Neon Sweat Box.

Neon Noise Project -MSTRKRFT / Autokratz / Jerry Bouthier / Bloggers Delight
Unit 7, 566 Cable Street, London - 26/04/08

With a lineup that boasted such stellar members of the electro scene such as MSTKRFT, Kitsune's Autokratz and former Boombox resident Jerry Bouthier, I had high expectations for tonight. These feelings were soon thwarted when the arid heat of the venue engulfed me on arrival. You know that sudden blast of heat you get when you jump off the plane? Well that's how it felt walking into the, oh so niche, warehouse setting of Unit 7. But when you're on holiday you're safe in the knowledge you'll be on a beach shortly, tonight all I had to look forward to is the fact that my shirt was soon to be dripping with sweat. You had to feel for the people rocking a look with two layers, well almost sorry. I know that in venues need to try and outdo each other by recreating illegal raves in legal warehouses, but surely they can afford air conditioning?

My other bone of contention with the night was the fact the Autokratz couldn't play for more than four minutes without the power cutting out. Intermittent gaps do not bode well with dance music. Visibly annoyed the band limped through before eventually leaving. With the oven like temperature and patchy sound, I wasn't relishing the prospect of an all nighter. To be fair MSTRKRFT smashed it. When you heard the opening notes of “Easy Love” the crowd, by this point a steaming heap of sweaty bodies, delivered a collective yell.

By the time they dropped “Bounce” condensation was pouring from the ceiling. At this point my shirt had formed a bond to my back and my eyes stung from the hair wax waterfall that had formed from my fringe. I fared slightly better than my friend; who spent the evening trying to see through the permanent layer of steam on her glasses. Even the flawless Jerry Bouthier couldn't keep me there any longer. Neon Noise take note; the lineup was fine but if you don't want the majority of the crowd to leave at 1am, then sort the air con out.

Part Of The Weekend Never Dies.... Well maybe on Monday morning.

Soulwax / 2 Many DJ’s / Tiga / Riton
Royal Festival Hall, London – 24/04/2008

As part of the Ether Festival took over The Royal Festival Hall with an all out assault of the senses. First was the premier of Part Of The Weekend Never Dies, a documentary that captures the Dewale brothers life on the road. The constant cycle of planes, nightclubs and dilated pupils give a compelling window into the world of a touring musician. After his video work with Klaxons, Simian Mobile Disco & Janet Jackson young director Saam Farahmand proves that he is more than capable to make the jump to the big screen.

Watching footage of thousands of people insanely dancing seemed to stir something in the crowd. After Riton’s set had warmed up the crowd the Gehnt residents came on to feverish anticipation. The crowd are on their backs, legs spread and Soulwax are about to deliver an almighty pounding. Their set consists of full band interpretations of their remixes. We get Justice’s ‘Phantom Pt2’, Daft Punk’s ‘Robot Rock’ and The Gossips ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’ re tweaked and edited in the inimitable Soulwax way. Their niche has always been presenting other peoples work in a fresh way. This was yet another example in a set that is clearly the highlight of the night.

Tiga had the unenviable task of following them but kept the crowd entertained before the arrival of 2 Many DJ’s. While many may criticise 2 Many DJ’s for their use of obvious tracks, but no one here seemed to mind. Its far more enjoyable being in a crowd of people genuinely enjoying themselves, than to be in one full of people looking round to see if they should be.

It's A Mystery

Here's the new Mystery Jet's video. It makes me want to sip Malibu, eat Turkish Delights and watch Highway.

Music reaches a new low...

Check out the hilarious video for Riskay Feat. Aviance & Real "Smell Yo Dick". Surely this has to be the roughest song of all time???

I think my favourite part has to be the conviction and emotion that Riskay (or is it Aviance) expels when uttering the immortal line "Why you coming home five in the morning, something's going on can I smell your diiiick"

But what if she drops, whips his piece out and sniffs to find no foreign scent? How would a relationship recover from such a blatant lack of trust? How could she look him in the eye after sniffing his cock? Also is she unaware of the concept of washing ones member? Dick sniffing is by no means the most fool proof way of proving fidelity. Hire a private detective or get one of your mates to come on to him. You’ll save yourself some serious embarrassment and still know whether he’s playing away from home.

WOW

It's sunny at last. Actual proper sun with radiating warmth and everything. I've been fooled a couple of times this year with sun, you know the sort that fools you into thinking it’s warm when its actually freezing?

This is my first summer in London, not that it's a huge deal but I'm really not looking forward to experiencing the tube in July. Especially when I have to get on the Central Line at around six pm. I think I'll be alright in the mornings, Right Guard and various other pong deplenishers will still be keeping its hold on the body odour of the many London commuters. It's the evenings I'm worried about. Fat business men who've gone for all you can eat Pizza Hut at lunch and then sweat out oily pepperoni stink in to my face on the way home.Still there's lots of parks to go to eh?

Kase Interview

Here's an interview I did with Hackney based MC and Producer Kase for http://www.mindie.co.uk/

Meeting people for the first time can always be tricky. Will you have much in common? What about awkward gaps in the conversation? I had a slightly apprehensive feeling when I arranged to meet Hackney based MC & Producer Kase. His team of choice Arsenal had just lost to Man Utd. With the latter being my team. He was running late and I’d just received a text saying “lgt kl bro” (??). This could be awkward.

