TOPS brought a night of fun to London’s Heaven
TOPS puts on a dreamy night at London’s Heaven, filled with music that brought immersive and sci-fi vibes, transporting fans into a indie-pop dreamscape.
Photo: Nori Rasmussen-Martinez
Following the release of their fifth studio album, Bury the Key, Montreal band TOPS returned to the UK to tour the record.
“This venue was made for dancing… I love you Heaven”.
The beauty of live music is that we get to take in the art musicians create in the way it is intended to be; it makes the music come alive, and Tuesday night did exactly that. Admittedly, I hadn’t listened to TOPS before, but as soon as I put on their latest album, Bury the Key, to prepare for the gig, I was instantly hooked.
One of the best things about seeing a band like TOPS perform live is getting to fully appreciate the diversity of their art, which we can hear through their voices and the instruments they play, giving such a cosy, relaxed feel when listening to them. It’s really great to hear how they draw on influences from the likes of Sade, Fleetwood Mac and Blondie.
First up was opening act Shunk, an up-and-coming alternative rock band who are also from Montreal. Their sound has been described as ranging from shimmering French love songs to cataclysmic rock; hearing them live, I can definitely confirm this. It was great to see them on stage in London, as I know touring was on their bucket list. It must feel like a real pinch-me moment for them.
I love the metaphoric language that Shunk uses in their music, especially how it’s used to describe love. If you listen to their song Tennis, you will get what I mean: “Love is the beginning… playing doubles, love is trouble”. And, in Goblin, you can really see the vivid, almost mythical imagery: “Hug me, kiss me, suck my juices squeezed from goblin fruits for you.” They had a great set that got the crowd warmed up.
TOPS then graced the stage at 8pm sharp. Riley on drums provided depth and energy on the night, which, together with Marta’s atmospheric keyboard layers and Jackson and David’s melodic guitar riffs, made their music flow in this unique, mesmerising way. The lead vocalist Jane was the final piece, with her ethereal delivery, and French vocals that sound like a captivating lullaby. I can’t forget her iconic flute playing, which sounded so effortlessly serene. It added another powerful layer of magic to their performance, making the crowd cheer when she brought out her flute, releasing the most joyful sounds.
Vocality-wise, it felt like a magical dream. TOPS gave us hits, including Stars Come After You, Way to Be Loved, Petals and Paper House. It was great to hear songs spanning over thirteen years of their career, from their Picture You Staring, Sugar at the Gate, and I Feel Alive albums. The crowd was hooked on Jane’s voice from start to finish, taking in every word she sang. One of the highlights of the night was hearing the crowd sing in unison to I Feel Alive. That moment summed up exactly how live music should make you feel: alive.
One of the closing songs was Ballads & Sad Movies. I love this song because it explores themes of loss through love — “Looking out in the cold world” — not knowing who you are anymore. In the song, Jane talks about how her favourite ballads and movies no longer do anything for her now. In that moment, her voice had me reflecting on the journeys we go through in life, often in relation to finding ourselves again and navigating the heartache that is the negative side that often comes with love. It was a perfect way to slow down the night. What was even more special was the mesmerising moment of looking at the crowd, truly taking in the lyrics, immersing themselves in this sonic moment.
I walked away from Heaven as a new TOPS fan. It’s crazy to think that they have been around for over a decade, and I never knew of this amazing gem of a band. It was such a wholesome show in a perfect iconic London venue, with music made and sung from the heart. I’ll definitely be attending their future shows.