Deep See 'Divers

Bless me reader for I have sinned. It's been a month since my last Skindive gig, an extremely enjoyable evening that ended in a euphoric alcoholic blank. From what I remember, it was a great show…

Tonight I'm determined to keep it together, but dang, Skindive make it difficult.

It's a sound thing, a solid wall of beats and piercings that at once assault and assuage the senses. Part post-industrial rock, part punk/Portishead, Danielle Harrison's honeyed and occasionally anguished vocals float over a rock solid rhythm section while Gerry Owens' guitar hovers on the fringes, now and then darting in to tear the whole thing up.

There's a tremendous passion and energy at work here, most obvious on full-on tracks like the current single 'Tranquilliser' and 'Swallow' although slower, dreamier numbers like 'Skindive' and 'Salt Peter' work equally well.

By their own admission Skindive are still finding their feet in the live arena but a little more interaction between the players onstage would bring to life the passion and cohesion that's so apparent in the music.

And come on Chris Blackwell, make a call. Why aren't they playing Slane?