My fears soon disappeared when we meet face to face. The first thing you’ll notice about Kase is that he stands out. We jump into the nearest pub for a chat and the first question I needed to ask would be what could someone expect from his music? “My music is live and loud. Like I’m live and loud!”. Ah yes purple, pink and bright green aren’t the colours you’d normally associate with the grime crowd. But after chatting with Kase you’ll realise he isn’t one to follow others. So hasn’t he faced any animosity for dressing different? "Not yet. First mates were like 'why your clothes so bright?’ But now they're catching up!”.

I decided to find out how he got into making tunes. After getting into the grime scene in his early teens, running home and taping pirate radio shows was clearly stirring something. So what artists wanted to make him start writing? "My biggest influence in the beginning was Michael Jackson. But then I took it deeper. I don't know where and how but I got into different genres". Anyone whose received a mix tape from him will agree, if you were to flick through his iPod you’d see some expected faces such as Timbaland, Neptune’s & Outkast sitting next to Chromeo, Hot Chip as well a wealth of 80’s electronica. The eighties clearly had a big influence on him, "I’m obviously 80's influenced but we're not in the 80's no more. I've taken it and recreated it". Years of honing his craft on his PC and keyboard Kase has taken his wide range of influences and has developed a sound which sets him apart from his peers. With his bright clothes and upbeat songs Kase has more in common with American acts such as Cool Kids. Is this something he’s done to distance himself from the scene? "You know what. People here are scared to be different, especially where I'm from. But I'm not like that. The concept of my tunes is different. A lot of the time grime sends out a bad message and I try to stay away from that. Like "Stay Fresh" is about trainers”. “Stay Fresh” is the perfect introduction to his sound. Moroder tinged synths with a M.I.A. beat soundtrack his lament to his essential accessory. His is a welcome voice in a scene that’s pre occupied with attitude.

Setting himself apart from the crowd is an important ideal for Kase. I ask he compares himself with in the current UK hip hop scene. "You know what? I'm not the first person to MC, but I'm trying to do something different. I want people to compare themselves to me, take it in a new direction. This is my motto. New words and a fresh sound. That's what I'm about".

Holy Fuck

Holy Fuck – 100 Club, London. 08/04/2008

When you're a band and you decide on the name Holy Fuck, you're not really doing yourself any favours. Media exposure is going to be pretty tricky, you can't imagine the Jo Whiley's of the world uttering that moniker in between playing the latest Kooks single. You also run the risk of entering into "look at us with our shocking name" territory (e.g. Selfish Cunt) and let's face it; no band wants to go there. These factors plus the constant disapproving glares from respective Mothers means you have to agree that Holy Fuck are a pretty brave band. Brave? Yes. Stupid? Well a rammed 100 Club audience certainly doesn't think so.

Stupidity however has not escaped the doorman. His insistence that the "guestlist is full" followed by the inevitable fifteen minute argument means I miss the first few numbers. This is made even more irritating when I eventually get in and see the reaction they're getting from the crowd. Holy Fuck create a chaotic sound that's hard to pigeon hole. Imagine Chemical Brother's "Star Guitar" being covered by Death From Above 1979 and your not a million miles away from tonight's set closer "Super Inuit". However not all the songs sound like they could soundtrack a speed addled Scalectrix session, "Lovely Allen" recalls My Bloody Valentine at their most blissful.

Don't be fooled by the name. Holy Fuck are far more endearing than they'd let you believe.

The Worst Album Title Of The Year.

Look out world. Joe Satriani and his magnum opus Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock have arrived. Entering the lol inducing elite of artists who simply can’t have any honest mates. It's up there with other luminaries such has John Frucsiante's To Record Water for Ten Days, who can forget Limp Bizkit's Chocolate Starfish and The Hot Dog Flavored Water and Supergrass have given us laughter fuel by calling their latest album Diamond Hoo Haa.

I'm struggling to think of one that is worse than "The Satch" though. Why you ask? Well several reasons. Firstly the ridiculous name he's given himself. Does he expect that to transfer to everyday life? "Can I book a table for tonight? Name? It’s Professor Satchafunkilus. That's P-R-O.....” Another bone of contention is his use of the word "Musterion". After a quick bit of Google action I found the literal translation of Musterion refers to that "cannot be known unless it is revealed" (http://isv.org/musings/musing12.htm). This kind of implies that he alone has the secret of rock music. As you might agree this is a pretty bold statement, one that annoyed me a bit.

Although not as annoying waking up in a bed covered in shite from a Chihuahua. Oh yes, I experienced such shock just last Sunday. I don't think you ever experienced terror unless you've woken up to the site of liquid dog crap on your pillow. The fact that I jumped out of bed straight into another pile of it, only adds insult to injury. Take your worst Monday morning and times it by ten, still worse.

Gig Review

Reviewed Be Your Own Pet / Future Of The Left for Kruger the other day. Not too happy with my review though. Need to head to Dalston library, I've been neglecting books for Zelda and its doing my vocabulary (and sex appeal) no favours.

Future Of The Left struck me as a strange choice to support tonight. Happy, bouncy teenage punks they are not and they've never seemed keen to align themselves with buzz bands. Playing to a largely indifferent crowd didn't seem to bother them, in fact I'm pretty sure I saw Falko smile. As always the set was tight and the banter was flawless. A few more nodding heads would've been better.

As for BYOP? Well they're the perfect band for YouTube addicts, energetic, watchable and no song lasts longer than two minutes. The only problem is that things get a bit samey. Tonight's show was like being made to watch that Aussie Party Guy video fourteen times in a row. I should have just left after the first song, after that I only got the same thing again and again. While they have enough energy to keep the Scala crowd entertained the biggest cheers came for older tracks like Adventure and Damn Damn Leash. If BYOP want to keep the masses entertained, they need to up their game.