ROMY Church, aka e4444e, proved with the release of his debut album Coldstream Road back in June that he's one of Newcastle's most inventive and original artists.
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The blend of cold sterile electronica and warm acoustic guitar gave the record a meditative quality. It was a welcome mat into e4444e's imagined world.
But replicating those sounds, which were recorded in Romy's bedroom, is a more difficult proposition on stage in front of an audience. Ambient electronic music isn't known for being visually exciting.
Thankfully Romy didn't attempt to replicate Coldstream Road at Thursday's night album launch at the Civic Playhouse. Rather he presented his songs in a more elaborate manner.
Backed by his older brother Noah, of dave the band, on guitar and Dougal McMullan on drums, Coldstream Road's songs were expanded into a intoxicating mix of folk, psychedelica and electronic music.
Case in point was the opener Country, which is also the first track on Coldstream Road. The album version is a gentle acoustic folk song, twisted by ambient electronic sounds and Romy's reverb-heavy vocal.
But live the track built to a intense psych finale, with Noah's piercing guitar and McMullan's hypnotic drumming taking Country in a completely and thrilling direction.
The video projections, directed by David Lobb, were almost the fourth member of the band. Not only did the mix of natural river landscapes and psychedelic imagery enhance the meditative quality of the music, at times, it gave the illusion that the three-piece were rising from the stage.
Romy isn't a traditional vocalist. He's not gonna belt out power ballads or move an audience with pitch acrobatics. He knows his limitations. And most importantly, he knows the importance of phrasing.
It's all about lulling the listener into a reflective state.
Solar, which is arguably e4444e's most conventional song, was the highlight of the set - pushed along by a gorgeous folk melody.
At 22 years of age, Romy Church has only scratched the surface of his potential. His future music is likely to steer away from experimental electronic bedroom producing, towards a more collaborative band approach with his brother and McMullan.
On the strength of Thursday's album launch, it's a promising prospect.
E4444e play their final launch show at the Civic Playhouse on Friday night.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
