Live Report: Overmono – Centre Point, Dublin
“Overmono are just Bicep for the heads who think Two Shell are Overmono for the heads who think…” This seemingly endless sentence nearly broke dance music Twitter back in July. Combine that with hilarious parody videos – such as the one indicating that Truss and Tessela are in fact the Dobermann dogs that first made an appearance in their artwork on ‘Everything You Need’ – and you could argue that they’ve become something of a meme of late.
Being called ‘Bicep for the heads’ should not be viewed as a passive insult. Bicep have evolved into one of (if not the) biggest exports from the UK & Ireland, touring stadium after stadium around the world, and Overmono’s new visual show puts them firmly in the conversation of the UK’s next massive live act.
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This light hearted humour runs in contrast to the duo themselves – who are in fact very serious about what they do – releasing banger after banger in what seems like an infinite, euphoric string of 2-step, breakbeats and techno. Every release feels like it can’t be topped, then they bring out another one, inspiring an onslaught of ‘these guys never miss’ messages in the comments section.
Overmono are no strangers to Dublin. The pair have played here numerous times in the past – both together and under their individual aliases – and their remix of David Balfe’s ‘I Have A Love’ (under his For Those I Love musical project) has become something of an unofficial national anthem. Hundreds of revellers cram into Centre Point (formerly The Button Factory) of all ages; from young, wide-eyed ravers to the more mature end of the spectrum, who politely take their place in the balcony terrace up top.
Incorporating all of the sounds that have influenced them over the years – from the their acid-tinged hardware days of TR\\ER to the launch of their Overmono project in 2016 – they begin with the the steppy breaks-laden sound of ‘Diamond Cut’, setting a moody tone with it’s brooding basslines and minimal nature.
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Meandering from garage to grime (courtesy of a surprise entry for Youngsta’s ‘Pulse X’) and from rattling breaks to anthemic techno, all of their contemporary classics get a spin. The pair’s recent percussive-heavy collaboration with fellow XL Recordings affiliate Joy Orbison is a fresh addition to the tracklist, the subtle sample of Abra’s ‘Feel’ bringing joy (no pun intended) to the Awful Records heads around us.
The biggest moment of the evening comes when the duo begin to play their remix of ‘I Have A Love’, welcoming For Those I Love onto the stage as he performs live alongside them, with extra significance as Balfe is a Dubliner himself. The crowd screams back ‘I have a love, and it never fades!’ Symbolic in a sense; it’s almost as if the crowd are simultaneously channelling their love for art, creativity and music and their despair in a city that does not support it anywhere near enough, as venues close and artists choose to relocate elsewhere due to out-of-control capitalism and a city centre that boasts more hotels than hot dinners.
Warped psychedelic images transfix pupils like the eyes of that snake from The Jungle Book as the curtain call arrives in the form of the pitched vocals on ‘So U Kno’, a fittingly euphoric end for a double-act at the very top of their game. Their headsy mix of hardcore, garage, breaks and techno dangles its feet on the border of accessible and underground, cementing their status as one of the UK’s most exciting production duos and live acts.
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Words: Andrew Moore
Photography: Kyle Magee
