Category: Live Reports (Page 1 of 38)

LOSCIL + PATRICIA WOLF Live at Rich Mix

20 September 2025 /

Independent London promoter Baba Yaga’s Hut put on a special treat at Shoreditch’s Rich Mix with a line-up featuring two of the best exponents of modern ambient from North America.

Using a pseudonym taken from the “looping oscillator” function in the Csound music computing system, Scott Morgan launched the project in 1998 and released ‘Triple Point’ , his first record as Loscil in 2011. A graduate of Vancouver University’s School for the Contemporary Arts, his exquisite 2019 long player ‘Lifelike’ was a subtle melodic triumph with its soothing tender tones. A prolific artist with music issued on an annual basis, his new album ‘Lake Fire’ is a darker and gloomier affair with a denser resonance.

Embracing the ambient form comparatively more recently, Patricia Wolf was the front woman of synthpop duo SOFT METALS and released her debut solo instrumental work ‘I’ll Look For You In Others’ in 2022 which captured her feelings of bereavement and heartbreak. Immersing herself in nature and field recordings, the wonderful follow-up ‘See-Through’ brought in some joyous radiance. Although 2024’s ‘The Secret Lives of Birds’ had its darker moments of angst and sadness driven by concern, her most recent avian themed work ‘Hrafnamynd’ (Icelandic for “raven film”) provided the splendid windswept soundtrack to a feature-length documentary by experimental filmmaker Edward Pack Davee.

For her opening set, Patricia Wolf opted to roadtest new material; while many of the pieces were at one both aurally and visually with nature and wildlife, enhanced by avian field recordings and exquisite sound design, one was grander than previously with an unexpected soundbite in her own reversed and glitched spoken word. Closing with uplifting ‘Springtime in Croatia’, the fresh breezy escapism of her live presentation was appreciated by those present.

For his headline set, Loscil explored the brooding territory as showcased on ‘Lake Fire’ with the sinister atmospheres complimented by his visual views on the natural world which were particularly impressionistic to suit the mood. Occasionally there would be deep rumbles acting as backbeats to vibed the mind while drones would provide moments of transcendental and occasionally tense listening.

Ambient material can be a challenge for some to consume live as the talkative disruption at the Vince Clarke’s ‘Songs of Silence’ show at the end of 2023 proved. But either standing, sat on the floor or remaining seated, the almost full house at Rich Mix understood, so were respectful and attentive as they enjoyed a fine evening of an often underrated music form.

‘Lake Fire’ by Loscil is released by Kranky as a double vinyl LP, CD and digitally, available from
https://loscil.bandcamp.com/album/lake-fire

https://www.loscil.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/loscill/

https://www.instagram.com/loscil/

https://www.threads.com/@loscil

https://bsky.app/profile/loscil.ca

‘Hrafnamynd’ by Patricia Wolf is released by Balmat as an orange or black vinyl LP and digitally, available from https://patriciawolf.bandcamp.com/album/hrafnamynd

https://www.facebook.com/patriciawolfmusic

https://www.instagram.com/patriciawolf_music/

https://bsky.app/profile/patriciawolf.bsky.social

https://linktr.ee/patriciawolfmusic

Text and Photos by Chi Ming Lai
20th September 2025

ICE MACHINES II Live in Dublin featuring EMPIRE STATE HUMAN, 100 POEMS, PolyDROID, CIRCUIT 3 + AMALGAMATED WONDERS OF THE WORLD

11 August 2025 /

The Racket Space in the hip Bernard Shaw pub on the canal near Glasnevin does what its name suggests and provides a location for creative expression and artistic exploration.

With electronic music still being a comparatively niche pastime compared with say Berlin, Paris or London, Ice Machines is a Dublin-based collective founded by Brian Christopher (AMALGAMATED WONDERS OF THE WORLD), Peter Fitzpatrick (CIRCUIT3), Brian O’Malley (PolyDROID), Mike Wilson (100 POEMS) and Aidan Casserly (EMPIRE STATE HUMAN) to further the cause with free events aimed at the committed and the curious.

For the joy of synth and friendship, the fivesome have even released an ‘Ice Machines’ compilation album with each artist contributing one original and one cover version in aid of the Musical Youth Foundation, a charity supporting access to music education and instrument learning for children across Ireland. This second Ice Machines event was to launch that collection with live performances from all participants in a gathering of like-minds.

