Archive for June, 2009
2 Many Djs, Live Review
So, a few week’s ago we went to pull some shapes to Belgium’s finest tuxedo wearing DJs 2 Many Djs. For the unfamiliar amongst you, check out my lowdown on the chaps here. My live review is quite heavy on the youtube video’s but such was the nature of their set up I didn’t think I could do them justice without these! (PS, thanks to the users who posted these videos!)
image from Brixton academy show on the tour
So, we packed our bags, ticked off our checklist (tickets – check, dancing shoes – check) and Clio-ed our way across the pennines where 2 Many Djs were playing The Manchester Academy (Saturday 6th June 2009). On the way, we passed signs for the Oasis ’supergig’ which was taking part at Heaton Park in the city the same night, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the 70′000 poor buggers who were going to be stuck there instead of the 2 Many Djs gig!
The support on the night came in the form of JDH & Dave P, Zombie Nation (of kernkraft 400 fame), and Riton. We arrived part way through Zombie Nation’s set and he was warming the already large crowd up nicely for the main event. Riton too was laying down some nice beats to get the crowd going but to be honest, we were using this time to top up our alcohol levels before the brothers from Belgium hit the decks. And so it came time for 2 Many Djs to enter the fray, and they did so dressed in tuxedos which left me wondering if they got them dry-cleaned after every show?
I had heard beforehand that this tour was to include a brand new visual aspect from the guys, and that came in the form of a big screen directly behind them which was displaying animations based on the original art works of the tracks they were sampling. This vj-ing was a great addition to the their live performance, the simplistic yet clever use of artwork mashup complimenting the tracks the guys were spinning.
2 Many Djs, Not Enough Time
The other Saturday (6 June 2009) we trotted across to the red side of the pennines to catch the multi-talented, multi-aliased 2 many Djs (or is it soulwax?) at the Manchester Academy. After the customary wrong turn finding the hotel, and the vastly overpriced taxi to the venue (damn you 6-seaters!) we had a brilliant night.
First, for those of you who need to catch up, a little background, concentrate because it get’s a bit messy!
(To skip the background and go straight to the gig review get your click on here.
2 Many Djs are made up of Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele who first found international fame as part of Soulwax, their full on alternative electro-rock band who have album releases spanning back to the mid 90s. Soulwax releases “Leave The Story Untold” (1996) and “Much Against Everyone’s Advice” (1998) was followed by 2002’s first release under the 2 Many Djs guise, “As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2.”
“As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2.” is a fully licensed mash-up album whose tracklisting can be found here. A lot of 2 Many Djs remixes failed to make the album due to problems obtaining the rights to the original tracks, but many of these have cropped up on the unofficial releases (As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 1 and Pt. 3-11) which are in fact, bootlegged radio shows they have performed for various stations throughout their time. There was also a bootlegged recording of a mix for BBC Radio 1 in 2005 released under the moniker “50′000′000 Soulwax Fans Can’t Be Wrong.”
Ok, so, after 3 more official Soulwax releases, “Any Minute Now” (2004), “Nite Versions” (2005) and “Most of the Remixes . . .” (2007), there followed a documentary release “Part Of The Weekend Never Dies.” Of course, in between these were the countless number of remixes, radio stand-ins and live shows they performed all around the world, and with that, we should be just about up to speed, well, sort of.
And so, to the present (which will be the past when you read this!) and the June 2009 tour of the UK. We caught them at the Manchester Academy on Saturday 6th June 2009, click here for the review.
Also a word on their immediate future, they have said they plan to release 24 new compilation albums which will be put out their via their own online radio station called, strangely enough, Radio Soulwax. At the time of post this has yet to go live but I have heard on the forums over at soulwax.info that it is expected to launch this month.
Ok, peace out, i’ll leave you with the soulwax edit of MGMT’s Kids. Remember, check out my gig review for these guys here!
MGMT – Kids (Soulwax Edit)
Singapore Dispatches – Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists
Greetings from Singapore, the Lion City. I arrived here during the final week of the Singapore International Arts Festival, and thought it only couth to sample some of its musical offerings as I am here. The headliners for the final week are Russian classicalists, viola-virtuoso Yuri Bashmet, leading the Chamber Orchestra Moscow Soloists, accopanied by the Moscow State Chamber Choir. Now, I know classical music isn’t the usual remit for this blog, however, I thought it would be an opportunity missed to go along and not attempt to re
view this act, so here goes…
First, to set the scene. The performance was held in the iconic Esplanade. It really is a spectacular piece of architecture. Inside, the main concert hall resembles a cross between an upturned Noah’s arc, and a wooden cathedral, and the acoustics are excellent, I’d say better than the Albert Hall’s from past experience. During the interval I wandered out to the bar to grab a swift beer, which enjoys fantastic views overlooking the marina which is really quite stunning lit up at night.
I really enjoyed most of the programme. It opened with Stravinsky’s Concerto in D for strings, which sounds very contemporary despite it being over 60 years old. The first movement, Vivace, really stood out, a frantic, bustling piece, which conjured up images of a busy metropolis such as Singapore, and with a fantastic recurring discordant motif which feels like it’s always teetering on the brink of crashing, but remains beautifully balanced throughout.
Chew Lips are wearing your body out
All work and no play makes Nastino a dull (and infrequent) blogger.
