frontman Henry Dartnell as the record the band had always wanted to make. With a blend of experimental electronica, searing rock, glorious sing-along pop, punk power, space-drone, and spacious interludes, it oozes creativity and heartfelt honesty. In short, it’s a corker, and, on tonight’s evidence, comes across even better live.
Henry had promised us “theatre” and there was plenty. The band appear in matching tie-dyed outfits which, in the gloom of the underlit stage appear blood-spattered.
Henry’s brother Tom (known to all as The House of Lords, for his role as the band’s arbiter) is sporting a cool mop of dyed-blond hair and is recognisable to fans only by his trademark glasses. Behind them speedy looped film clips are projected onto a sheet, setting the pace for a roller coaster ride of a gig.
And, while the self-deprecating banter of old is kept to a minimum, they have not lost the ability to laugh at themselves. “We’re playing the whole of Sick Octave,” says Henry, adding, with a raised eyebrow: “It’s only a short album... it’s not self-indulgent... it’s not a mid-life crisis — yet!”
Highlights include the unsettling stylistic audio clash of Owls of Athens, with its pounding ‘80s-influenced electro-beat; the haunting shape-shifting sonic cocktail of Something Awful, which Henry tells us is inspired by his grandad's battle with Alzheimer's; the hypnotically psychedelic Bella Bella, and the delicious breakneck rock-rush of Bed Warmer.
The band give everything with a taut sweaty performance which had drummer Oliver Askew thrashing away, ditching his specs half-way through; Tom singing while juggling electronics, loops and guitar; and Henry twitching, staring maniacally and ultimately climbing atop the drum kit before piling into the crowd.
They end with a clutch of old favourites — The Decision, Vision in Rags, the heartwarming Turn Tail, and Terra Firma. We wanted more, though. They obliged with spiky anthem Weekends and Bleakdays, but with Henry joking that they were tired, that was that. But what a night. Make no mistake: Young Knives are  back — and they are sharper than ever.