Photo by John Keenan

The day began with electronic instrument demos, the most interesting of which was the SOMA Terra, a wooden cased synth without a conventional keyboard but instead touch sensitive fingertip sensors to control it. There were also live improv performances from various local artists using devices as varied as portastudios, Akai keyboard controllers, digi-analog sequencers and Prophet 800 boutique-modules. This provided an artful audio backdrop for a small record stall that included an oddball collection of second hand releases including ‘Sing Lofty’ by Don Estelle & Windsor Davies, David Essex’s debut LP and Jean Michel Jarre’s ‘Oxygène’ alongside local independently released drum ‘n’ bass 12 inchers!

For the main musical section of the evening, having 5 electronic acts on a small stage was always going to be an interesting challenge logistically so as anticipated, the opening DJ set was occasionally interrupted by line checks although amusingly, one of the acts appeared to forget it was line check as extended bursts of gliding synth wobbled off and on, very loud and very clear!

Photo by John Keenan

AMALGAMATED WONDERS OF THE WORLD opened proceedings with a continuous mix of abstract constructions that was at times ambient and at times techno with many generative possibilities in between. Brian Christopher is also part of Bloop Groop, an inclusive Dublin digital hub established to encourage local modular enthusiasts to “Jam, Hang, Play” and many of their number were present at Ice Machines II to show their support by cheering and / or dancing.

Despite feedback issues, CIRCUIT3 soldiered on through his disco excursion ‘Louder Than Words’, an unexpected rock tinged adventure ‘Major Tom’s Helter Zeppelin’ that included a number of familiar vocal passages and a reimagination of the DEPECHE MODE B-side ‘Ice Machine’ using Dave Gahan’s original vocals that prompted an audience singalong.

Photo by Chi Ming Lai

Having spent over 10 years in hiatus, PolyDROID presented a largely melodic instrumental set which included the excellent ‘Six Of One’ inspired by cult TV drama ‘The Prisoner’, but those present were stopped in their tracks by a vocoder interpretation of Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘The Sound Of Silence’ which was transformed into a stark tone poem.

In contrast, 100 POEMS offered something much nosier and esoteric with (Shock! Horror!) a guitar and a surprising burst of THE WHITE STRIPES’ ‘7 Nation Army’ although a cover of THE NORMAL’s ‘Warm Leatherette’ using a well-spoken computer–generated female announcer kept things on track with the ethos of the evening.

Photo by John Keenan

14 stories high at least, EMPIRE STATE HUMAN finished with a high energetic pop performance that would delight ERASURE fans by opening with ‘Leap Of Faith’ from 2009’s ‘Audio Gothic’ album; however the tempo was later slighted to allow room for a synth cover of ‘Superstar’, the rather dark tale of a groupie which was incongruously made famous by THE CARPENTERS but later given a much more sinister treatment by SONIC YOUTH in 1992.

While there were occasional technical glitches, the time flew by and then like in ‘Mr Benn’, as if by magic, the shopkeeper appeared and it was time to for the Ice Machines posse to vacate The Racket Space for the Saturday club nite DJs to bring their sound system in.

Photo by John Keenan

Dublin has steadily morphed into a wonderful multicultural melting pot and Ice Machine II was a warm friendly gathering of generations. It was particularly lovely see the Philpott triplets from EMBRACE THE CRISIS who are among the longest standing synthpop enthusiasts in The Emerald Isle and are still keeping the faith and passion alive.

While most of those of a maturer disposition went home after an enjoyable evening, the comparative youngsters from Bloop Groop stayed on at the Bernard Shaw, probably plotting how electronic music will mutate in the future… because it will!

ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK DJ set at Ice Machines II:

KITE Up For Life
CAMOUFLAGE The Great Commandment
PAUL HAIG The Only Truth (12” Version)
RHEINGOLD Computerbeat
PLASTIC BERTRAND Tout Petit La Planète
AU REVOIR SIMONE Tell Me (Un Autre Monde mix by MIRRORS)
MIRRORS Hide & Seek
PHIL LYNOTT Yellow Pearl
SPARKS When Do I Get To Sing ‘My Way’? (THE GRID Radio Edit)
GIORGIO MORODER Chase
KLEIN & MBO Dirty Talk (USA Connection)
CERRONE Supernature (12” Version)
JOHN FOXX & THE MATHS Summerland
ALPHAVILLE x SCHILLER Summer in Berlin
AMANDA LEAR Follow Me
KRAFTWERK Computerwelt (12” remix)
BERLIN Now It’s My Turn
FOX Electro People
DONNA SUMMER I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley 7” remix)

ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK gives its warmest thanks to all at Ice Machines

‘Ice Machines: The Album – For the Joy of Synths & Friendship’ is available digitally on Bandcamp at https://icemachines.bandcamp.com/album/ice-machines-the-album

https://www.facebook.com/AMALGAMATEDWONDERS

http://www.circuit3.com/

https://www.facebook.com/polydroid

https://100poems.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/empirestatehumanofficial

Text by Chi Ming Lai
11th August 2025

SPARKS Live In London

20 June 2025 /

SPARKS know how to put on a good show but most importantly know their audience and how to challenge them, to their delight.

