Archive have a long history, their musical journey has included multiple vocal collaborations and a changing sound that has kept their fans and friends enraptured and enthralled.Already established European festival headliners (and colossally popular in France, Poland, Germany and Greece) the truth is that this formidable collective are from South London, pillared by the writing and performing talents of Darius Keeler and Danny Griffiths and bolstered by the guitar and vocal attack of co-composers Pollard Berrier and Dave Pen.Blending the elegantly soulful voice of Maria Q into the mix ensures that the unique sound Archive make is bound by neither place, time nor genre.Within the lustrous layers of their music you will hear echoes of Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Mogwai, Kraftwerk, Killing Joke, The Who, Massive Attack and Hawkwind.Master song builders, Archive construct sonic skyscrapers from the ground up, with a vision and boldness rarely encountered in modern rock music.Their fearlessness allows them to combine ambitious structure, ageless melody and relentless rhythm. That they exist outside of fashion and defy flavour-of-the-month categorisation allows them to explore the outer reaches of electronic rock as we know it.
Live is where the Archive experience begins to make mighty sense. Here is a band born to play very loudly in large fields.
To witness Archive’s effect on an audience is a thing of wonder. From gentle head-nodding submission to near-religious delirium, the band’s unblinking ferocity meets with a fervour normally reserved for a local derby or an orgy.
In a world where loud and hollow are routinely described as ‘epic’ and ‘heroic’, Archive produce songs of depth and charm, malice and magic. They’re big. But they’re clever too.
If going to see Archive live still sounds a little daunting, they have conveniently distilled their astounding stage show for private exploration. It is called ‘Live At The Zenith’. Recorded at their phenomenal sold out Zenith Arena show in Paris on January 20th 2007; reviewed in France by Rolling Stone as one of the best live albums ever.
Tracklisting Lights Noise Bridge Scene Veins You make me feel Fuck U Black Sane Sit Back Down Again Pulse + Bonus Track: Sane (Dimitri Tikovoi Mix)