Electrelane Shout and Call

It Happened Last Night

BOSTON: These British beauties hypnotize the Paradise Rock Club.

By Spin Staff 05.17.07 3:00 AM

Last night (May 16), Brighton, England's Electrelane gloriously slid onstage under sensuous red lights, delivering a sugary pop mix for a packed house at Beantown's Paradise Rock Club. With the audience's rapt yet quiet attention, the Brit indie pop lasses played a range of old and new material, including the melancholy "The Greater Times" from their latest effort, the sonically gorgeous No Shouts No Calls.

Singer Verity Susman permitted her British accent to shine though, further enhancing vocals on "To the East" and the more ambient "In Berlin" -- both tracks similarly showcased tight, aching guitar riffs, throbbing bass lines, and rich synth beats.

But it was the ladies' earnest playing during the dark, heavy instrumental "Between the Wolf and the Dog" that finally got the crowd leaping, whooping and fully appreciating Electrelane's impressive energy; so much shouting and calling, it would make your ears bleed. MIRIAM LAMEY / PHOTOS BY KERI BECKWITH

We asked: Electrelane recently issued their third studio long-player, No Shouts No Calls. If you could not speak or use your cell phone for a day, how would you communicate?

Name: Sebastian Schiller
Age: 29
Hometown: Berlin, GER
Occupation: Sociologist
"I'd just walk over to see people. Or do something like in Buffy the Vampire Slayer when everyone communicated with signs."

Name: Martin Pike
Age: 40
Hometown: London, UK
Occupation: Band Manager for Electrelane, Broadcast and Stereolab
"Would I have to communicate? That would be bliss if not, well, I'd try writing. It's the old fashioned way."

Name: Matt Pynn
Age: 25
Hometown: New Haven, CT
Occupation: Runs Paradise Lounge & Rock Club
"I'm a musician, so I'd play guitar or I would play pedal slide."

Name: Callie Hastings
Age: 28
Hometown: Rockland, ME
Occupation: Art teacher
"I would probably draw on paper -- visual language!"

Name: Fiona Jones
Age: 28
Hometown: Vernon, NJ
Occupation: Art therapist
"I would make comics!"

Name: Forrest Hodgkins
Age: Mid-40s
Hometown: Auburn, MA
Occupation: Software engineer
"Good question! I guess any writing methods, or drawing in the sand."

Name: Andrew Warner
Age: 32
Hometown: Boston, MA
Occupation: Work at a bank
"Writing emails."

Name: Mitchell Barrys
Age: 21
Hometown: Oakhan, MA
Occupation: Student at Berklee
"A lot of bodily movements or interpretive dance."

Name: David Sapienza
Age: 26
Hometown: Newburyport, MA
Occupation: I work for Boston University
"Dance just like Khaela from The Blow."