Broken Social Scene live @ Mandela Hall, Belfast

They say less is more. Obviously ‘they’ hadn’t seen Broken Social Scene. I quickly ran out of fingers trying to count exactly how many individuals comprise this rampaging Canadian horde. But, hey, let’s not worry about quantifying the experience, it’s the quality that counts, right?
And Broken Social Scene prove to be a tightly finessed, divinely dextrous musical behemoth. Members appear and disappear right on cue, indulge in some shockingly promiscuous instrument swapping and, on certain songs, utilise no less than five guitars, two drummers, a brass section, strings and keyboard.
The songs are wilfully eclectic; dense slabs of democratised alt-rock that evoke Spiritualized, minus the grandstanding sonic abstractions. BSS ensure that primacy is given to melodic cohesion and deliver a precise and delightfully orchestrated 2 ½ hour set.
A rendition of ‘7/4 (Shoreline)’ provides a thoroughly propitious beginning; the conjoined vocal of shaggy-haired frontman-by-default Kevin Drew and celestial chanteuse Lisa Lobsinger adding a mesmeric patina to this pop-rock euphoriant. A winsome ‘Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl’ and the giddy skronk of ‘Cause = Time’ provide BSS with the opportunity to exhibit their scandalously exuberant style.
Audience and band are quickly embroiled in a wholly requited love; the sheer gusto with which the multitudinous menagerie relay their delirium inducing songs proving utterly seductive.
The love-in is rendered literal as Drew scales the barriers to dispense hugs to all and sundry. It culminates in the orgiastic frenzy of ‘It’s All Gonna Break’. Not so much a gig as a musical epiphany.