Of course, when play is your work, you can have as much fun as singer has Tigs has fronting her band.
After standing through a pretty awful thrash metal band at Brighton last month, my spirits needed lifting and my ears were in need of some vocal medicine. Chew Lips were next up and they were able to succeed on both fronts.
Chew Lips are a 3-piece electro-pop outfit from London who make music to dance to, not in a smack my bitch up way, it’s more of a Hot Chip vibe, or a more chilled out CSS. Infact, debut single Solo (see below) gets carried along by a wave of beeps, blips and beats much like Kylie’s Slow, only it’s much much cooler.
Of course, it’s inevitable (and probably fair) that they are compared to another female fronted 3-piece in the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, but I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. Tigs is every bit as enthusiastic as Karen O and Chew Lips’ music has a slightly more electro sound than YYYs which suggest there’s certainly room for the both of them.
At the Brighton show singer Tigs got excited enough to climb on to a speaker set before realising she couldn’t get down without utilising the ‘jump off and fall over’ maneuver, great stuff. I then spent the latter half of the show wondering if she had an actual beauty spot or it was stuck on, it was only when I bumped into the band at a nearby chippy afterwards I realised it was a little heart drawn on her cheek.
These guys are not sneaking by too unnoticed. Steve Lamacq has already tipped them to succeed in 2009, a quick listen at their myspace should help you see why. Check out debut single Solo below.
The Pragmatic – synth led pop
Whilst sitting about today not doing very much I stumbled across a track by St. Louis band The Pragmatic. The track, Circles (see media player below), carries you through on a wave of synth led bass and melody the likes of which I last heard on tracks from MGMT.
A quick look into the band shows that I appear to be pretty late to the game, they apparantly had a number one track on Hype Machine over a year ago. So, did they fail to live up to the hype? Maybe, or maybe they have spent the time refining their sound for an assault on the mainstream.
Andre Anjos from the band has musical pedigree after founding the Remix Artists Collective (RAC) and subsequently putting out many remix’s to an appreciative web audience. Having said that, I did not appreciate The Pragmatic’s murderring of Justice’s Phantom found on their myspace.
They have recently released a free EP which you can download from here, this EP is led by the title track Cirlces and includes 4 more tracks which show good versitility in their use of synths and loops.
In truth, although this EP is a solid listen, I’m not holding my breath that they will come over to the UK and make an MGMT sized splash anytime soon. But, if they can capture the finer points of EP tracks Circles, You Blame Me (see media player below) and Academy, and work these in to a full lenghth album, then I for one would welcome them with open arms.
The Pragmatic – Circles
The Pragmatic – You Blame Me
Electronic mayhem by Three Trapped Tigers
First, a warning. If you’re of a nervous disposition I would recommend that you stop reading here and forget the band mentioned exists, their music can only cause you pain.
For the rest of you, imagine a sound somewhere before the skittish melodies of Holy Fuck meets the chaotic mess of a sound from Sikth, that’s where you’ll find this unsigned UK 3-piece.
Their debut release is the self titled EP which contains 5 tracks simply named “untitled 1,” “untitled 2,” … and so forth. In truth, each track could be a mini album in it’s own right, moving from edgy guitar, through apprehensive synths, to hectic, agitated beats and back again, and again, and possibly again before the song is over.
Each section of the songs sounds great on their own, but that’s only half the battle, with the varying styles and tempos within each song the arrangement is the key to making an listenable experience. Great news! They’ve pulled this off with aplomb!
Their work is something that needs listening to, I wouldn’t recommend that you use it as background music while you do the washing up, my guess is that this will probably result in some broken crockery. I would, however, recommend that you purchase this EP, leave yourself free from distractions, plug in some good quality headphones and play this through with the attention it deserves.
The band itself comprises of Tom Rogerson on piano, keyboard and occasional vocals, Matt Calvert on guitar, synths and electronics and Adam Betts on drums (and a bit more electronics). As talented as they collectively are, my attention was drawn to drummer Betts when I saw them as part of this years Great Escape Festival in Brighton. The live drummer gave the guys a presence that few electronic artists I’ve witnessed can match, and Betts keeps up the pace and intensity superbly.
You can listen to the EP at their MySpace or get a feel for them with the lead track below (untitled 1).
Three Trapped Tigers – Untitled 1
Tunes to Travel To
The success or failure of any holiday or long trip abroad hinges on many things – Have I got my passport? Has the hostel/hotel been booked? Do I know where I’m going once I get there? Have I got enough money? – These are all very important issues, but one of the more crucial questions which can either have an adverse effect upon holiday vibe or enhance the experience is “What music should I take with me?”
Planning your holiday playlist is not a task which should be left to the last minute, like say, packing! Much care, thought, and attention needs to be invested in it. You need to think about the place you’re going to and match your choices accordingly. For example, if you are planning a trip to the top of a tall landmark like say the Eiffel Tower or Niagara Falls, then it might not be a good idea to have Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ suddenly blaring out of your headphones! Clearly Balearic grooves are more fitting for sun, sea and sand rather than a skiing retreat to snow-fettered mountains, for which something post-rock would perhaps be more apt. For a relaxing retreat, chilled-out ambiance is probably more desirable than banging party anthems.
