Music
Originally published on Friday, 3rd April 2009
Hyperpotamus, Apes and Androids, Brother Reade
Hyperpotami, Apes, Androids, and a Brother who can Read(e)? With our club/music man, J Saintil, UJ find out what’s going down on the audio scene. All strictly Off The Record, of course.
Hyperpotamus
On a recent trip to Madrid I was lucky enough to see this rising a cappella wonder perform live. Jorge Ramirez-Escudero, as he’s also known, loops his voice to create multi-layered tapestries of sound that blend African folk, pop, beat boxing, and yodeling with irrepressible humour. One would like to put this into a tight little package such as ‘The Jamie Lidell show in La Mancha’ or something, but his highly intelligent and masterful compositions (which belie his classical training) makes one lean more towards likening his work to Warp’s early output. Daring, brilliant and thoroughly independent, he’s the most interesting artist I’ve heard for a good few years.
Jorge Ramirez-Escudero
Apes & Androids
Sounding like the ultimate battle between bygone film icons perfectly poised for spin-off and gaming syndication rights (Dr Zaius from Planet of The Apes against Leon from Blade Runner is one combo), this is actually the roll ‘n’ glam rock badness of New York’s Brian Jacobs and David Tobias. Sounding like they’ve been locked in a room and force fed ELO, Bowie, Tom Tom Club, and, strangely enough, some Antony and The Johnsons whilst watching Carpenter horror flicks, they’re certainly having a hell of a lot of fun.
Catch them, complete with props and audience interaction (kazoos anyone?), on Thursday April 9 at Fabric for Kill ‘Em All, or Tuesday 14 at the ICA .
Brother Reade
Okay, now these kids aren’t brand new or anything, but when it comes to hot hip hop, Bobby Evans and Jams F Kennedy are it. HelL.A. residents making beats tighter than bankers who lost their bonuses and rhymes so slick one suspects Rick may consider changing his name, their ‘07 debut, Rap Music, was by far the dopest album to touch the virtual shelves that year. So, why do they get UJ inches bar that fact that they’re fresher than tomorrow’s strawberries? Why, their new track ‘Lucifer’ – that’s so hot, one suspects it’s been forged in the third circle. Ah ha, you guessed it. HelLA. So necessary.
Brother Reade
TOP 5: What UJ’s loving right now…
Balearic rerub: Fever Ray ‘When I Grow Up’ (Version By Lissvikk) [Rabid] – A blessed out remix of a brooding cut. Perfect spring playlist fodder.
Dark garagey business: Detatchments ‘The Far’ [This Is Not An Exit] – A turn for the garage for these electronic misfits on TINAE.
Naive disco pop: Datarock ‘Give It Up’ (Fan Death Rework) [Nettwerk] – A quality touch up of Datarock’s comeback single that sounds, as ever, as if Fan Death are doing it for the love.
Glistening indie business: Polly Scattergood ‘Please Don’t Touch’ (The Golden Filter Remix) [Mute] – A track so resplendent in synths, odds are if played enough it’ll make summer come early. Catch her at Cargo on April 15. Also, there’s a free downlad.
Idiosyncratic Carnival pop: AU ‘RR vs D’ [Aagoo] – It’s as if Daedalus and Lo Records were asked to collaborate on the soundtrack to Monty Python. Yep, it’s that good. Free download here .