Author: birminghamreview

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Ed’s… Highlights, Sept ’12

September comes but once a year; bringing Indian summers, a new school term and offensively early rhetoric about ‘…shopping days left’.

But it’s also the start of another seasonal tour circuit, where labels and lucky independents try and get you to spend, spend, spend – encouraging the smashing of piggy banks as the C Word approaches.

But perhaps worth a quick squeal are Irish Indie three piece, pop rock flop hair mob, Two Door Cinema Club (HMV, 4th). The MySpace dropouts are set to UK release their second album, ‘Beacon’, on September 3rd. See paragraph one.

The charmingly titled Espirtito Brum (meaning the spirit of Birmingham), appears in several venues from 11th to 16th – ‘bringing together artists from Brazil, Birmingham and the wider UK’.

DMC champion DJ Switch, the Munchbreak collective, Mark ‘Magoo’ Robertson and Overproof Soundsystem represent the home team; batting basslines and beats to Brazil’s Dea Trancoso, Luiz Gabriel Lopes and Dragoes De Komodo – São Paulo’s 6 piece emcee collective. For more info visit www.espiritobrum.org

The in-no-way-whatsoever-dubiously-titled Dexy’s play the Symphony Hall on the 12th; allowing 24hrs for the nauseating musical tinnitus (or ‘Come on Eileen’ as it’s better known) to subside, before the ambitiously titled ‘Planet Earth in Concert’ (Symphony Hall, 13th).

A ludicrously low £5 door charge will get you to see Roachford (Jam House, 13th) on the same day, whilst a more respectfully priced £12.50 will show you Geno Washington (yep – as in the Ram Jam Band / H&H, 15th) a couple of days later.

But my September Highlight’s highlight is Rachel Sermanni (Glee Club, 27th), bizarrely playing the smaller Studio Room at the city centre comedy/music venue.

Ms Sermanni is on the ‘paragraph one’ as well, with her first studio album ‘Under Mountains’ released on Sept 17th; but I’ll be happily hammer handed to get my mitts on this long awaited debut. For more on Rachel Sermanni, if you don’t know by now, visit www.rachelsermanni.net

Elsewhere you’ve got: Dave Stewart (Symphony Hall, 4th), Sue Denim (O2 Academy, 12th), Cate Le Bon (H&H, 13th), George Michael (LG Arena, 16/17th), Jesca Hoop (Glee Club, 19th), The Maine (O2 Academy, 20th), Richard Hawley (HMV Institute, 22nd), Anneke van Giersbergen (O2 Academy, 23rd), Smoke Fairies (H&H, 26th), Alexander O’Neal (Jam House, 26th), Ultavox (Symphony Hall, 26th), Marc Almond (Symphony Hall, 28th), Tom Baxter (HMV Institute, 29th), Maverick Sabre (O2 Academy, 29th) and Battleship Potemkin by Michael Nyman (Symphony Hall, 30th).

Also worth checking out is Cheek Mountain Thief (H&H, 13th); the ‘alter ego’ of Tunng front man, Matt Lindsey.

One of only 4 UK shows, this is a quarter chance to catch his new project – recorded in solitude on the eponymous North Icelandic mountain.

Which if anyone mentions reindeers or resolutions, is precisely where I’m heading.

You can follow Ed King at www.twitter.com/edking2210

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Review: Global Gathering 2012 @ Long Marston Airfield, Stratford – July 27th & 28th

Words by Chris Webb

ED’S NOTE: Seven days ago, our intrepid reporter returned from Global Gathering 2012. After enduring the Long Marston tailbacks, extreme festival fatigue, fallen camera laden comrades, and a fool hardy approach to on site catering – Chris Webb is safely back in Birmingham. This is his story (queue the bugles)…

On July 27th, Global Gathering returned to Long Marston for its 12th year. EDM festival goers arrived in their droves, travelling from all over the UK for a enormous line up of DJs and live acts – held across seven arenas and Global’s spectacular Main Stage.

The camping this year, as with previously years, felt vastly overcrowded. The drinks were over priced and the rest facilities were struggling with the amount of users and queues, formed everywhere and in all directions.

Yet Global’s friendly festival ravers continue to forgive; helped by headliners such as Armin Van Buren, Chase & Status, Tinie Tempah, Skrillex and Friendly Fires simply rocking the crowds from the drop of their first beat .

