Category: Reviews (Page 129 of 206)

AVEC SANS Live in London

1 October 2017 /


Electropop duo AVEC SANS gave a wonderfully assured performance on the final night of their UK tour in London’s Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen with a dazzling combination of sound, colour and passion.

Since the release of their well-received debut album ‘Heartbreak Hi’ in June 2016, Alice Fox and Jack St James have been very much in demand for live shows where AVEC SANS have made the biggest impression.

While the pair have been compared to CHVRCHES and PURITY RING, Fox’s bittersweet vocal expression has a deeper resonance compared to the occasionally shrill voices of Lauren Mayberry or Megan James. Meanwhile in a concert setting, St James’ use of three back flipped Novation Launchpads alongside a Nord keyboard and electronic drums has solved that age old authenticity conundrum in electronic music to clarify what is live and what is Memorex…

Beginning with the moody synthwave of ‘When You Go’, cheers greeted the familiar blips of ‘Perth’, AVEC SANS’ electro cover of BON IVER’s folkie lament inspired by the late Australian actor Heath Ledger.

With its gliding arpeggios and spacey vocal manipulations, ‘The Answer’ proved equal to ‘My Mistake’ Mercedes-Benz favourite NINA, while the driving pop of album highlight ‘Hold On’ ensured the enthused dancing in the first few rows was maintained.

‘Resonate’ and ‘History’ both explored the offbeat sub-bass whips of PURITY RING before a catchy synthpop tune with an essence of CHVRCHES was offered in the marvellous ‘We Are’.

AVEC SANS pay close attention to detail in their live presentation from Fox’s glowing mic lead to the effective use of St James’ flashing controllers as both visual and connective tools; the platinum blonde singer punched the air with aplomb while the baseball capped instrumentalist multi-tasked with a joyful demeanour.

The swirly ‘Shiver’ and the R’n’B tinged fervour of ‘Heartbreak Hi’ title track concluded an energetic set but now established as a fan favourite, there was the bonus of an enjoyable cover of the Kate Bush classic ‘Running Up That Hill’ as an encore.

Having impressed with their crisp debut album, AVEC SANS now move onto their follow-up long player. With all the experience acquired since their formation in 2012, Fox and St James have the potential to deliver an opus to take them to the level of their lauded Scottish and Canadian contemporaries.

Professional, organised and hardworking, many acts could learn from AVEC SANS’ approach to live presentation, visual image, media engagement and audience networking. It may seem obvious to have a range of photos for press into organised folders but quite a few bands don’t even manage that! With these basics sorted, AVEC SANS have climbed the first steps of the ladder.

The album ‘Heartbreak Hi’ is released by Beverly Martel, available via the usual digital outlets as well as CD and vinyl LP

http://avecsans.com/

https://www.facebook.com/avecsansband/

https://twitter.com/avecsans

Text and Photos by Chi Ming Lai
1st October 2017

SHOOK Tidal

28 September 2017 /

SHOOK is a composer, producer and musician based in The Netherlands. 

Real name Jasper Wijnands, vintage keyboards within his studio set-up include a Polymoog, Siel Orchestra, Yamaha DX7 and Roland Juno 60, while there is also more modern hardware like the Dave Smith Prophet 12 and Nord Electro 4.

His electronically tinged work is influenced by jazz, funk and anime soundtracks; this led him to be commissioned to remix Ellie Goulding’s ‘Lights’ in 2011 and JAMIROQUAI’s ‘Lifeline’ in 2013. Despite this, SHOOK’s most recent album ‘Continuum’ has captured a more moody virtuoso ambience, recalling AIR and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s ‘async’ long player which was released earlier this year.

A key track from the ‘Continuum’ album, ‘Tidal’ has been accorded its own visual presentation directed by Anise Mariko of mikineko productions, who was responsible for the ‘Been Waiting’ video for COMPUTER MAGIC. Filmed by Sony Ambassador Ivan Wong, it is a picturesque travelogue capturing the essence of Tokyo, Hong Kong and New York.

