Egyptian Blue / The Happy Couple + another support act whose name I can't remember...sorry @ The Prince Albert, Brighton

Back in Brighton for a 30th anniversary uni reunion and managed to fit in a gig (yes...I know...that's a rarity these days eh?) at The Prince Albert. The hotly tipped (by St Yannis of Foals no less) Egyptian Blue have a little bit of an early Foals-ish vibe but with more of post punk edge (think Wire/Gang of Four). In better times this would have seen 'em nibble away at the charts amidst a torrent of critical acclaim but we live in strange days indeed so who knows. I was impressed with their mighty riffage, complex rhythms and meaty vocals though, the sound of young dudes who've already taken enough and can take no more which, again, says a lot about the times we're living on. Stick 'em on a bill with Slaves or Idles and get 'em out on the festival scene next year and hopefully they'll win the following they so obviously deserve on tonight's showing...and you can't say 'pharaoh' than that. Oh dear...there was no need for that was there eh?