BLURRED VISION BEGUILE AT THE TROUBADOUR Blurred Vision, The Troubadour, London Words Andy Rawll, Photos: Eric Duvet 7th December 2017 It's over seven years since displaced Iranian brothers Sepp 'n' Sohl's unique brand of rock 'n' burst into global consciousness, through their viral hit reinterpretation of 'Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)' as a polemic against the oppression of youth in their homeland. Now relocated to the UK, festival and tour support slots have cemented Blurred Vision's reputation as a potent live band, enhanced by supreme sessioneer Ben Riley on drums. This latest run of shows centred around a series of shows on London's legendary Troubadour club, showcasing their enticing blend of pop melody, artful arrangement and progressive rhythm, underpinning songs with message and meaning. Opening song 'No More War' is a great example of the disarming way the band marry portentous lyrics with upbeat instrumentation, with just the right amount of melancholy colour. This Pink Floyd meets R.E.M. template is further finessed in the hypnotic groove of 'Rollin' On' and anthemic 'Organized Insanity'. Of the songs from their 2014 debut, it's 'The Keeper' that suggests a broader and progressive palette. Inspired by 14th century Persian poet Hafez, it's full of exotic scales and serpentine vocal lines, like a middle eastern Tool covers band playing the Strawbs. For the next part of the set, the band preview tracks from their forthcoming second album, revealing a more ethereal pop sound, from the ravishing 'Magdalena' with its Britpop swagger to the haunting 'One Day' with its compelling A-ha style groove. An increasingly impressive Ben Riley gets to channel his inner Collins on the propulsive yet dreamy 'What Have I Become', which sounds like the Pet Shop Boys playing with post-Gabriel Genesis. The finale enables the band to further their 2012 Lennon tribute 'Dear John' with worthy renditions of 'A Day In The Life' and 'Revolution' as a preface to the inevitable finale of the song that brought them to wider attention, acclaim and the patronage of Roger Waters. The new songs suggest that the next album will be a heady melange of musical heart and human soul. Despite their name, a promising future is certainly in clear view for this intriguing trio.