Words: Nick Linazasoro, Photos: Sara-Louise Bowrey
London-based indie-synth-pop outfit Oslo Twins recently made a triumphant return to Brighton, bringing their moody soundscapes to The Prince Albert. Known for blending trip-hop, lo-fi, and atmospheric electronica, the group first emerged from Bristol’s DIY scene and has already shared stages with the likes of The Last Dinner Party.
Originally formed as a duo by vocalist Claudia Vulliamy and guitarist/synth player Eric Davies after meeting in a philosophy seminar at Bristol University, the band has since expanded. Now joined by Ed Lyness on keys and synth, the trio headlined a stellar evening courtesy of Love Thy Neighbour promoters.
Over the course of an enchanting 47-minute set, the packed venue was treated to a dozen tracks, including several unreleased gems. Oslo Twins’ sound stretches beyond standard dream pop, weaving in distinct dance, industrial, and lo-fi influences. They opened strong with the unreleased track ‘We Remember Everything,’ immediately showcasing their booming layers of synths and Claudia’s beautifully echoed, double-layered vocals.
With a stage setup that featured Moog keys, a Mini Korg, and a Nord Stage 3 synth, the band largely let the music do the talking. The set flowed seamlessly from one banger to the next, with highlights including the pulse-pounding ‘Hanging Over’ and the trance-infused title track from their critically acclaimed 2025 Tresor EP.
Fan-favorites like last year’s single ‘All In Your Mind’ got the crowd moving with its solid, driving dance beat, backed by stellar Moog action from Eric. Meanwhile, unreleased tracks like ‘Millions Of Trees’ showcased the band’s versatility, offering up a skippy trip-hop drum and bass beat topped with spoken-word vocals.
The main set closed out with the Cicero-esque ‘I Wake Up Slowly’ before wrapping up with ‘Miss Yesterday’ from 2023’s Back To Nothing EP. The trio vacated the stage just before 11:00 PM, leaving an exhilarated crowd in their wake.
(A quick note for attendees: during the post-show merch rush, a number of Claudia’s homemade jewellery items went missing from the stall. If you mistakenly picked them up, please do the right thing and return them to The Prince Albert staff!)
Oslo Twins Lineup:
- Claudia Vulliamy – vocals
- Ed Lyness – keys, synth
- Eric Davies – drum machines, bass synth
Oslo Twins Setlist:
- We Remember Everything (unreleased)
- Hanging Over (unreleased)
- Tresor (from 2025 ‘Tresor’ EP)
- I See Mountains (from 2025 ‘Tresor’ EP)
- Be Free (from 2025 ‘Tresor’ EP)
- All In Your Mind (2025 single)
- Sirens (from 2025 ‘All In Your Mind’ single)
- On & On (unreleased)
- Millions Of Trees (unreleased)
- Closer (unreleased)
- I Wake Up Slowly (from 2025 ‘Tresor’ EP)
- Miss Yesterday (from 2023 ‘Back To Nothing’ EP)
Cordelia Gartside Offers Ethereal Indie Rock
Opening the proceedings was Cordelia Gartside and her band, who delivered an emotionally intense, 30-minute set mostly comprised of unreleased cuts. Delivering self-penned, indie-rocking ethereal compositions, Cordelia captivated the room from the opening strum of ‘Joke Not Funny.’ Standouts included ‘Belle,’ which began with sweet, dreamy guitar work before building to a hair-raising crescendo, and the incredibly moving 2024 single ‘Hospital Corners.’ The band wrapped up their set with a preview of their upcoming single, ‘What The Heart Wants’ (due out May 6th), bringing a psychedelic, early-70s vibe to the stage. It’s only a matter of time before the broader world catches on to Cordelia Gartside’s incredible talent.
Cordelia Gartside Lineup:
- Cordelia Gartside – vocals, guitar
- Willow Simpson – lead guitar
- Tom Ironmonger – bass
- Max Garner – drums
RY-GUY Brings South London Modern-Psyche
Sandwiched perfectly in the middle of the bill was Brixton-based RY-GUY and his band. Sporting striking red dungarees and a Höfner-style violin bass, RY-GUY launched into the post-punk offering ‘Emancipation Avenue.’ The band treated the crowd to a fantastic selection of tracks, leaning heavily on their latest Like A River EP. Tracks like ‘Dunja’ highlighted seamless vocal harmonies between RY-GUY, synthesiser player Raef Comissar, and guitarist Kieran Matthews. They signed off the set with their alt-funky 2024 single, ‘The Reign Of The Garden Queen,’ leaving the room thoroughly warmed up for the headliners.
RY-GUY Lineup:
- RY-GUY – lead vocals, bass guitar
- Kieran Matthews – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Raef Comissar – synthesisers, backing vocals
- Erwin Lotasz – drums