With a musical backdrop of gentle marimba-like textures and soothing synths, cityscapes, malls and markets are captured alongside more serene gardens, forests and cultural focal points.

Mariko said to ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK: “We explored rooftops and alleys around the world. Shook has been hospitalized for the past year and is a dear friend of ours – We wanted to dedicate the freedom and beauty of this video to him”.

Wijnands was diagnosed with Pancreatitis in 2016, but is determined to continue making music as he makes his recovery. ‘Tidal’ is a fine projection of his positive spirit in the face of adversity.

‘Tidal’ is from the album ‘Continuum’, available in CD, vinyl LP and digital formats directly from https://shook.bandcamp.com/album/continuum-album

https://www.shookmusic.com/

https://www.facebook.com/shookshookshook/

https://www.instagram.com/shookmusic/

http://www.mikineko.com/

https://twitter.com/radioclub_jp

Text by Chi Ming Lai
28th September 2017

SARAH P. LoveStory

27 September 2017 /

Greek electropop goddess SARAH P. releases one of the first songs she ever wrote as a single.

Of ‘LoveStory’, she said to ELECTRICITYCLUB.CO.UK this year: “I struggled for many years to find a love that’s pure and not one-sided. I suffered multiple heartbreaks – they’re countless, really, and I was so defeated that when real love came to me, I was incapable of even realizing it. For a long time, I was trying to destroy it, before it destroyed me. That being said, my partner (who would later become my husband) was extremely patient with me. He was able to tear down my defence walls and ‘fix my wounds’”.

Although the passionately afflicted song from the debut album ‘Who Am I’ is about how hearts can be broken into pieces by love interests, there is also a sense of airy optimism and that is reflected in the serene visual accompaniment. Filmed by award-winning director Eftychia Iosifidou and featuring SARAH P. with dancer Clio Arvaniti, friendship and sisterhood are two of the video’s key themes.

The beautifully hazy imagery captured of the bond between the two girls in ‘LoveStory’ recalls moments from the acclaimed British independent movie ‘My Summer of Love’, which featured a soundtrack by GOLDFRAPP. It also starred BAFTA winner Natalie Press and included the theatrical film debut of Emily Blunt, now a Hollywood star.

SARAH P. concludes: “It’s a love song that can be sung to a mom, dad, child, sibling, friend, pet, lover; whomever / whatever’s cheering you up needs to receive this love letter”

‘LoveStory’ is from the digital album ‘Who Am I’ released by EraseRestart Records

http://sarahpofficial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sarahpofficial/

https://twitter.com/sarahpofficial

Text by Chi Ming Lai
27th September 2017

OUTERNATIONALE ON EP

25 September 2017 /

OUTERNATIONALE is Scottish musician Derek Miller and while ‘ON’ is his debut EP release, he has already worked with several key names from the post punk era.

Miller boldly recorded a cover version of JOY DIVISION’s ‘Atmosphere’ featuring the vocals of Paul Haig which met with the approval of Peter Hook himself and was released on Haçienda Records in 2011. Meanwhile, he mixed and co-produced ‘Dark Light’, the most recent album by cult Factory band SECTION 25. The ‘ON’ EP boasts four tracks, three of which feature the dreamy voice of Jenny Electrik from electro rock duo DYNASTY ELECTRIK.

The pairing of her with Miller really comes into its own with the magnificent ‘The Moments Before’. With hints of Madonna during her William Orbit phase, the driving syncopated rhythms act as the backbone to a combination of seductive vocals and hypnotic electronics.

‘World’s End’ is less frantic and gives Electrik plenty of space for self-expression amongst Miller’s synths, while the complex rhythm construction of ‘Careless’ provides structure without being overbearing with a suitably breathy performance

To close ‘ON’, Miller is left to run free on his own with the excellent instrumental ‘Path’; reminiscent of Gary Numan, it is however attached to much more rigid electro rhythmic pattern than perhaps the former Gary Webb would usually indulge in.

