Live Memo #001 — Plaid

Plaid. The Quarterhouse, Folkestone.
Thursday 10th November 2022.

I have seen Feorm Falorx and it is beautiful.

In the intimate setting of Folkestone’s cultural hub, The Quarterhouse, nestling in the harbourside of the South East’s best-kept secret (I’m a resident, so go figure), Plaid came to communicate the secrets of their extraterrestrial voyage through the permanent interstellar festival known as Feorm from the Planet Falorx.

Weirdly, it was a seated affair, which is a shame, given the infectiously euphoric nature of Plaid’s 11th studio album, I think most of the punters there were more in the mood to move. The album itself sees them back on classic form, delivering sucker-punch melodies, contrapuntal arrangements and those grand-gesture orgasmic climaxes they’re famous for.

It’s my favourite listen since 2014’s Reachy Prints: full of longing, transcendent moments and occasional about-turns (like the 80s new wave-inspired Nightcrawler, with collaborator Mason Bee). Beyond the music, the event’s crowning glory that elevated it into a complete sensory experience were the extraordinary visuals provided by animation artist Emma Catnip, a shifting kaleidoscopic treat through a world animated by AI magic and captured in her graphic novel ‘Journey to Feorm Falorx’, accompanying the release.

I’ve seen Plaid on many occasions, but it feels like this partnership has given them a new lease of life when it comes to their live performances, and feels like the perfect fit for them. Feorm Falorx was a total thrill ride and I’m still buzzing. EW.