Lessons in how to do battle
Senser are long overdue in Manchester, their last scheduled outing here having to be cancelled at the last minute due to singer Heitham being rushed in hospital en route to the gig! They get a good turnout tonight at Moho and it seems that they are reaping the rewards of the well received last album "How To Do Battle".
Recent single 'Resistance Now' makes an early appearance in the set and having been a staple song in the set for the last couple of years now, it fits right in with the older material like 'Switch' and 'No Comply'. It's a familiar sound of course but they do it so well that you can't help but get carried along with it and when guitarist Nick Michaelson starts delivering his trademark riffs the game is definitely afoot. Ahead of their fifth studio album Senser are due to release a five song compilation of hip hop covers that inspired them in their early years and a few of them get an outing tonight. Pick of the bunch is Public Enemy's 'Channel Zero', which really hits hard and whips the crowd up down at the front. Of the newer songs '2 3 Clear' has quickly become a fan favourite and it sounds pretty awesome tonight. I've seen Senser many times now and they remain on that small list of bands that I have never seen do a bad show, they just don't have it in them!
With regular singer Kerstin still away on maternity leave it falls to stand in iMMa to take up joint vocals duties with Heitham and she does a fine job. Her voice isn't as strong as Kerstin's but her performance more than makes up for it; she never stops moving and is note perfect throughout. The deal clincher though comes during set closer 'Eject' when she climbs up on the monitor, one hand on the ceiling, leaning out over the crowd; it's a snapshot moment that tells you Senser aren't ready to rest on their laurels, they still want to be in your face and to kick it when it really matters. It's a fairly short set tonight but it certainly doesn't disappoint. "How To Do Battle" showed that Senser still have plenty to offer and in the live environment they remain at the top of their game, which all bodes well for the new album. Bring it on.