In 2009, two lads from Leeds accepted an invitation from the Arts Council to produce a live dubstep project for the York Minster. Now, three years on, they have returned to the city to perform once again, only this time they’re joined by five more members and come equipped with two albums worth of material under the name ‘Submotion Orchestra’. And the venue is slightly less dramatic.
In fact, you’d probably struggle to find a more contrasting building to the Minster than the setting of The Duchess, what with its low ceilings, sticky floors and complete omission of stained glass windows. But by the time vocalist Ruby Wood elegantly tiptoes into sight at the finale of set opener ‘Intro’, it becomes clear that the cramped atmosphere is a neat match for the band’s dark and atmospheric sound.
It’s not long before the incessant heat forces Wood to remove her parka coat and reveal a sleek black dress. This unlikely combination in attire is mirrored by the accompanying blend of music being produced by her band mates: jazz harmonies and reverberating bass? Yet more unlikely is how well it works. The mixing of genres can easily appear forced and tacky – especially so live – but Submotion manage it effortlessly. This is testament to the varying musical preferences and obvious talent of each individual member. Jazz, dub, soul and dubstep are all weaved together to create a fresh and interesting whole that exceeds the sum of its parts. The experimental feel is emphasised further by stretches of mid-song improvisation, which carefully tread the line between engrossing spontaneity and mild self-indulgence.
For all the genre-hopping and progressive free-styling, the most moving part of the evening is provided by ‘Sunshine’, a song built around the simple pairing of Wood’s dreamy vocals and Taz Modie’s melancholic keyboards. Wood is eventually drowned out by a crowd sing-along, providing a warm moment of mutual appreciation as the clearly humbled band complement the vociferous support. However hard it is to define Submotion Orchestra’s sound, tonight it was easy to enjoy.