Harmonic: Villagers, Camera Obscura, Midlake and Grizzly Bear

Given that the line-up in the Marquee is rich with current chart toppers, superstar rappers, reunion acts and even a hit musical, it was intriguing to see where Villagers, Camera Obscura, Midlake and Grizzly Bear might fit in.
The 6.30pm start time meant that the crowd was still arriving when, Conor O'Brien and his Villagers opened. Regardless, it wasn't long before he suggested that "you might know this one" before launching into 'Becoming A Jackal' – and they certainly knew it alright. The band then unleashed a slow-burning version of 'Pieces', which ended in a thundering crescendo complete with howls and shrieks from O'Brien. Villagers gradually upped the ante, bombarding the audience with rich textures and crashing rhythms, demonstrating an impressive feel for dynamic.
In contrast, Camera Obscura struggled in the early part of their set. Despite the choppy stop-start exchanges of 'French Navy' and the uptempo 'If Looks Could Kill', the band didn't really connect. Coupled with unusually weak vocals from Tracy-Anne Campbell, the melodies and vocal hooks more often than not were lost. Shame.
Next up were Midlake. The seven-piece collective impressively cranked out a set divided between the melodic 1960s folk-revival sounds of their latest release, The Courage Of Others, and the classic rock highs of their earlier album Van Occupanther.
Last up were Grizzly Bear. The audience did its best to inspire the group and it looked like things might take off during 'Knife' and 'Two Weeks'; however the band seemed a bit listless and one-paced. It may just be that Grizzly Bear are best suited to smaller venues.
On a bill that featured artists known for vibe, nuance and innovation, only Villagers and Midlake could be described as unqualified successes. Still, it was a daring and innovative experiment.