Act: We Were Promised Jetpacks
Venue: The Old Biscuit Factory, Edinburgh
Date: 17 November 2018

In 1947, the Crawfords Biscuit factory was opened in Anderson Place, Edinburgh. It was a hive of industry for 10 years.

Still in position to this day, it sits in a developed area as a constant reminder of the past and becoming an ever-increasing sign of the days gone by.

Entering the venue, it’s sparse, gloomy, dusty and absolutely baltic. The excitement in this strange environment is palpable. Tonight We Were Promised Jetpacks are top of the bill. A local band on a world tour of their new album The More I Sleep The Less I Dream (which is fantastic) and it certainly had the feeling of a homecoming gig.

As the crowd swelled to near capacity, the excitement was at bursting point. The lights dim, a huge cheer goes up.

This dark, damp, dusty industrial building is immediately transformed into a wall of sound. Imagine the raw power and artistry of Mogwai with a lead singer who has a wonderful and engaging voice.

The new songs blend seamlessly with the old favourites. They are not a band with much ‘chat’, however, they clearly appreciate the levels of support they are receiving and appear to be enjoying themselves.

The PA is loud, mega loud, my ears are still ringing as I type this. This is not always a positive but on this occasion it suits WWPJ perfectly. All too quickly the hour-and-a-half has passed and, after a brief thank you, they end their set in the same vein as they started: with a powerhouse of a track Repeating Patterns. The crowd is fulfilled, it feels triumphant.

All too quickly the venue seems, cold, dark, dusty and dated. However, it has now bore witness to a wonderful Scottish band at its best and on the up. They are destined for bigger things for sure and are fully deserving of your attention. Scottish music is thriving at the moment, be a part of it.

Stephen Harley