If you’re a fan of dub-heavy, bass driven, post punk (PiL and Magazine) then for your own sake you don’t want to skip this article as there’s perhaps only one date you need to keep free in your diary this year.  Local celebrated 2-piece, Masa Confusa will be playing their only gig of 2018 on Easter Friday in Newcastle’s Little Buildings and it really isn’t worth missing.

Dark, cinematic and incredibly loud, Masa have created a loyal following as a result of their ability to blend musical sounds (reggae, funk, punk and trip-hop) with painfully honest, confessional, Henry Miller style lyrics.  Claustrophobic, artistic and thought provoking Masa bombard their audience with soundtrack samples, academic intelligence and a menacing stage presence.

Recent single ‘Refuge’ satisfyingly indicates that the temporary relocation to Spain of Masa main songwriter Ally Morton hasn’t yet melted his intensity.  Guitar heavy, distorted and focusing on the frailty of human emotions, the track is perhaps a distant relative of Massive Attack’s monumental ‘Group Four’ itself a contemplation on how quickly the world can take you from hope to despair, and back again.  Refuge may well be the bands most affecting work so far, particularly when considered alongside it’s Nine Inch Nail ‘Closer’ echoing video. With talk of new EP on the horizon the future has never looked brighter for this dark collective.

Support on the evening comes from NE Volume favourites Mouses and Casual Threats; themselves both more than worthy of headlining.  There’s a strong chance that this may be gig of the year.

Massa Confusa play Little Buildings on Friday 30 March.  Tickets from £4 and available from https://www.facebook.com/msscnfs