Archive in Zurich - 19 and 20 February 2025

There are bands that have such a knack for creating vast, mesmerising soundscapes that you cannot help but dive right in. Such is the case with London collective Archive. The band formed in 1994 and has had various combinations of singers and musicians over the years, each bringing their own singular spin to the sound.

On this «Classic Albums Live» tour, Archive went back to four records that they’d released in the noughties and played them live on two consecutive nights. A treat for longtime fans who got to hear deep-cut tracks that the band hadn’t performed in a while.

The first night saw an airing of 2002’s «You All Look The Same To Me» and 2004’s «Noise». Both albums are chock-full of trip-hoppy, electronic, krautrocky gems – from the driving «Numb» and «Pulse» via the slow groove of «Meon» and «Goodbye» to the insanely irresistible beat of «Waste».

On the second night, Archive focused on «Controlling Crowds Part I-III & Part IV» (2009), two albums that were a breakthrough of sorts for the band; the single «Bullets» is possibly their best-known song, and a beauty it is, too. Pollard Berrier’s gorgeous vocals play a huge part not just on this track, but also on the slower «Come On Get High», which, at this concert, was a stunning, goosebumps-inducing highlight.

Archive really come into their own on epic tracks that crack the 10-minute mark. In Zurich at the Halle 622, the band managed to create layer upon layer of beats and melody in such a way that the audience was pulled into a thrilling trance during songs like «Finding It So Hard», «Controlling Crowds» and especially fan favourite «Again». Vocalist Dave Pen was, as ever, an absolute beast on the latter, and the crowd showed their appreciation with endless cheering and clapping.

Both evenings also saw Archive’s other current vocalists shine: Lisa Mottram on «Collapse/Collide», for instance, and rapper Jimmy Collins on tracks such as «Bastardised Ink» and the bass-heavy «Razed To The Ground».

The concerts closed with the cathartic «F*** U» and the rock-out groove of «Dangervisit», respectively, the latter descending into gloriously noisy chaos and making the audience go mental.

A joy from start to finish, both evenings demonstrated how much fun Archive shows are; watching co-founder Darius Keeler gleefully pump his arms and dance around and conduct the band – that alone is a worth the price of admission. The concerts in Zurich also proved, as always, that Archive are one of the best live bands touring today.

- Anna Wirz

Promoter: Live Nation Switzerland

Photos of Archive are here (all photos taken on the first night).