Music / Reviews
Review: Puma Blue, Bristol Beacon – ‘Hushed vocals and gnarly sax solos’
In 30 degree heat, we were cooled by the moody blue lights of Puma Blue’s stage set in Bristol Beacon’s Lantern Hall.
The mix of teens and gen-Zers in attendance reflected how Puma Blue (the alias of artist Jacob Allen) has maintained his audience since his SoundCloud days and grown beyond that.
The set was reminiscent of King Krule’s body of work, where tracks crescendo into gnarly saxophone solos from echoing guitar chords; a sonic style that is typical of the West and South London scene that Allen hails from, along with the likes of Cosmo Pyke and Nilufer Yanya.
The artist was accompanied by skilled musicians
Allen’s hushed vocals were smooth and anguished, earning the Jeff Buckley comparison that is often made. The sax and bass elements were particularly impressive but could have been more pronounced in the sound engineering.
Unfortunately, while well-meaning, Allen’s spoken interludes felt tone-deaf at times.
When introducing Too Much, Too Much, he spoke of the overwhelm we’re all experiencing and how ‘not looking away’ is better than doing nothing – an approach seemingly ‘bare minimum’ at best or politically neutral at worst, and one unlikely to play well with a Bristol audience who would typically favour greater proactivity.
Despite that message the song displayed the skill of his band, particularly the drummer who consistently delivered high-tempo percussion throughout the set.
Fan-favourite tracks like Pretty punctuated the night with Puma Blue’s signature melancholic sound – performed under grey-washed projections that evoked the Tumblr era he operates in.
It was a shame not to experience Moon Undah Water live and his more jazz-inspired, Chet Baker-esque tracks from 2017 but this performance highlighted how he is evolving into a more experimental phase that complements his unique vocals and pays homage to influences like Portishead.
While it was an enjoyable set, a more intimate venue may have fared better for Allen’s immersive and ambient music.
Main image: Puma Blue at EartH – CathDupuyPhotos
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