Hello Cosmos | Hang Linton | Pablo’s Paintings
Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
10th October 2025

Hello Cosmos take their rabble-rousing post-punk out on the road. Louder Than War’s Andy Brown catches them at Hyde Park Book Club.

It’s Friday night and – in keeping with the title of their upcoming album – Hello Cosmos want you to come out tonight. Who am I to refuse such an enticing invitation? The post-punk/ alt-rock outfit recently celebrated their first 10 years with a line-up change, a shiny new single and the news that a new album was on the way. Luckily for me, their celebratory jaunt around the North of England stops off at Hyde Park Book Club just in time for the weekend.

With three chairs set up on stage, Pablo’s Paintings dive straight into some gorgeous, Beatles-esque harmonies. With a plucked acoustic melody, gentle lead guitar and bass; the Leeds-based trio proceed to ease us into a set of laid-back sixties-indebted pop, Americana and folk, their record collections lovingly reimagined in every note. One McCartney-like ballad finds Matt Allison on keys as all three indulge us in some rather exquisite oohs and aahs. They really have those harmonies nailed.

Highlights include a new song called Piece Of Work (“I’m a library that is closed indefinitely” – now that’s a great line) and the immensely fun, No One Picks Hitchhikers Up Anymore. Meanwhile, songs like Alien are short, sweet and undeniably catchy. The songs are consistently well-crafted and immaculately delivered, even if they sometimes owe a little too much to their influences. Still, with a knack for melody like this, Pablo’s Paintings have got things off to a fine start.

Hang Linton is a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm from the moment he arrives. The Leeds-based one-man band is on a mission to win over each and every person in the room: no one’s getting left behind at this party. BADBADBUTGOOD sets the tone as we’re lured down the rabbit hole into a world of kaleidoscopic indie, funky post-punk and lo-fi hip-hop. Throw in some social commentary and a nod to Vic & Bob and you’ve got my attention.

Linton dances around and laughs manically during a song about capitalism and corporate tax evasion. I can’t keep my eyes off the stage and – despite having nowhere near the same amount of energy – I seriously can’t stop smiling. At one point, he plays us a song about dogs and has the whole room barking, howling and growling along. It’s a joyous, endearingly ramshackle and utterly infectious performance. “That’s my cardio for the week,” he admits. Fan-bloody-tastic.

Hello Cosmos are all about the urgency of now; a band intent on pulling you into the present. And – as bandleader Ben Robinson wisely observes – what better place to be on a Friday night than at a gig. While I do enjoy a night in front of the telly, I have to agree that right here and now – gathered in the sweaty confines of the Hyde Park Book Club basement – I’m feeling pretty good. Come Out Tonight goes the title of the band’s upcoming album: and so, we have.

Appropriately enough, the five-piece are dressed in space-cadet boiler suits as they kick us into the stratosphere with The Cosmic Trigger. There’s an almost-evangelical zeal to Robinson’s delivery as he picks up a megaphone and implores us to “take a ride.” Music – he reminds us – belongs to the people. You’re damn right. That sense of community and collective power is a key component for these Manchester-based cosmonauts.

The new line-up sounds impressively formidable while drummer – and Ben’s brother – Simon Robinson acts as the Grohl-inspired engine that keeps the whole thing thundering along. Honestly, the man’s a juggernaut. To be fair; bass, synth, electric violin, guitar and star-shaped tambourine all go at full tilt. The band deals in a big, bold and life-affirming sound. It’s Friday night and – as the singer declares on an explosive Grind Into The Shrine – it’s time to “take life out for dinner.”

Run For President pushes everything into the red with a song aimed at that obscene orange idiot. Well, he didn’t get a Nobel Peace Prize, maybe he’ll enjoy this? While they started out reasonably happy, the last few years have – rather understandably – infused the band’s sound with a fair amount of anger. “You’ll forgive me if I shout,” the singer says before they kick into the billionaire-baiting brilliance of Turn Off The News. Said song includes some particularly cathartic screaming. Man, even I feel better after that.

“You’re champions of the modern age if you’re out at gigs, don’t ever let them take that away from you,” Ben tells us as he looks out at the crowd, “As wonderful as scrolling is…” Hello Cosmos are the antidote to apathy and tonight – swathed in lights and smoke – we’re all in this together. “Look me in the eye because we’re here in this moment,” they shout on the blistering Renegade Love. Like some long overdue system restore, Hello Cosmos have just set me up for the rest of the year.

You can find Hello Cosmos on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

Find music by Pablo’s Paintings and Hang Linton on Bandcamp.

~

All photos by Jim Mumby | You can find him on Facebook and Instagram.

All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War HERE.