Niki & the Dove...UK debut gig at Electrowerkz, Islington
Words: Babooshka
Ronika's 'Forget Yourself' / New New New Order 'Hellbent' / Robyn /
Words: Orac
27/05/11 - Updated
Niki & the Dove's Malin Dahlstrom and Gustaf Karlof were just super brilliant at their opening gig for the UK.
Visually mesmerising and sounding perfect with shades of purple lighting, dancers with ribbons and a tribal pulse to the whole get up, the only disappointment was a lack of encore and it all being over far too quickly. There was mediocre support from I Am Camera and a slightly more interesting Seams but it was clear who everyone was there for as Malin entered stage and many woops went up from the crowd.
For a mid week slot, the venue was comfortably full of a passionate and diverse audience that obviously love and know the band as much as we do at EY. Kicking off with 'The Fox', which sounded better and possibly arranged a little differently to the single mix, started off the soundscape of Scandinavian tribal electronica; the room pulsating under Malin's spell, fantastic vocals, live percussion and crisp keyboards.
'Under The Bridges' sounded phenomenal in a condensed live version while 'Mother Protect' just filled up the crowd with beats and percussion. 'DJ Ease My Mind' is my absolute favourite so far and the atmosphere was collectively amazing as the crowd were singing along.
The new tracks sounded instant and to the same standard of their known tracks, a very promising build up for more releases in the future. The performance was tight and Malin and her dancers did have that Kate Bush style theatre in their dance moves creating what can only be a menagerie of earthy electro, danceable music that tingles in every sense.
The club DJ playing Austra, our other love, was an added bonus and had to be a good omen for the night, talking of which, that is our next live stop, can't wait!
Big thanks to 'Eat Your Own Ears' for putting on such a great band. Intoxicatingly good and highly recommend seeing them live to fully appreciate this new Nordic talent.
We were going to save this track for next week but we are so blinded by its brilliance that it simply couldn't wait any longer. Currently on never ending rotation here at EYHQ, this is the kind of track that can make you fall back in love with electro and all its wonderous possibilities..
Nottingham's Ronika has given some much needed new life back into the genre with her gloriously uplifting new single 'Forget Yourself' and it takes us back to the impact of Les Rythmes Digitales 'Dark Dancer' album back in 1999 and that sense of fun that has been missing lately. No gloomy and stark 'Synth Britannia' throwback nonsense with 'Forget Yourself' and Ronika sparkles in this cheap as chips video like a young Alison Goldfrapp. The Nottingham disco queen's influences include Shannon, Gwen Guthrie, Tom Tom club & early Madonna and you can pick up on all those great names in this beautifully constructed pop song but more importantly - 'Forget Yourself' has mighty hooks. There is also a Middle 8th....so we basically love her instantly.
Ronika is currently getting coverage in NME and Popjustice so there's a slight chance here that she could be electro's biggest and most welcome new thing since La Roux. Keep watching....
(With thanks to Babooshka)
Forget Yourself/Wiyoo EP is released 13th June 2011 on RecordShop
A previously unreleased track from Manc legends New Order has been unearthed from the recording vaults to promote another forthcoming 'Best Of'. 'Hellbent' has premiered online and was originally recorded during the sessions for 2004 'Waiting For The Siren's Call' sessions before the big fall-out between Bernard and Hooky.
'Hellbent' is a surprisingly good effort even if it's stuck somewhere between Bernard's current band Bad Lieutenant and New Order's hard edged 2001 long player 'Get Ready'. For some of our regular readers, it may be a bit too guitar heavy in places but there are some lovely synth chords that kick in once the track gets going. In terms of melody, it's pretty much classic Bernard/Electronic anthem pop with a touch of Madchester/Stone Roses and much more preferable to most of the tracks on 'Waiting For The Sirens' Call'.
Have a listen to 'Hellbent' by hitting the purple play button below.
'Hellbent' is included the compilation 'Total: From Joy Division to New Order' which will be released on June 6th by Rhino Records.
Robyn is set to release another pumpy & robotic cut from her current album 'Body Talk 2'. 'Call Your Girlfriend' is out this week and it's another lovely slice of instantly adorable electropop with lots of clever sequencing and vocal effects. Much admiration here at EYHQ for a single that is technically quite brilliant and very catchy. Robyn is still a few steps ahead of most acts we get to hear so the lack of chart success here in the UK for recent singles is quite baffling.
Turn up the volume and join us for a dance round the living room...
AUSTRA:
FEEL IT BREAK
INCLUDES: SPELLWORK, BEAT & THE PULSE, DARKEN HER HORSE & THE CHOKE
