The 4th in our ongoing series of live reviews details a night featuring 4 diverse and exciting solo acts presented by human_friend, Jesse Alarcon!
1st (er...last) up is...Astrolope!
Working in reverse-chronological order, we closed the evening's festivities with PG artist, Astrolope! This was my first time witnessing Paul Geldart (aka Loud Paul) kick it live solo, tho I have seen him kick it in combos playing drum/percussion duties for both Other Families and Waxlimbs in the past (see those live reviews here (OF) and here (Waxlimbs))! Were it not amazing enough that Paul can work his magic in so many different contexts, the ability he possesses to multi-task in front of an audience is beyond commendable! Want proof?
(Big thx to Peter Gorski for the POV footage!)
Paul is a powerfully skilled drummer and masterful electro-musician (check his gear/live vids in the C-Dept!), so seeing/hearing these two things come together right before my eyes/ears is something truly mindbowling. Not only does the music captivate the audience, but so does Paul's stage demeanour which lends a whole other level of clever 'tainment to the act. Oh yeah, and were that not enough, Astrolope's audio-sync'd lite-rig is a thing of dazzling beauty, complimenting the music perfectly. To say I was blown away would be an understatement -- the energy thru-out the room was fuggin' lightning in a bottle! Ya totally killed it, Paul! (And now it's time for a fan favourite...)
(Big thx to Lex Metcalfe for the POV footage!)
So, right before being intro'd to Astrolope, I'd the privilege of hearing Glue Gun Records artist SAGES perform for the first time! Offering an array electro-dreampop, synth sequences are complimented by quirky, ethereal vox. Again, a performer with a sense of humour, SAGES works the room with grace. The gift for developing emotive musics which capture heart and soul is obvious; the ability to relay that to a live audience is admirable. With layers that just beg you to close your eyes and lose yourself simultaneous with block rockin' rhythms so you'll often have a pulse whilst strolling thru the mental mists generated in real-time — Way to go, SAGES!
Now, Erin Corbett was the only artist to whom I hadn't been intro'd prior, but wooaaahhh! What a performance! Fantastically frantic! The avant-glitchscapes created here are startlingly satisfying! Immediately drawing attn with hyper-syncopated phrases and expertly assembled bleeps & bloops which conjure all the wonder of childlike hyperactivity filtered thru buggy generative software. A set that leaves such a lasting impression is something I eternally look for, and forward to witnessing again. My word, go do the same and check Erin out next time you get a chance! (Ya know, when we can all go outside again 'n' stuff...)
Surely the artist with whom I'm most familiar, Piers Oolvai (aka Nicholas Cooper) has been a writer for the Complaints Dept, radio host with SMK, not to mention collab'ing with yours truly as a member of Infinite Monotremes! What a treat this is to see him don his cape and perform under his artist alias!
(Big thx to Brent O' Toole for the POV footage!)
Walking into the rich, room-reverb'ing tone of Piers' bass clarinet is a near transcendental experience. On full display, the sonic sensitivity of the performer to coax the most delicate passages from the instrument—the warmth of tone may saturate more than the room, but the entirety of your being. Run thru a series of FX, Piers is adept in processing his signal and builds loops and layers, acting in unison to enrich the minds and hearts of every human_person in attendance. Manifesting in a deep collective rumination among the crowd, the success of the composer/performer in his development of defined works encapsulating beauty and growth is clear. The experience is mesmerizing and expression of the artist permeating. It has been a pleasure and an honour, Mr. Oolvai!
And! Last but not least!
The HUGEST thx you to Jesse Alarcon for all the work he does putting on these amazing shows, giving a boost to local musicians thru Glue Gun Records, and so much more! What a gem of splendid human_friend! ❤,
Toys