Drowning in the Diamond Sea. SONIC YOUTH/ Descension/Prolapse The Forum, London. SHE WORE a black and white hooped dress and was dancing in a manner I can only think to describe as 'Air Drumming'. This is still my only insight into the life of Prolapse's female singer as well as being the view I was greeted with upon entering the Forum's balcony. London eh? Nightmare tube journeys, two pound twenty a pint and a tramp on every corner just for good measure. Our glorious capital. A dismal view? Well, yes I agree. I do actually love London very much and here I am attentively watching some band I've never heard of before. They dart around a lot and some groovy dancing by the afore-mentioned monochrome maiden. To me they sound a bit like 'Can' with that Krautrock rolling rythm, but a barrage of unfortunately inaudiable lyrics from the two seperately sexed vocalists which reminded me somewhat of 'CRASS' and the exuberance of Anarcho-Punk. Got the idea? Next on were Descension. They looked interesting from preperation what with a double bass and various saxes being positioned on stage and by golly they were. The situation: * electric guitar * drums * double bass * saxophones The result? TOTAL MAYHEM! TO THE EXTREME! Seriously, they just went for it. Later on in the evening I managed to describe their 'sound' as "hardcore, avant-garde, trash jazz" and I am unwilling to change that. They took our minds to a level where it hurts slightly and is impossible to relax and then refused to let us down again for a full forty minutes. I had no qualms with this; it's a state the Youth would later take us to again although on a less concentrated basis. Some of the crowd however did mind and glasses were thrown on stage. You'd think people who have come to see Sonic Youth would be more prepared for this sort of thing, as far as I'm concerned Thurston himself chose them. There was much jeering as their assault climaxed but the more appreciative among us won the battle. Oh yeah, I must mention the bald member's use of drum sticks to abuse his double bass to the full. If you like music that hurts and makes your brain feel like its melting then let me highly recommend Descension. 'Do you believe in god or do you believe in Sonic Youth?' There was a definite buzz around the hall at this point as the initiated prepared themselves for what they had come fore. As my fellow convert pointed out it's pretty amazing when the mere anticipation of a band is enough to blow a support such as we had just seen off the stage. That's how we felt anyway. Seeing Sonic Youth live is a religious experience, an epiphanic moment in one's life. I mean, do you believe in god or do you believe in Sonic Youth? They started off with 'Skink', the first of three from 'Experimental jet-set...' so we all mellowed out to Kim's wooing, naked voice. The relaxed nature of the crowd reminded me of something she said once concerning audience/performer interaction, of how one becomes awe-struck at the total submission some performers give their music. This appeared to be the situation. Tracks from the new album 'Washing machine' were interspersed with the old. From what I've heard many different favourites have been played on this tour, we were treated to 'Eric's trip', 'Pacific coast highway' and the dirgiest most sing-a-longable version of '100%' imaginable. I never realized what an anthem it is until this night; a few thousand ecstatic people can't be wrong. The thing about Sonic Youth is that they are a unit. Despite each member having their personal contribution to the mayhem, when they gel, they literally become one, all arms in that synchronized strum, together in both sound and spirit and then just prior to your expectations they become free once more and unleash the chaos we are here for. I have always admired Steve's Shelley's drumming but never before have I witnessed an assault as powerful as he somehow achieved on 'Junkie's promise'. For such a small man who still only looks about twelve years old he has the unnerving ability to make entire buildings quake under his powerful controlled trashings. It was good to see Lee Ranaldo braving the limelight on a few tracks, escpecially 'Skip tracer' as he drawled out his nineties beat poetry backed with trance inducing guitars, a mesmerizing moment. They ended with 'Diamond sea' (what else?) and we all gladly submitted ourselves to the waves and drowning in the orgy of noise and feedback left ourselves in their capable hands. Not an unpleasant sensation but that moment seemed to last forever though. As they pulled us to the surface, gasping for breath, I noticed them all sat upon the monitors still carefully fishing us out. They came back again of course and played us 'Unwind' and finally 'Sugar Kane'. When it was all finally over many of us just sat there awhile, not dissapointed at the concert's demise but in awe and priviliged at our participation. Sonic Youth draw a great respect from their fans and despite being nowhere near what could be described as young anymore, still know how to move an audience with their uncompromising attitude to music. There really is no other band like them. Not only do they fill a niche of their own but many others beside it. Keep the faith! Allistur Cranston.