In all, ‘ON’ is an impressive debut offering from OUTERNATIONALE that acts as a fine shop window for Derek Miller’s talents as a producer and collaborator.

‘ON’ is released as a download EP by 5 Pin Din Recordings

https://www.facebook.com/outernationale/

https://twitter.com/outernationale

Text by Chi Ming Lai
25th September 2017

IAMX Unfall

23 September 2017 /

What could possibly beat ‘Metanoia’ or its Addendum? What could further elevate Chris Corner aka IAMX to higher heights? ‘Unfall’ can…

The once retiring SNEAKER PIMPS brain, reinvented himself into the innovative, inspiring, unusual, unforgettable and adventurous and he’s done it over and over, since the debut ‘Kiss & Swallow’. With every subsequent release, the now LA based, sound magician, proved that electronic music can wear many outfits and parade all colours; not just the black.

Instrumental albums have been flowing in nicely as of late within the genre, with many of Corner’s colleagues excelling with their messages conveyed over “no words, just music” provisions, notably Norway’s finest APOPTYGMA BERZERK, UK veterans BLANCMANGE or the artier GAZELLE TWIN to name a few.

Of course, voice free releases can be tricky and may come across as self-indulgent, difficult to grasp expressions, but with so many artists now deciding to air their political views over endless crises, US presidential elections or Brexit, it’s actually quite refreshing to seek your own inspirations deduced from rawer forms.

Still, ‘Unfall’ isn’t totally stripped of vocal. It’s not bare of emotion; it’s IAMX at his finest, basking in the LA sun, with an occasional shadow and thoughtful moods, particularly showcased in the quite beautiful ‘Polar I’. Gentle piano, analogue synth, iridescent samples and glittering melody droplets, create an unforgettable experience of electronic calm.

As the opener, ‘Little Deaths’ proceeds to set the mood to minimal techno analogue style, or at least that’s what one is to think to expect. ‘Teddy Lion’ invites to a drug induced dance, with its haunting rhythms and the club feel, dropping suddenly onto the demure ‘11.11’. Corner has certainly studied Alan Wilder’s style of production here; here go the fulfilling noises, gratifying voices, haunting expressions and meaningful pitch changes.

Corner opens his ‘The Noise Cabinet’ in a gritty, rough manner, exposing the possibilities to experience your own paradigms and create your individual ‘Hysteria’. This could have been a ‘Metanoia’ track, had it had an adequate lyrical content. ‘Trust The Machine’ translates itself into the mechanical, machine style paraphrase of reality, inspired by the early DEPECHE MODE instrumentals. The Machine brings the noise, the noise brings feelings, the feelings are plentiful, the journey is complete. Sounding a bit like the raw works of THROBBING GRISTLE or EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN, ‘TickTickTick’ awakens the primal electronic machine once more: how necessary, how very now.

One cannot “shake the disease” that is ‘The Disease To Please’; Corner’s disease is to please, particularly in the closing ‘Windschatten’. Like droplets of lead over liquid surface, like steam roller over the clouded sky, like a butterfly trapped in tartar; who can deduce the meanings? What’s the answer?

Yes, experimental albums are very difficult to embrace. Are they “the rub rub” on the artist’s ego? Are they a mish-mash of noises that are to mean nothing? Maybe with some they are. Not with IAMX. Corner inspires, transpires, transfixes and leads forward; evolves. Go ahead, build your own ‘Unfall’, create your own image, make it yours… the all the necessary tools are there, grab them!

‘Unfall’ is released in CD, vinyl LP and digital formats, available from https://www.musicglue.com/IAMX

https://iamxmusic.com/

http://www.facebook.com/IAMXOFFICIAL

https://twitter.com/IAMX

https://www.instagram.com/iamx/

Text by Monika Izabela Trigwell
Photo by Gretchen Lanham
23rd September 2017

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