The Milan-based trio Any Other have being making a slight stir in recent times following the impact of their début album released in 2015, Silently. Quietly. Going Away. It is an album that captures the nihilistic and often anarchistic teenage spirit and bottles it up into an intense ten song squabble with front-woman Adele and her comrades, Erica and Marco. This is music that certainly embodies everything that the likes of Pavement and Yo La Tengo have taught us. Any Other, although from Milan, actually act as the perfect band to resemble the current American, slacker lo-fi trend. It’s something that rests on the premise of a good melody and the essential captivation in a live setting – you need to feel part of it as it leaves sparsity scattered around; engagement is key.

Whereas the album promised so much, there was something about tonight that made it very hard for Any Other to find their sound properly and allow for the audience to become involved. They had that slightly awkward, shy persona on-stage and there is something exceptionally endearing about this however, you need that awkwardness to develop into some cathartic outpouring on-stage, generally through some movement. On record, songs such as ‘Something’ work wonderfully with the intricate guitar picking and pin-balling vocals that bounce around. Live, it struggled. The sparsity of the music along with a lack of volume meant it was difficult for the audience to find their feet.

This is not necessarily down to a lack of songwriting skill though because on record, they really capture that angst and frustration. The bass rumbles loud with lamenting vocals striking hard on top of really interesting melodies. What made it difficult in general may have been the large room they were playing in and the fairly thin crowd that attended. Had it had the intensity of Sticky Mike’s, Any Other may have found their feet quicker but an accumulation of a quiet room and their individual awkwardness lead for a struggling atmosphere. You find yourself praying to yourself, hoping for songs such as ‘Gladly Farewell’, ‘Blue Moon’ and the marching song of ‘Roger Roger, Commander’ to boost the tempo of the set somewhat, but it just falls back on this lethargy that struggles like a grown bloke would on a Sunday morning hangover.

Positives of the set can be found in the beauty of Adele’s voice though; angelic in many ways and having an incredible knack of finding the harmony with the melodies laid out on Marco’s bass. Lyrically, her wisdom is evident as songs pinpoint all motions of resentment and angst in a witty tongue in cheek fashion. Her voice chimes in a quasi mid-00s emo-rock fashion, you know that style that lands at the feet of Dashboard Confessional; it works well though, just check out ‘5.47pm’. The bass provided by Marco holds a lot of the groove and was ultimately the real driving force of the sound. In reflection you can’t help but feel that if Any Other had been given a smaller venue to play, it would have complimented the intensity that this music demands. Big spaces just leave it to fall flat on its arse like a stubborn toddler would who has given up on trying to walk.

Support bands on the night, Blush and Isla, really stole the show. Isla’s fantastic finding of their Sufjan Stevens meets Pond crossover boasts delicate sections conflicted with huge 60s fuzzed guitar. Songs swell and unfold and really prove them to be quite the young band set to pummel through the ranks. Blush were the main support on the night and with their intriguing washed out pop, it’s a multi-sensual experience that takes you cruising through the neon strips of Miami.

Who knows though; this was the first time Any Other have visited the UK as a band, this may have contributed to the nerves somewhat and exaggerated the awkward college-geek sound and image that the group play on. They are certainly a prime example of everything that music stands for; understated, riddled with pain but with the potential to produce something really good. The album stands testament to that but live they are definitely still finding their feet.
Tom Churchill

Website: anyotherband.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/anyotherband
Twitter: twitter.com/anyother