Promoters hosting Arenas over the course of the weekend included UKF Bass Culture, Detriot’s VisionQuest, the Global club mum – Godskitchen and London Elektricity’s Hospitality; all with years of experience at delivering high quality shows.

And despite being greatly enhanced by clear blue skies and glorious sunshine (Ed – how much does God cost these days?), I expect a Force 10 Hurricane couldn’t have stopped the general enjoyment; especially in the chill out areas that were rescuing people from packed out arenas (Ed – from a man with the relevant Air Force and chill out experience).

Early on Friday evening I caught Radio 1’s favourite masked ninja, Jaguar Skills, in the UKF Arena. Simply put, this man has few equals on the scene right about now. His mixing and cutting have become legendary in a short space of time. Inevitably, he had the enormous crowd going wild from the start.

With the outside temperature quickly dropping, a superman change of clothing was required before watching Tinie Tempah headline the Main Stage. This was the first time I’ve caught the little big man in action, and it was pretty obvious the crowd adored him; with a great deal of heart and soul put into his performance.

The last act I saw was Armin Van Buuren, closing his own arena (A State of Trance) with a 2 hour set. What can be said? The Dutch DJ/producer delivers every time he appears, and in my humble opinion was the highlight of the weekend.

Saturday saw festival kings Chase & Status close the Main Stage; brought back by popular demand for the headline slot. Having seen C&T a few times before I knew what to expect, but unfortunately found a somewhat lacklustre performance.

Poor sound levels and no stage effort from the band contributed to a very mediocre show; and despite the crowd’s hype they seemed a little lost from the start.

But for me, the Saturday’s highlight were Camo & Krooked in the Hospitality Arena. One of my favourite drum & bass outfits at present, these boys were recently awarded ‘Best Producer’ at the 2011 Drum and Bass Arena Awards; and along with Mr Netsky are the jewels in the Hospital Records crown.

Camo & Krooked played a 90min live showcase, carefully blending new material with previous anthems. The intensity of the tent is difficult to put in to words, with heavy breakdowns and mind blowing drops taking a devoted crowd in every direction.

An hour and half passed before I knew it, dancing every minute with thousands of likeminded ravers. I just hope next year Global organisers give Hosptality a bigger tent; their loyal fans could of filled it 3 times over that evening.

So, amidst a fever from a festival burger, I only have few gripes for the Global promoters. Whilst the layout of the festival internally is quite excellent, and works very well at moving the sheer volume of people comfortably around the site, outside the fence people queued for hours just trying to exit the airbase.

This has always been a problem with events at Long Marston, but with over a decade of experience the powers that Global be need to figure out something. After a long weekend, tailbacks through a rural location are the last thing anybody wants.

But Global Gathering is arguably one of the best UK EDM festivals still going today – possibly alongside Creamfields.

A well programmed show and layout, with a friendly atmosphere that makes the weekend a ludicrous amount of fun. And if I can get past the traffic I certainly be back again next year.

For more on Global Gathering, visit http://www.globalgathering.com

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ALBUM: Delilah – ‘From the Roots Up’

By Ed King

The danger of waiting for something is unmet expectation. And the longer you wait, the bigger the let down.

Delilah’s debut album had been scheduled for release twice (by my counting), before its final issue date of July 30th, and felt frustratingly late. Thankfully it’s brilliant; with the realistic ups and downs I’ll now nitpick my way through.

As the opening track, ‘Never Be Another’, drags grey skies over warped synths – a precedent is set.

Quasi tribal drums punch the back of a distorted vocal loop; immediately dark, brooding and lustrously industrial, before the mellifluous keys that pepper this 12 track debut. With Delilah’s sultry, yearning vocals; her distinctive sound is proffered from the off.

The second track, ‘Breathe’, introduces film soundtrack strings; relinquishing to strong vocals and stripped back lounge sounds. Although having watched the Maida Vale studio recordings, I can’t help picture it being sung any other way.

The build from slow beat to march on ‘I Can Feel You’ establishes a back line production approach, one that carries across the album but remains reminiscent of the thread connecting Florence’s ‘Lungs’.

Before the album ebb of ‘Shades of Grey’ and ‘Only You’; a back to back churlishness that lacks the simple power of Delilah’s other material.

