CIEL + OPAL MAG – PATTERNS, BRIGHTON 5.11.25
Its bonfire night and the night sky of Brighton is ablaze with fireworks while the streets pulse with energy. Yet as I descended into Patterns on Wednesday night, the fervour of the upstairs world only seemed to gather force within the underground walls of this small club. It’s the opening night of CIEL’s ‘Call Me Silent’ tour- two weeks since the band released their debut album on the 24th of October.
Fronted by Dutch born singer Michelle Hindriks and accompanied by Tim Spencer on drums, CIEL (pronounced ‘She-Elle’) are Brighton locals and are familiar figures within the city’s alt-rock scene. Both Michelle and Tim work at 17b Studios, a grassroots recording studio that has been a dominant force in sustaining Brighton’s alternative music scene. It therefore felt only fitting that support for CIEL came from Opal Mag, an emerging talent based in Brighton who has collaborated with both Michelle and Tim. Despite hailing from London, it’s clear that Opal Mag has sturdy roots within the Brighton scene. Much of the crowd were loyal followers who had frequented her previous shows.
Opal Mag emerged as a solo act in 2023 yet her vitality bears no weight over the artist’s assuredness. Undeterred by the fact that the set lists for the other members of her ensemble had been muddled, Opal Mag delivered what can only be described as a stunning opening set. Her Mazzy Star-esque vocals spliced the heavy shoegaze guitar, showcasing a rare ability to spotlight and enunciate diaristic lyrics whilst retaining the depth of a gritty soundscape provided by the accompanying guitar and drums. Try not to hate everything epitomised the unlikely meeting of the Jesus and Mary Chain with the youthful, intimate temperament of beabadoobee.
‘Kitchen Song’ is Opal’s most acclaimed track and was produced with Hindricks of CIEL- an ode to cosy nights at home and “being alone without feeling lonely”. ‘I Don’t Like You, But I Love You’ showcased the collaborative powers of her bandmates. The layered vocals instilled a warmth and nostalgia akin to the melodic power of The Sundays, yet Opal’s unique sound transcends any clear-cut resemblance to such influences. The upbeat guitar riffs are tinged with a melancholic undercurrent that only works to deepen the mystery surrounding Opal’s understated authority. The melody-rich set perhaps yearned for a more receptive audience as the predominantly older male crowd may not have been the perfect spring board for her youthful, yet assured lyrics to find full resonance. The clarity of her performance was deserving of a headliner slot in its own right.
Opal Mag:
Opal Mag – vocals, guitar
Annie Frazer – keyboards and backing vocals
Connor McCorkindale – drums
James Bowden – guitar and backing vocals
Martin Eddington – bass
Opal Mag setlist:
‘Glow’ (unreleased)
‘Looking For’ (a 2024 single)
‘Kitchen Song’ (a 2025 single)
‘Try Not To Hate Everything’ (unreleased)
‘I Don’t Like You, But I Love You’ (a 2025 single)
‘Wasting’ (unreleased)
‘Young Forever’ (unreleased)
‘Love To See You Shine’ (a 2025 single)
CIEL took to the stage at 8:30pm. With no introduction, Hindricks and Spencer set right into playing ‘Call Me Silent’, the opening track of their debut album. From the get go CIEL announced themselves with ferocity. Early technical issues submerged Hindricks’ voice beneath the thick guitar. Yet by ‘Swallowing Your Pride’ the balance had been restored and Hindrick’s refined vocals reached full fruition. Echoing the ethereal lyricism of Broadcast’s Trish Keenan, Hindricks voice is ghostly and hypnotic. It cuts through the instrumentation with a dreamlike yet poised delivery. She feels unreachable yet her aloofness is countered by confessional lyrics that collapse any distance between herself and the audience. Indeed, the crowd’s stillness wasn’t a symptom of apathy- it was reverence. The audience took CIEL seriously. Many were fervent followers and religious attendees of their previous gigs.
Though Michelle told the audience that performing debut tracks from ’Call Me Silent’ , was “exciting yet terrifying,” CIEL’s composed delivery suggested otherwise. Indeed, some of their lesser known tracks were the most compelling. ‘Hold Onto You’ has the least number of Spotify streams from their new album and is slower paced than their rockier trade mark. However, the lucid clarity of Hindrick’s voice against the swelling, synth-washed guitar made for a deeply affecting performance that was warmly received by the crowd. Twinges of Wolf Alice permeated the opening of ‘Will I Ever Feel Again’, while the snappier lyricism of ‘Somebody’ echoed the upbeat tempo of Opal mag’s set, demonstrating CIEL’s refusal to be easily pigeonholed.
Energy built steadily through the performance. The audience reserve melted over the course of the set and culminated in rhythmic clapping during the beginning of ‘Cruel’. Despite the potency of their newer tracks, this didn’t mean that the band’s better known songs didn’t hold up. Their set ended with ‘Fine Everything’, sending the crowd into a frenzy. It is clear that CIEL’s debut album has serious bite. CIEL will continue their tour across the UK before they set their sights on Europe, finishing their run in Lille, France.
CIEL:
Michelle Hindriks – vocals, bass
Tim Spencer – drums, backing tracks
? – guitar
CIEL setlist included:
‘Call Me Silent’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Seeking’ (unreleased)
‘Circles’ (from 2023 ‘Make It Better’ / ‘Rather Be Alone’ double EP)
‘Won’t Obey’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Hear Me Out’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Somebody’ (from 2023 ‘Make It Better’ / ‘Rather Be Alone’ double EP)
‘Swallowing Your Pride’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Shut In My Body’ (from 2023 ‘Make It Better’ / ‘Rather Be Alone’ double EP)
‘Will I Ever Feel Again’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Hold Onto You’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Talking On The Phone’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Far Away’ (from 2022 ‘Not In The Sun, Nor In The Dark’ EP)
‘Naked’ (from 2017 ‘Anxiety’ EP)
‘Baby Don’t You Know’ (from 2022 ‘Not In The Sun, Nor In The Dark’ EP)
‘Stay Along’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Thinking Of You’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Cruel’ (from 2025 ‘Call Me Silent’ album)
‘Talk’ (from 2023 ‘Make It Better’ / ‘Rather Be Alone’ double EP)
‘Fine Everything’ (from 2022 ‘Not In The Sun, Nor In The Dark’ EP)