While OMD’s live set becomes increasingly cabaret with the tediously insipid ‘So In Love’, ‘Dreaming’ and ‘Locomotion’ now the mainstays leading up to the set climax, SPARKS are happy to revisit their past but not in obvious ways.

Continuing to ‘Do Things My Own Way’ at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, Russell and Ron Mael unleash surprises early on with the return of ‘Reinforcements’ from ‘Propaganda’ and the totally unexpected inclusion of ‘Academy Award Performance’ off the seminal ‘No1 In Heaven’ album. This section gets capped off with the glorious Cossack rock out of ‘Goofing Off’ from 1977’s often forgotten ‘Introducing’ album.

But proceedings fittingly open with ‘So May We Start’ from the musical ‘Annette’ and the SPARKS backing band comprising of new drummer Darren Weiss, his brother Evan on guitar, Eli Pearl (guitar) and Max Whipple (bass) are totally unfazed by the range that is expected of them, playing to sequencers, adapting to changes of tempo and memorising oddball arrangements.

Meanwhile that trio of fan surprises is followed by another Moroder-era stomper from heaven in ‘Beat The Clock’ before the profound plea of ‘Please Don’t F*ck Up My World’ from 2020’s ‘A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip’ reflected the current head scratching state of the world. Ron got his turn centre stage for the first time in the evening with his dry spoken rendition of ‘Suburban Homeboy’ before Russell joined him for the closing theatrical refrains.

‘All You Ever Think About Is Sex’ provided another fan favourite surprise but getting back up-to-date with the new ‘MAD!’ album, that a break-up song like ‘JanSport Backpack’ can be inspired by a bag popular with Japanese girls is idiosyncratic genius to prove that SPARKS have not let up in their eccentric artistic willing.

The HI-NRG romp of ‘Music That You Can Dance To’ prepared everyone for three with a bullet with the first chorus singalong of the evening for ‘When Do I Get to Sing My Way?’, a thrilling ‘The Number One Song in Heaven’ where the 79 years young Ron did his customary tap dance in the instrumental drum fuelled middle eight and ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us’ had Russell punching the air with the vigour like he did on that iconic ‘Top Of The Pops’ performance back in 1974 when he was 25 and hitting them high notes too!

Going right back to 1972 and the second SPARKS album ‘A Woofer in Tweeter’s Clothing’, ‘Whippings and Apologies’ pointed to the almost-metallic climes of when SPARKS first came into being while with the air of a 1975 lost Eurovision entry, ‘Lord Have Mercy’ from ‘MAD!’ provided a wonderfully anthemic end to the main set. The encore included ‘The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte’ but was ‘All That’ from ‘A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip’ that concluded a glorious evening.

Taking the rapturous applause from a very appreciative audience 54 years after they debuted as recording artists, SPARKS still manage to surprise and satisfy. With a career that long, something was bound to be left out and while songs like ‘Amateur Hour’ and ‘When I’m With You’ were notably absent, they were almost not missed in the obvious enjoyment of all present. It was indeed an ‘Academy Award Performance’ and you really don’t want miss to it…

ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK gives its warmest thanks to Holly Turton at Republic Media

‘MAD!’ is released by Transgressive Records as a CD, cassette, black vinyl LP and lenticular gatefold sleeve with blue vinyl LP

SPARKS 2025 live dates include:

Manchester O2 Apollo (21st + 22nd June), Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (24th June), Haarlem PHIL (26th June), Brussels Cirque Royal (28th June), Paris La Salle Pleyel (30th June), Cologne Gloria-Theater (1st July), Copenhagen Koncerthuset (3rd July), Stockholm Grona Lund Tivoli (4th July), Berlin Uber Eats (6th July), Milan Teatro Degli Arcimboldi (8th July), Bilbao BBK Live (12th July), Dublin National Stadium (15th + 16th July), Edinburgh Playhouse Theatre (18th July), Wolverhampton Halls (19th July)

http://allsparks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sparksofficial/

https://www.instagram.com/sparks_official/

https://www.threads.com/@sparks_official

Text and Photos by Chi Ming Lai
19th June 2025

CHINA CRISIS 40 Years of Imperfection Live in London

4 May 2025 /

Released in April 1985, ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ was CHINA CRISIS’ most successful album, spawning two UK Top20 singles in ‘Black Man Ray’ as well as being certified Gold.

