Temples/Telegram @ Exeter Phoenix

Under a heady torrent of rain, we trundle to Exeter’s very own Phoenix Arts centre under the blanket of October post-fest-melancholy, optimistically clutching glitter in clammy hands. Accompanied by my friend, a similarly budding punter, we are rural voyeurs to Kettering’s very own ‘Temples’ on the penultimate date of their tour, fresh faced neo-psyching in a 60s retro-prog melange of sparkles and tangles.
James divulges to us whilst shuffling, semi shrouded under an impressive gravity defying contortion of dark ringlets underpinned by an exclamatory streak of signature silver under each eye. He remarks on our own and the seeming cult following of James miniatures in this eves crowd.
‘I nearly didn’t make it tonight, my voice was nearly out’. Honey and lemon? ‘Yeah yeah! You’ve gotta go easy on yourself, don’t burn the candle at both ends’. Not quite the envisaged rock and roll lifestyle Mr. Bagshaw?
Having formed but a ‘year and a bit’ ago the sheer escalation from dingy 100 capacity venues and pubs to headline tour is a progression they themselves don't seem to have anticipated fully. Bagshaw confesses the bands label, Heavenly Recordings (think Charlie Boyer, Stealing Sheep) have Brixton Academy visions of 2014. Happily signed, Temples settled briefly with Columbia records- home to Indie giants Peace, before moving with Heavenly, and Telegram, as they smugly tell us, worked to antithesis infact turning down Heavenly’s offer.
Though modestly introvert, Bagshaw still resides in his parents’ house, having converted his bedroom into the band’s studio. Asking their opinion on NME I receive a pensive pause.
‘To be honest, It’s great to have them backing you, you just want them on your side’ says Telegram bassist Oli Paget-Moon slouched on the door frame as James nonchalantly fondles a floral lighter ‘mate you’ve had that all tour’ he provokes. Here is a band with enough flair to brandish the odd flowery number and uphold an enigmatic stage persona.
Temples wear their influences on their sleeves, the usual comparisons to the Beatles, T Rex, as well as a love for Bowie (of which we had a confirmational discussion as to the subjective pronunciation, I was put straight.) no doubt as a by-product of being the godfather of stage slap.
‘I’m really into MC Hammer..’ he continues followed by the raising of eyebrows to which Oli swiftly interjects with a confessional proclamation of adoration for late 70’s and early 80’s disco to eyebrows nearing hairlines. A disco infused Telegram record then? ‘Well we have one track we haven’t recorded or played live yet that’s quite disco’. This just took a totally unexpected turn.
Yet despite Temples frontman’s initial impression of seeming introversy there’s more to the man than meets sparkling eyes. There is a cynicism, the typical anti-X Factor spiel as well as a disliking to contemporaries- Peace.
'You heard Lovesick?' he says turning his head slightly askew in inquisition. We nod, a mutual distaste owing much to the pressure of large labels in requiring specific categorical songs- disparate from that of early Delicious EP- defining California Daze a mark of raw beauty. Feisty.
‘People need to listen more with their ears than their eyes’ he chirps, curiously if not hypocritical, is the band not the epitome of effortlessly enviable indie? No, I express, it is more melody oriented than all else, it may not be a brawling live affair but there’s more than enough melodic tomfoolery to enthuse you throughout. We probe further, musical collaborations on the horizon? ‘we’ve actually been speaking to Melody’s Echo Chamber (hazy French psych collective) and Tame Impala about doing something together for Record Store Day’ and I sense my colleague stifle a cry of ecstasy.
In a perpetual state of writing but with the album recorded and currently being knitted together deep in the hub of Bagshaw’s boudoir set for release in February 2014, 2013 has certainly been a phenomenal year for Temples. Similarly for Telegram in rising through the ranks of the alternative sphere with debut single only officially released a month ago, no doubt thanks to the backing of Marc Riley on his Radio 6 slot.
It may not have been a riotous performance, but a blissfully enjoyable live show from one of the scene’s most promising bona fide talents and for me, a fourth time lucky as foot-tapping spectator. Reet little cracker.