TEA London News & Views

Day 3- Caribou

Sore heads, gail force wind and rain rain rain.. Welcome to Day 3, curated by Caribou.

Pharoah Sanders

If you have been following this series of reviews , you should know by now that I, Bunny Ears, cannot do jazz (please see Day 1 review). So to listen to Pharoah Sander first thing in the morning (afternoon) with a sore head should not have been a good combination. And it wasn’t, at first but then the music took a turn into a soothing slow-ish jazz (I can handle slow mellow jazz). It was like Sunday in the park, but only here everyone is chilling out on the carpet, in a dark windowless building, with no sun and away from the rain. O how romantic!

Connan Mockasin

This was one of the band on my must-check-out list for the weekend and this is purely because someone I know has a girlfriend who has a cousin who knows someone that’s in the band (no idea which one). Anyway, Connan Mockasin is absolutely brilliant and they are definitely my favourite new discovery. A little Air, a little Beck, the sound is soft, minimal, pure and very very beautiful. You cannot help but be captivated.

The Ex with Getatchew Mekuria

One is a ‘Dutch post-punk legend’ and the other is a ‘saxaphone-wielding king of Ethiopian jazz soul’. The results well, as jazz as jazz can be. I tried, believe me I tried… but I can’t, I simply can’t.

Let’s go get a drink instead.

Orchestra of Spheres

I have serious issues with bands who wear quirky things on stage, cos more often than not, their so called DIY eccentric I-am-o-so-quirky music is actually O-m-g-are-you-being-serious? And please do not refer to your severe lack of style or the understanding of style as eccentric or quirky. It’s the same reason why there are no stupid people left in Britain, only dyslexics.

Sun Ra Arkestra

More jazz…If I am stuck in a catacomb with this lot, trust me, that will be my nightmare before Xmas (or indeed any other day). One of them is supposed to be from another planet, and some of them have been around since Tutankhamun. Whatever they do, wherever they come from, we definitely worship a different god. O forgive me…

Junior Boys

Yeah.. another must-see for me, Junior Boys seemed to be the current go-to people for remixes. And I can totally understand why. They have created a niche for themselves, making music that adults can enjoy and dance to without having to punch their fist in the air every other second.. I called it ‘Adult Orientated Dance’. Whoever reviewed Roisin Murphy last album and declared ‘Finally, dance music for adults!’ should really get themselves a copy of Junior Boys ‘cos this is finally dance music for adults. O I want more!

Four Tet

Still dancing…Still adult and still very contemporary, Kieren Hebden buy cialis online took everyone up a notch into serious party time. With a more thumping sound and energy, Four Tet is how dance music in a club should sound like (instead of the carry-on DJ sound from the bygone Ibiza years). So put on you dancing shoes matey, the party ain’t over yet.

Caribou -Vibration Ensemble

The final act for the weekend (at least for me), Caribou – Vibration Ensemble is basically Caribou and their friends who have perform during the weekend. And o I cannot ask for a better closing act. One word- Major. This bunny dance and dance like it’s 1999 (or 2000 for some). There was a mellow moment in the middle of the set, but that just make the pick up even more amazing. And when ‘Odessa’ came on, I think I shed a tear of joy. It was absolutely brilliant and the ending, oh unexpectedly perfect. I’m totally shattered.

And there you go, the round up for this year’s ATP- Nightmare Before Christmas.

It has been a total blast. And like I said, I don’t’ like making sweeping statement like ‘ooh this is the best ATP’ but it has been a very very very good one. O sort it. This is the Best ATP!!! (I’ve been to four ok).

BE

Disclaimer: The views of Bunny Ears is not necessarily that of TEA London’s; or that of anyone else’s for that matter.

DAY 2- Curated by Battles

Walls

With their 2010 self titled album picking up Mojo Electronic Album of the Year, what could possibly go wrong with the duo? The answer is, absolutely nothing. With my eyes closed and bum planted on the carpet, their emotional soundscape took me to Norway, Berlin, Hull, Royal Oak (don’t ask me why), and many other places and spaces. It was beautiful, it was lush, it was the perfect start to Day 2.

Washed Out

The electronic theme continues with Washed Out. And basically if you take Walls, turn the encapsulating soundscape down a couple of notches, strip everything else down a little, add in some vocals and then cut everything up into 10 individual songs, and you’ll get Washed Out. It’s a pop version of Wall if you like and I meant it in a good way.

The Field

More electronic..The Field have exactly the same set up as Wall on stage but that’s where the similarity ends. Though both are in the genre of electronic, The Field are a lot dancier but definitely not better. I find their sound tired and dated. It’s like listening to a DJ spinning club music. I got bored very very quickly.

Gary Numan

Is it wrong to say bad things about Gary Numan? I mean he is Gary Numan after all..? Well to be honest, it wasn’t very interesting. Looking very much like Brian Molko (or rightfully the other way right), his new sound is goth. Nothing new, and nothing more. With the exception of Cars in the early part of the set, I felt like I stood there for 40 mins just to listen to Are Friends’ Electric. Sorry…

Cults

Oooh.. I was very much looking forward to see Cults after coming across some of their tracks a few years ago. Live, her voice sounds a lot sweeter and definitely a lot more bedroom pop. Although they didn’t blow me away, I still love what they do and to me, they are what pop music should sound like. Note: I’m still humming ‘Most Wanted’.