The duo of Gary Daly and Eddie Lundon had already achieved chart success with their melodic synth-flavoured singles ‘Christian’ and ‘Wishful ‘Thinking’ while their respective parent albums ‘Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms – Some People Think It’s Fun To Entertain’ and ‘Working With Fire & Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume 2’ were also well received. But ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ was a different musical beast compared to its predecessors. Produced by Walter Becker of STEELY DAN, the influence of his band was more than obvious with a more live soulful feel making its presence felt.

It would be fair to say that if ‘Working With Fire & Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume 2’ was their English album, then ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ is their American one. With the prominent use of noted session players such as PINK FLOYD live guitarist Tim Renwick and keyboardist Nick Magnus who played with former GENESIS guitarist Steve Hackett, it broadened CHINA CRISIS’ musicality while retaining their all-important melodic sensibilities.

Something of a shaky live act in their earlier days, the original ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ tour saw CHINA CRISIS improving on stage with Gazza Johnson (bass), the late Kevin Wilkinson (drums) and Brian McNeil (keyboards) successfully translating the Trans-Atlantic FM friendly vibe of the album to the concert environment. This ultimately was the birth of the entertainers that CHINA CRISIS have morphed into today and 2025 sees 40 years of Imperfection being celebrated.

The location for the London leg is Cadogan Hall, a former church at the heart of Sloane Square in Chelsea and luckily bar prices were not unreasonable inside while nearby establishments were charging £27.50 for two drinks and two packets of crisps!! Eschewing the traditional support act, as an expanded 7 piece including regular sidemen Jack Hymers on keys and Eric Animan on sax plus ‘What Price Paradise’ era guitarist Stuart Nisbet, CHINA CRISIS’ opening set comprised the first side of ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ in order. From the opening bars of ‘The Highest High’ joyously celebrating their hometown of Kirkby, this was an evening of fun and entertainment.

Anyone who has ever been to see CHINA CRISIS in recent years knows that the comical banter between songs is as much part of the show as the songs themselves. Daly was as ever the witty raconteur, explaining that ‘Strength Of Character’ was a rare reggae excursion for the band as the form was extremely difficult for Caucasians from Merseyside to pull off authentically! Meanwhile with a projection of Walter Becker and George Michael on screen, Lundon remembered that on ‘You Did Cut Me’, the sax was played by Steve Gregory who had also performed the same task on ‘Careless Whisper’.

It was unusual to hear ‘Black Man Ray’ so early in the show before the interlude but Daly took the opportunity to plug merch. But as well as this, there were more pressing midlife concerns discussed such as the benefits of trousers with elasticated waists, the onset of baldness and comparing meds while under the care of consultants!

Opening the second section of the show with the second side, ‘Gift Of Freedom’, ‘King In A Catholic Style’ and ‘Bigger The Punch I’m Feeling’ all displayed that rhythmic bounce which characterised ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’, while there was a rare outing for ‘The World Spins, I’m Part of It’ which Daly jokingly remarked was far too wordy in an affectionate dig at Lundon who had written the majority of the lyrics.

After the ‘Flaunt’ showcase ended with the moody ‘Blue Sea’, there was an extended encore of other hits and tales. After renditions of ‘African & White’, the fabulous ‘Arizona Sky’ and the CHIC influenced ‘Tragedy & Mystery’, there was a story about how Alice Cooper played ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ on his tour bus! Of course, there was ‘Wishful Thinking’ and ‘Christian’ plus more anecdotes from Daly, the most amusing of which was him still being irked by CHINA CRISIS always being billed below GO WEST at retro festivals!

Closing with ‘Sweet Delight’ from the most recent CHINA CRISIS album ‘Autumn In The Neighourhood’ which will be reissued later in the year, Daly dedicated the song written about his wife Jean to one of his daughters who was due to give birth to what would be his fifth grandchild 😊

Fellow Liverpudlian Ken Dodd once sang about ‘Happiness’ and that is what CHINA CRISIS provided tonight. In what Daly has said will be their busiest year for live work since their ‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ heyday, if you’ve never seen them live before, now might be a good time to try and buy to get ‘The Highest High’ and “join in the fun”.

‘Flaunt The Imperfection’ is still available as a 2CD set via Caroline from selected retailers.