But then, as if a direct slap on the face of immaturity, comes a stunning cover of Minnie Ripperton’s ‘Inside My Love’. And whilst Delilah’s high vocal doesn’t quite match the 37 year old original, her careful layers deliver the rest with a beautiful modernity.

‘21’ bounces out more personal lyrics, ‘I’ll smile and take a picture’, but again lacks the echoing drama of Delilah’s darker side. Before the totally unnecessary ‘Go’; which should do just that, parentheses – and stay there – close parentheses.

The plucking Balearic of ‘Irate’ shows an endearing direction (I foresee remixes of this album track), before the macchiato cherry that is ‘Love You More’. Unbelievable sexy, with or without the French intro, this is Delilah’s upbeat at best. And if you can listen to more than 49secs of it without moving a shoulder, you’re probably ill.

The penultimate ‘Insecure’ opens and closes without note; before the final ‘Tabitha, Mummy & Me’ sees Delilah’s solo keys and vocals deliver starkly personal lyrics. One of the most mature moments on the album, and an approach I’d welcome more of.

Delilah has reportedly ‘hundreds of songs’, despite taking over three years to put 12 of them together. And from exploring her online portfolio I know these include the makings of magic – such as ‘Strong for Me’ or ‘Mean to Me’.

Perhaps I’m too maudlin; perhaps I’m just a sucker for vocals and keys. Perhaps I ‘own a life time of woes but they ‘aint mine’, and I should just let the girl dance.

But whilst ‘From the Roots Up’ is an accomplished debut with true moments of beauty, it feels like a taste of the ambrosia still left to come.

‘From the Roots Up’ by Delilah is out now, on Atlantic Records. For more details visit http://delilahofficial.co.uk/

You can follow Ed King at https://twitter.com/edking2210

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Ed’s… (end of festivals) Highlights, Aug ’12

August, the most musically moribund month of the year.

The last ‘summer’ month of festival bills, every artist worth a cover charge is holed up in a camper van green room or VIP marquee (a beer tent with chairs, to the lay person).

Seriously, check the listings. Who? Huh? Why? I thought they were dead..? It’s pitiful; a despondent byproduct of Festival Republic’s monotonous takeover.

But luckily for us, a couple of bright sparks decided THIS was the month to do something special; to bring a bulging bevy bag of brilliance (it exists) to the bleak seats of Birmingham.

And whilst one perches on the zenith of the fiscal rainbow, the other is free. So like Lisa Simpson’s cooking ‘it all balances out’.

The Flyover Show 2012 

Underneath the Hockley Flyover, Aug 18th

Literally what it says it is; a big sound system party underneath the Hockley Flyover. Which, if you’re not au fait with the underpasses of Birmingham, is the ‘forgotten space’ in the middle of the Hockley Circus roundabout – joining Soho Road and Great Hampton St.

And before you groan under the weight of another ‘creative urban endeavour’, this little beauty has been running consecutively for the past 5 years. And it rocks. My official descriptive.

Previous Flyover Shows have seen Ms Dynamite, Bashy, and last year’s headliners – Akala and Goldie, all play FOR FREE at this very special occasion.

This year’s event “celebrates the cultural contributions of Jamaica to Britain throughout its programme”; which means MAXI PRIEST is headlining, alongside Janet Kay (of ‘Silly Games’ fame), Steel Pulse founder – Basil Gabbidon, Julian Joseph, Wordsworth MC (popping over from Brooklyn), and the man whose idea it was in the first place, Soweto Kinch.

Local support comes from the Deci4life, RTKAL and Lady Leshurr – the Brummie contingent of the 367 Crew and a frighteningly fast lyricist. Keep your eye on her.

The Flyover Show 2012 takes place on Sat Aug 18th, underneath the Hockley Flyover – at the bottom of Soho Road and Great Hampton St.

Running from 12noon until 9pm, it’s totally free to attend.

For full details check out www.theflyovershow.com or their Facebook page www.facebook.com/theflyovershow

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Moseley Folk Festival 2012

Moseley Park, Aug 31st to Sept 2nd

They said it would never happen; now 6 years old, the Moseley Folk Festival is arguably the best annual event in the postcode. Possibly the city.

