The Acorn at Mojo, Liverpool, 26.11.10

THE ACORN
Mojo

THE ACORN are a Canadian band with a growing reputation for their affecting and delicate indie sound. Formed in 2003 and are currently touring their third album No Ghost, follow-up to 2007's Glory Hope Mountain. In the cosy and intimate surroundings of the venue, they seemed in high spirits as they came onto the small Mojo stage; instantly chatty and sharing jokes with the crowd.

They are a band who have attracted much praise since the release of their second long-player Glory Hope Mountain and have supporters as diverse as Elbow's Guy Garvey and Kanye West (the latter has been known to have waxed lyrical about the group's indie hit Crooked Legs). Since their last offering though, the Rolf Klausener-fronted 4-piece have matured their sound and arrived with a new body of work to show off. Though they started the set with the laid-back psychedelica of Flood from the first album, they were quick to bring out their latest work through the likes of Cobbled From Dust and Kindling To Cremation. The former is a slowly pulsating number with a chiming melody, complemented nicely by Klausener's yearning vocals. The latter is similarly pleasant and well-crafted but also demonstrates lyrically how accomplished The Acorn are as songwriters. The line 'and this is how you pass the time away' has a certain soporific quality to it which typifies much of No Ghost. There is still the signature atmospheric, hypnotic sound that sets The Acorn apart from contemporaries, but new ground has been explored and musically they have ventured further afield than in the past. In Misplaced they kick away slightly from the floaty ambience associated with their sound and seamlessly switch modes to a more upbeat, crisp rhythm. Whereas in No Ghost, they offer guitar hooks from the top of the fret-board which bring to mind The Foals as much as anyone.

Yet whilst this allows The Acorn to display a broader range and gives the impression they have the ideas to progress further still, it also hints at their limitations. There are weaker tracks on the album such as Almanac and I Made The Law where there seems to be a loss of focus. The former is a curious track and although calling it filler might be a touch harsh, it is one that doesn't really blossom. It feels in parts like The Acorn have failed where Midlake have succeeded with 2010's Acts Of Man. There is plenty of beauty on offer for the most part, and this was a performance easily capable of attracting the uninitiated. Judging by the positive reaction in Mojo, there will be plenty who followed up their interest too.

The Acorn are a a band very much still on a journey and have not yet produced their masterpiece. They are hit and miss and are not yet the finished article but if the journey alone is this alluring then they are well worth perserving with. Don't be a surprised if in a couple of years they reach a wider audience with a record which not only makes people sit up and take notice but has a lasting influence on the world of indie rock.
Pete Robinson