Shobaleader One was formed as a project to re-interpret Squarepusher material through the guise of a four-piece band. That is a rather simplistic description, as the results are truly spectacular. In fact, I’m not sure if an adjective has been invented that captures the experience of being at a Shobaleader One gig. If there is, I’d love to know what it is, as it would have to mean something that surpasses beauty, transcends boundaries of form, rips out your heart, and places you in states of awe, fear, and ecstasy – sometimes all at once.

It’s fair to say that it’s an experience like no other, and I’ll do my best to explain why.

Firstly, this a multi-sensory celebration – there is so much more to a S1 gig than sound. It’s a feast for the eyes, as the four S1 members (Strobe Nazard, Arg Nution, Company Laser and Squarepusher) sport visors covering their faces that can form different shapes and colours, carry different animations, and draw different pictures – they even serve as a ticker tape for words. The choreography of these visors with the wider lightshow, in conjunction with the cut and thrust of the music, feels like it was probably years in the making.

And the show is a physical experience, too. The drums thud deep into your chest cavity, and pulsating bass ricochets through your entire body. In a venue the size of the Concorde 2, the force of the music is palpable, and you can almost taste the energy the band creates.

Then of course, there is the sound. Starting the set with ‘Coopers World’ from album Hard Normal Daddy, the band expertly created tension with the off-kilter phrasing of the riff, but moved quickly to a souped-up disco vibe, before soaring off onto a thermal of breakbeat with melodies and motifs intertwining, and sometimes fighting for supremacy – a distinctly mouth-watering offering. But that was in no way a sign of what was to follow (other than a glimpse of the incredible musicianship S1 have to offer). What came next was a massive range of styles: funk, punk, improv jazz, jungle, drum ‘n’ bass, techno, house, dark metal. There were moments of sublime harmony and sections of jarringly abrasive shards of sound, but the net result is unlike anything else.

Some of the compositions were genuinely catchy, too. ‘Squarepusher Theme’ was a heady cocktail of acid jazz and bombastic drums, offset with dreamy passages working their way towards a Frank Zappa-style free-for-all. It all kept coming back to the main chord sequence, though, which is a definite earworm.

There was a technical issue with the bass that could have derailed the show (it’s fair to say Squarepusher was pushing it beyond its limits), but if anything, the rest of the band took it upon themselves to play on their own for about ten minutes – and totally smash it, producing a colossal wall of noise. That tells you all you need to know about S1.

‘Journey to Reedham’ was rightly saved as a treat for the end of the show. This truly anthemic number was given the full Company Laser treatment. Having played like Animal from The Muppets for well over an hour by this point, I honestly don’t know where he summoned the energy from, but the ferocity, velocity, tempo and sheer bloody relentlessness of this song and its performance is something I will never forget.

It should be fitting then, that Shobaleader One not only wear the sci-fi lightshow visors, they also appear in monk-like robes. After witnessing this performance, I can only conclude that they are the Shaolin Monks of music.
Adam Atkins

Website: shobaleader.one