Beautifully decorated, dutifully attended, stocked to the hilt with overpriced food and drink – it’s a

proper festival festival; held over three days in the picturesque setting that was many a Moseleyite first drunken playground. Something’s never change.

Now held across two stages, this year’s lineup headlines Echo & the Bunnymen, Roy Harper and Steeleye Span; with Guillemots, The Destroyers, Goodnight Lenin, Lanterns on the Lake and the phenomenally understated Rachel Sermanni (if you don’t know, learn – http://www.rachelsermanni.net)

Tickets are a little pricey, between £28.50 – £79 (single day – weekend), but when it’s got a 2,000 capacity limit you’ll be guaranteed a place to sit. Worth every shekel.

Full details at http://www.moseleyfolk.co.uk

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And outside all that outside, there is an indoor alternative – Kimbra is playing at The Glee Club on Aug 29th.

Most recognised in the UK as Gotye’s whispy female vocalist on ‘Somebody I Used to Know’, Kimbra is a big noise in New Zealand and worth a tenner to check out.

Plus Carina Round’s new album, the lustrously titled ‘Tigermending’, has a July/August UK release; info and online sales at http://carinaround.com

You can follow Ed King at www.twitter.com/edking2210

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Global Gathering… first time?

At the end of this week, the ‘mighty’ Global Gathering is upon us once more.

A big noise in the Midlands, quite literally, most Birmingham DJs are clamouring for a set there. We caught up Godskitchen worldwide resident – Paul Thomas, and Gatecrasher resident – Kris Shaw, to ask what it was like popping their Global cherries.

Paul Thomas

“It was a great feeling,” says Thomas about his first Global Gathering in 2004, “I’d only started Djing for Godskitchen a few months before, so playing for club events was still very new to me.”

Now a Godskitchen worldwide resident, Paul Thomas has returned to “the king of festivals” every year since, as well as playing at Gatherings in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland.

“The whole experience was mind blowing,” recalls Thomas about his Stratford debut, “it was the first festival, and by far the biggest event, I’d ever played.”

Arriving on site “about 2 hours early, just to make sure”, Paul Thomas played the 2004 main stage alongside Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren and Fergie.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” says Thomas, “plus the weather so good I got sun burnt while DJing”. And afterwards, got to celebrate his birthday weekend with about 35,000 “crazy, knowledgeable, colourful, happy and loud” people.

“It would’ve been rude not to have stayed and enjoyed the Global Gathering hospitality,” admits Thomas. Quite, job done sir.

Paul Thomas plays the Toolroom Arena on Sat 28th July (his actual birthday), at Global Gathering 2012.

For more on Paul Thomas, visit www.djpaulthomas.com or follow him at www.twitter.com/djpaulthomas

 

Kris Shaw

Kris Shaw graced the Global Gathering decks “playing the VIP room last year”, as part of the Secret Party Project. But despite “playing last, so I was there well before my set”, Shaw arrived at Long Marston “in completely the wrong car park, and had to walk the full site to find the VIP area where I was playing”.

Well it’s not a dance festival first without getting lost in a sea of neon and fluff, as long as no one freaks out… “The guy running our room was the most frantic person there” tells Shaw, “I’m sure the bouncers tried to kick him out at one point.” 

Promoters privilege, as long as the punters were happy? “It was awesome” says Shaw, “I was playing in a wooden hut in a wooded area and it was full when I started my set.”

But how was playing to a room of VIP peers, “I was last, so had freedom to play whatever and try out some different tracks, and they went off. It was a great party”.

So you came, you saw, you conquered; what did you get up after the last record? “I finished, shook a few hands, gave out some CDs, grabbed a burger and went home as the party had finished”.

Ahhh, the jet set DJ lifestyle. So who’s your main contender to this year’s dance festie crown? “Well, as I’m from Birmingham I’m going with Global Gathering,” confirms Shaw, “I had an awesome time there last year.”

Kris Shaw is resident at Gatecrasher Birmingham, and half of Dache & Shaw.

For more on Kris Shaw, visit www.soundcloud.com/djkrisshaw or follow him at www.twitter.com/djkrisshaw

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Global Gathering 2012 takes place on Fri 27th & Sat 28th July, at Long Marston Airfield (near Stratford).

For full details & tickets, visit http://www.globalgathering.com/