Battles

Curator for Day 2, the Battles were fantastic and boy do they work hard! The result; a musical sound that cheap viagra is amazingly dense and frantic with beeps and bleeps coming out of everywhere, followed by rolling thunderous drums and every little squeak an instrument can make. Yes there were moments when it lingered a bit on the same spot but there were many other moments when it felt like all the pinball machines and video games have come alive in an arcade and proceeded to have a full blown sing-song. And that’s what make the Battles a damn worthwhile band to watch.

(And who cares about not having a lead singer when you can just stick people into screens- genius!)

Underground Resistance presents Interstellar Fugitives

Detroit has a saviour and they come in many guises under the banner of Underground Resistance

or is that supposed to be Interstellar Fugitives? Frankly, I haven’t got a clue and the little write up in the booklet just confuses me even more. I don’t really know why but I keep thinking I have seen them before. But anyway, they are pretty good, in a sense that I wouldn’t mind seeing them again but I wouldn’t be rushing out to buy the record or ticket.

And that ladies and gentleman is the end of Day 2.

BE

ps. I did sneak into a DJ session again.. but when Mr. DJ shouted Un, Dos, Tres.. I couldnt get away faster enough.

Disclaimer: The views of Bunny Ears is not necessarily that of TEA London’s; or that of anyone else’s for that matter. (especially the bit about Gary Numan – Ed)

Yes yes .. it’s

the ATP again. And for someone who generally do not make sweeping statement like ‘This is the best ATP ever’, this indeed has been a very very good one.  Below are my two and a half cents on acts that I saw on Day 1.

Day 1: Curated by Les Savy Fav

Marnie Stern

My first act for the weekend. I actually quite like her sound- it has all the kicks and the energy but vocally, it was a bit of a let down. It’s simply too 90′s indie girl-esque for me and severely lacks the punchiness and urgency to move along with the music. And as I stood there, I remember thinking to myself- how great they would sound, if only Karen O is on vocals. Is that a bad thing to say?

Surfer Blood

First saw them when they opened for Interpol at Brixton Academy. Then, I thought the music was ok and they were kinda fun so I thought I’ll check them out again. And I have to say it’s a little disappointing. They look tired and sounded tired, which is not good especially if they don’t want to be just another indie band.

Before you read the next review (and a few more for the weekend), I have to confess that this bunny is not a jazz bunny, a soul bunny nor am I a funk bunny. So, any bands that fall into these genres, I am sorry if I am a little prejudiced. Sorry, I simply cannot help it.

The Budos Band

The first of the many jazzy act for this weekend, The Budos Band is supposed to have fused jazz and rock or something like that. But to me it’s still jazz with your usual break-it-down, break-it-down and what not. Someone once said all musicians make/play music for others, but a jazz musician, they only play for themselves. What can I say? Judging from the crowd, they must be pretty good. It’s men blowing their on horns, what more do you want?

Wild Flag 

RRRiot! My first exciting act!! These girls rock! They are tight as a group and their sound is brash and choppey. I really love their energy but kinda feel they are holding back a little. At the moment, they have Carrie and Mary (both on guitars) taking turns on the mic. And I sense that this is to ‘balance’ their sound. But I would say-Girls, forget balance and go hard. Cos that’s what makes you hot!!

No Age

OMG! OMG! Do you sense my excitement? How should I put it.. OK. If there is an unholy union between John O’Neill(The Undertones) and The White Stripes(both of them) and the ménage à trois somehow produced two offspring, they(the offspring) would be No Age. This is exuberance of youth at its best. If John Peel was there, he would have risen and said, ‘ Let’s hear that one more time’.

Hot Snakes

Ok, I know I blabber on a bit about energy this, and energy that. But the matter of fact is, there are energy this and there are energy that. There are energy that give you the teenage kicks (see what I just did!) and there are energy that is so raw, it’s indigestible. Hot Snakes for me, is not quite 100% indigestible, but because it’s so furiously fast but more or less just stays at the same pace, I just kinda switched off after a few songs. Seems like a nice bunch of people though.

Les Savy Fav 

The curator for Day 1 and boy o boy…Was that a show? or Was that a SHOW??!!! Tim Harrington is God and Les Savy Fav has just officially knocked Ash off my all time ‘Enjoyment Maximus’ gig list. Definitely a must see for all able bodies, as moshing is indeed a pre-requisite. Visually it was a feast, the silver-ed up stage, glitter, sequins, gimp suit, glitter, balloons, more gimp suit, even more glitter and underpants- what more does a bunny need? It was a showman at his best and the music was pure joy. Never a dull moment, the music and energy simply feed you and carry you through to the very end. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Damn, just go see them!

BE

ps. The bunny did sneak into Simian Mobile Disco after that but wasn’t really feeling the music. Yawn yawn…zzz

Disclaimer: The views of Bunny Ears is not necessarily that of TEA London’s; or that of anyone else’s for that matter.