The mutated post-punk music of the late 70s and early 80s casts a long shadow over the music of today. You can’t move for Joy Division chancers, especially since the early 2000s.

This concert had three different bands, all reflecting different modes of interpreting these sounds. I had no previous experience of these acts, so the whole night was a learning experience.

Post Ironic State are a band originally founded in Perth in 2018. They are now based in Edinburgh and have a sturdy collection of digital singles under their name. I would declare that out of the acts on stage that night, they are the most traditional.

Featured Image Credit: Room 213 / Barry Douglas

They are very much a propulsive post-punk band in the classic mould. There’s the swagger of Joy Division, the supple melody of Simple Minds and even a little bit of The Sound to them.

Apart from the occasional blaring keyboard note, I enjoyed their set, especially their recent single, Citadel, with its booming drum intro and clipped guitar. The stagecraft is a little raw, but I would welcome seeing this band again.

Berlin duo Twin Noir are a revelation. Booming robotic beats, driven by minimal Status Quo boogie riffs and DAF style vocals, all whilst decked out in glitter-speckled black clothing. For two guys and a backing tape, they make a hell of an impact, that German motorik vibe recast as party-time music.

Featured Image Credit: Room 213 / Barry Douglas

There was synchronised dancing, pirouetting with guitars and even guitar juggling at one point. More than any visual tricks, Twin Noir make the crowd move and groove, with most of their tracks driven by funky guitar riffs that would make early Franz Ferdinand jealous. Top drawer stuff, and the duo seemed pleased with their reaction. I would welcome a re-visit.

Traitrs are another pair, Canadian this time. Sean-Patrick Nolan and Shawn Tucker make up this gloom-tune duo, mixing angular guitar notes with a murky electronic backdrop to create music not unlike the Faith or Seventeen Seconds Cure era.

Featured Image Credit: Room 213 / Barry Douglas

They utilise frozen chords, suspended drones and echoing notes with dispirited vocals to create a tapestry of booming melancholia. Songs about lust, love, loss and regret went down well with the crowd, while a woman with a walking stick danced hypnotically.

For a two-piece act, they have a huge physical presence. A typical song like Oh Ballerina builds from an extended synth drone into booming beats and clipped riffing, like Depeche Mode with a jetpack by the end.

Featured Image Credit: Room 213 / Barry Douglas

If Twin Noir were a beer hall band, Traitrs are a glass of red wine at dusk.

Twin Flesh is a more compact number, a backdrop of bleeps and bloops meshes with loose guitar notes and a pissed off Robert Smith-style vocal.

The whole set was a highlight, if I am honest. The next day, I went through their entire back catalogue, completely sold.

Featured Image Credit: Room 213 / Barry Douglas