What's the fucking point?

Everything pales into insignificance.

Bears in snake røller bøøts

My brøther the phøtøgrapher:

These awesøme phøtøs taken by the øne and ønly Gørdøn J. F. Squire.

Spøt fire-tasche and fire-wrists.

More fa.a.a.mous business

The continuation in my attempts to become a journalist:

HEALTH

Leeds Met

23/10/2010

It’s hard to find actual words to do Health’s performance on Saturday night the justice it deserves. A lot of experimental music is utterly bollocks and mind numbing, but this was the complete opposite. The set was just so completely different from anything else…ever.

At first, as Health started, the crowd was slightly bemused with these four crazy Americans wildly jumping about the stage. However this quickly turned to awe and enjoyment as the set progressed. It was easy to get lost in the drummer’s ridiculous ferocity and skill or the bassist’s long, silky locks swinging constantly about the stage, which could have easily been the subject of a Pantene advert.

The lack of song structure and the inability to tell which weird noises were coming from where made the performance even more enchanting. Health, it seems, have an expert ability to make noises and feedback sound a lot like songs. And with instruments including something called a Zoothorn it’s not hard to see why.

If this had been Health’s own gig the crowd definitely would have been going a lot more mental. Despite this it was easy to forget that they were support for Crystal Castles as they were equally as good as the headline act.

‘Crimewave’ was possibly the only discernable song from the set list but this by no means cast the other songs in shadow and only served to emphasise health’s versatility. When vocals did distinguish themselves from screams they were oddly Brian Molko’esque although a lot more insignificant and unassuming. However, Placebo haters are not to be put off as they complimented the music well.

Heads exploding and children with guns would have been less exciting to watch than this exhibition given by Health. Bands take note; it’s not necessary to make generic, shit music that’s sounds like everything else. Health show that it is possible to make something different that also sounds bloody wicked.

Health, because you’re worth it.

4/5

Is Tropical

Nation Of Shopkeepers

Thursday 28/10/2010

Who tropical? How tropical? When tropical? Oh, wait, it’s Is Tropical, that band that played at Nation Of Shopkeepers on Thursday night. Although, not many people know this, as there were only about 16 people at the gig, it was outstanding.

Is Tropical are the latest band to be signed to ultra hip label Kitsuné and this usually proves to be a very good recommendation. The dreary support bands did nothing to build the anticipation however and falling asleep in Nation’s most comfortable seats seemed inevitable for the majority of the crowd. It turns out that two weird men standing at adjacent Mac books doing virtually nothing isn’t actually that crowd-pleasing. Nevertheless the veiled faces of Is Tropical coming on stage sparked excitement and as the boys started it was clear to see why they have been signed by the French record label.

The aforementioned veils (bottom half of faces only, none of this bride stuff) provided an extra element of interest to this cool performance. And despite being slightly at odds with the music they were playing and looking like octopuses had attacked their faces, Is Tropical wore them well.

Anyway, this is no fashion review (although the drummer’s bejewelled cap, which could have done the gig by it’s self, needs a mention). Short, fast, noisy songs blasted from the stage while the two lead vocals alternated captivatingly. Striking drum and keyboard riffs interspersed the performance and proved very successful.

All those Leeds inhabitants not in attendance, and they were a lot of them, most definitely missed out. Sixteen doesn’t really make the greatest crowd, however those sixteen loved it and couldn’t give a shit why no one else had turned up.

Is Tropical’s set was short and sweet… wait…short and awesome. But by no means was the ending premature and the band state themselves that gigs are often ruined by overlong set lists. Too true.

Nation provided the perfect venue for this band that are clearly one to watch for in future and who were the highlight of the evening. The lowlight being chatted up by a creepy man that pretended to love Is Tropical then disappeared as soon as they started.

4/5

The Jim Jones Review

Shoot First

Hey. Guess what? Elvis isn’t dead. Or, at least that’s what comes to mind listening to the new single from The Jim Jones Review. Jaunty piano and heavy bass pummel each other like two angry bums fighting over the last special brew. It’s easy to ignore slightly clichéd lyrics when being swept away by a deranged hurricane. ‘Shoot First’ is over more or less before it begins but is a powerful introduction to this band nonetheless.

3.5/5

Uffie

Difficult

Anything from or even vaguely related to Ed Banger Records is always worth a listen and is usually mind-blowing. Uffie’s unique brand of hip-hop electro pop rap takes a slightly different direction to the labels synonymous dirty electro but the similarities are apparent. Produced by SebastiAn, this upbeat, trippy number is sure to delight Uffie fans and educate the uninitiated into a very different style of music, which can only be described as Uffie-pop.

3/5

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