Sounds From The Other City review

Image: Sounds From The City 

Sounds From The Other City spins on an alternative axis to anywhere you've quite experienced before; where else would you be greeted by a fragmented face mutant and three-eyed sea creature on the approach to wristband exchange? 

It is ultimately unique, proving revellers in masquerade and outlandish facepaints are by far a greater festival tonic than a modded up energy drinks truck blaring bass heavy tunes out of its soulless infrastructure.

What SFTOC represents is independence of the arts, something we should all continually celebrate and invest in - even more so when 'Sounds' transforms a slither of Salford into a mini metropolis of vibrancy and collective madness.   

The festival is so independent in its dealings that each stage is curated by an individual movement: as you walk in NTS Radio hold down a minimalist reception space to a head bobbing audience.

As we spill out of the super-tight broadcast room during MR TC's early slot, a shower of glitter streams down overhead and we're bundled into Islington Mill courtyard by a mob of one-eyed creatures. Freaky, right? 

Over at First Chop Brewing Arm, Heavenly Recordings command the overarching tunnel space and nordic-style bar with Hooton Tennis Club's breezy slacker rock magnetizing revellers to enter in waves. Later, a peak in on The Parrots' set sees the Spanish trio stood aloft a stash of wooden crates plugging their ramshackle rock.  

Wedged in between this is Sunday service catered for in the nearby St Phillip's Church. Seattle's Tacocat clad in Skeleton costume gather a crowd to the alter with their loose-headed punk. 

In contrast the same holy mass - coordinated by Americana traders Hey Manchester! - sees The Magnetic North pitch up in formation with six musicians. Their sweeping soundscapes gush an ambience quite alternative to any of the DIY raucousness experienced beforehand, as we watch sloped over the church balcony.        

It emerges as you navigate the festival that it's a head-frazzling gateway of choice; the only dilemma to be found at Sounds From The Other City is that you'd like to be everywhere at once.

Though it becomes clear that an itinerary isn't always exactly necessary; a quick trip to find a toilet ends up in us being consumed by a cosmic visual as a rapid-fire punk band fires off on stage, to the left is a rank of cooks casually serving up Mediterranean dishes - it's all a bit bloody bonkers. 

Pulling away from the sensory experiences to be had on almost every street corner, it's encouraged to enjoy beers on the street-side sofas outside the Creation Cafe or below The Old Pint Pot - where we listen in on Liverpool due Her's play a short stint of shimmering pop.

For band's still in their infancy as they are, there's no better platform to kick on than on the small curated stages.  

It's the minor aspects of the festival which completes the package for 'Sounds'. Smaller details that often get lost on the commercial festivals - stretching as far as the hand-crafted welcome signs or the carefully selected local food and beer traders, gloss it with a bespoke authenticity. 

Transporting for the evening run to a industrial space orchestrated by new music experts Now Wave, a killer bill awaits. But first, there's a real ale stand perched in the corner where the bartender serves up some hoppy juices. 

The Big Moon are first up, playing melodic punk numbers against an luminous backdrop. A cover of Madonna's 'Beautiful Stranger' draws a jiving intersection towards the front of the crowd - no sign this time from our trailing mob of mythical friends though.

 

A photo posted by Skiddle (@skiddleuk) on May 2, 2016 at 1:19pm PDT

Pumarosa take the peak slot - a band grabbing the blogosphere's gaze with ethereal vigour and nocturnal grooves. Lead singer Isabel Munoz-Newsome is clearly up for the masquerade ball in her striking gold outfit. 'Cecilia' their most danceable tune goes down a treat, while there's an unorthodox moment when Munoz works the fret with a drum stick for an unreleased mover. 

Despite the many after-parties on offer, we close the night dancing beside an alleyway to a funky assemblage, attracted by the sounds of Stevie Wonder and Martha Reeves, it's a mild night after all.

Gathering our thoughts: there is no primary pathway at 'Sounds', it's a pinball machine of opportunity with each crevice presenting a myriad of experiences waiting to swallow you up whole. Undoubtedly we'll be back to trail another path next year. 

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