The 40 Years of Imperfection tour continues:

Edinburgh Queen’s Hall (8th May), Gateshead Sage (9th May), Leeds City Varieties Music Hall (10th May), Manchester Salford Quays Theatre (16th May), Airdrie Town Hall (17th May), Liverpool Philharmonic (24th May), Carlisle Old Fire Station (14th June), Holmfirth Picturedome (4th October), Galashiels MacArts (31st October)

For information on other CHINA CRISIS live dates in the UK and internationally throughout 2025, please go to https://linktr.ee/chinacrisismusic

https://www.facebook.com/chinacrisisofficial

https://www.instagram.com/chinacrisismusic/

https://www.threads.net/@chinacrisismusic

Text and Photos by Chi Ming Lai
5th May 2025

KIM WILDE Live at Cambridge Corn Exchange

23 March 2025 /

To be still releasing great pop records 44 years after your debut is a fine achievement and that is exactly what Kim Wilde has done with her new album ‘Closer’.

Interestingly, the songstress herself has stated that ‘Closer’ is a companion record to her 1988 long player ‘Close’ which saw a revival in fortunes thanks to the hits ‘You Came’ and ‘Four Letter Word’. Coupled with a high profile tour opening for Michael Jackson, that occasion followed a few comparatively leaner years after the huge success of her self-titled debut and the sophomore offering ‘Select’.

Although Kim Wilde has never gone away, apart from a hiatus into horticulture which led to an award for best courtyard garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2005, while she has always maintained a loyal fanbase and continues to perform shows across the world, there is something in the air surrounding her latest work. Produced and co-written as usual by her brother Ricky Wilde with additional songwriting contributions from his daughter and her niece Scarlett, they stood stage right as part of a tight septet. Alongside was Steve Power with a Korg Kronos and Roland keytar while to the left were other long-standing Wilde-men Paul Cooper (bass), Neil Jones (guitar) and Jonathan Atkinson (drums).

With a funky opener in ‘Hey Mister Heartache’, the initially tentative audience were all on their feet for ‘You Came’, a classic pop tune in anyone’s book. The introductory showcase of the ‘Close’ album also featured ‘Never Trust a Stranger’ but slotting in perfectly were songs from ‘Closer’. The powerful ‘Trail of Destruction’ highlighted environmental and existential concerns while providing reinforcements was the synth rock statement of ‘Midnight Train’. What was particularly impressive was how Kim Wilde’s backing band left no rest for the wicked, energetically seguing straight into the next track without batting an eyelid.

Taking a breather, the audience sat back down for the soulful ballads section that included ‘Love’s a No’ and ‘Four Letter Word’. While the feisty Kim and Scarlett duet ‘Hourglass Human’ didn’t get the crowded immediately back on their feet, the evergreen ‘Cambodia’ did! This was followed a barrage of the early hits ‘Water on Glass’, ‘View From A Bridge’ and ‘Chequered Love’ which gave plenty of opportunities for singalongs and “Molly Ringwald in ‘The Breakfast Club’ style dancing”. Again, the band co-ordination in the segues made sure there was no sleep ‘til Indigo2!

A rocked-up ‘Love Is Love’ added some 21st Century momentum to proceedings and if there’s a song that could win Eurovision again for the UK, it is this one. Meanwhile, ‘You Keep Me Hangin’ On’ brought Motown and plenty of “woah-oh-oh-oh-oahs ” into the room.

For the encore, it was time to party again like it was 1981 and while the new wave power pop of ‘Scorpio’ is from the new album, it could have easily been mistaken to be a lost song from ‘Kim Wilde’. And as the band gathered in front the drum riser preparing to do battle for the final time of the evening and sharing a similar electronic pulse, there was only her fabulous signature tune ‘Kids in America’ left to do!

In fine voice and exuding her charming down-to-earth presence, joyous is the only word that could be used to describe the warm family atmosphere resonant throughout this enjoyable evening. If you’ve never been to Kim Wilde show before, now might be a good time to change that 😉

With thanks to Sacha Taylor-Cox at Hush PR

‘Closer’ is released by Cherry Red Records as a CD, black vinyl LP, limited edition white vinyl LP and download

‘Love Blonde: The Rak Years 1981-1983’ is also available on Cherry Red Records as a 4CD boxed set

Kim Wilde plays Lets Rock Exeter 2025 on Saturday 28th June and Tring Chilfest 2025 on Saturday 5th July

For more information on European tour dates and how to purchase tickets, visit https://www.kimwilde.com/tour-dates

https://www.facebook.com/officialkimwilde

https://www.instagram.com/kimwildeofficial/

Text and Photos by Chi Ming Lai
23rd March 2025

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