Messed!Up
Art rockers Divorce are a new discovery for me personally. The first time I came across the Nottingham four-piece was at Reeperbahn Festival in September of last year when they played a brilliant set at (old) Molotow, in the backyard. After buying a copy of their latest album, this year’s Drive to Goldenhammer, it wasn’t hard to jump on the train to support the band’s German tour for their German booking agency, FKP Scorpio.
Stylistically, Divorce are hard to define. It’s equal bits indie folk, indie rock, and some sort of art rock Americana. But don’t get me wrong; it doesn’t sound like a mash-up of different genres because their songs are neatly packed in a storytelling way on the album and coated in a sound that, despite some genre-crossing excursions, emanates from a sonic commonality.
With that in mind, it’s sad to see that not many people have found their way to Molotow for their second-to-last show on their European one-month-long tour. Sure, it’s a Wednesday, but Reeperbahn, where Molotow is located, mid-week is normally an all-in party day, especially at this time of the year. Sorry band, it’s not you, it’s us. But Divorce delivered a blistering set that felt equally cathartic and composed, a balance they’ve mastered with startling precision.
If the album hadn’t catapulted them into the ears of music connoisseurs, then their hard graft on the live music circuit must’ve done it. There’s an obvious buzz around the Nottingham band – and, rightfully so, this was one hot ticket. Tiger Cohen-Towell’s vocals are smooth and velvety, with a rich, euphonic tone that effortlessly draws you in. Paired with Felix Mackenzie-Barrow’s soulful harmonies, they create that type of big-hearted indie folk storytelling you hear in Belle & Sebastian’s music or anything labeled Fiona Apple – it’s music you can’t really label.
The setlist is a mix of new and old, pitting recent singles “All My Freaks” and “Antarctica” up against more familiar favourites like “Scratch Your Metal” and “Sex & the Millennium Bridge”. Although there aren’t many people in the audience, you have to give the fans onsite an applause for doing an amazing job to get 60-70 people sound like it was 200. After the first three songs, Tiger says, ‘We’re only three songs into the set and there’s much left. Will you make it?’ – and they did.
Other stand out moments came from the scintillating “Hangman”, to the tender “Old Broken String”, which brought a welcomed silence to the sporadic chatter as fans stopped talking to bask in its quiet beauty, save for the idiot that kept talking loudly in his phone (?) and was asked to leave by Felix so the rest of us could listen to the song. And of course, the hilarious and awkward moment when Tiger and Felix had to fix with their gear and Danish drummer Kasper had to step into the bantering role, just to ask people, ‘What did you have for breakfast today?’ Danes, ey?
It’s easy to see why Divorce is quickly becoming a standout act, and with their infectious stage presence, they are a perfect fit for the festival circuit this summer. I can easily picture them headlining at bigger venues or playing to a massive crowd at festivals like Hurricane or Deichbrand, it’s only a matter of time before they hit that level of recognition. But Hamburg’s music fans have to shape up! You’d better come out for the next show they play in Hamburg, or they may never come back again!
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Photographer: Niko Schmuck
