Ider at Albani Music Club

I am ashamed to admit that I have lived in Winterthur for six years now and last night was the first time I entered the Hallowed Grail that is the Albani Music Club.

However, I am very happy that my first experience of Albani was at yesterday’s Ider gig. We were gutted to only catch the end of Ider at last year’s Winterthur Music Festival when we arrived to see Metronomy. We loved what we saw so I was thrilled to see them return for another gig last night as part of their debut tour to promote their first album Emotional Education.

My husband and I were pretty early to arrive so settled into some comfy armchairs in the mezzanine and had a pretty spectacular vantage point of the stage below.The atmosphere was buzzing. A DJ was playing all our favourite tunes – from Soft Cell to Jet - and the Albani acoustics are top notch – not too loud but with the most amazing bass line which boomed its way into our heart and soul. The backdrop was set wonderfully and when Ider came on they did not disappoint.

An hour and a bit of sublime pleasure followed listening to the breathtaking harmony of the two girls, Meghan Markwick and Lily Somerville. Highlights were provided by Brown Sugar with its resounding heartbeat and dreamy chorus and You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, with its moody resonance. A cameo appearance of my personal favourite Pulse was received by an appreciative crowd with its sensual beat and breathlessly spine-tingling lyrics and we were treated to a sensational capella section at the end of Baby Love when the girls faced each other in a physical evocation of the magical connection that has produced such an original and beautiful sound.

It was emotional - like a big warm musical hug - and an education – I cannot recall ever hearing harmonies so exquisite. Believe it when I say Ider are on a one way rocket trip to an illustrious future – and Albani Music Club provided them with a leg up of acoustic magnificence.