Chilly Gonzales, Charlotte Gainsbourg

I have been a huge fan of Charlotte Gainsbourg - both actress and a singer even though I know she is not a songwriter or my revered type of a talented musician. I loved her first album and really liked the second. As an actress, she was most puzzling in 21 Grams and recently, mind-blowing in Antichrist.

Little did I know that on 22nd June 2010 to Shepherd's Bush Empire she would bring along an amazing artist by the name of Chilly Gonzales who would brighten my day. First of all, he is a talented musician - effortlessly playing the piano or rather making piano beats. Secondly, he is an absolutely hilarious story-teller and performer with his angry Jewish rapper persona. Finally, I actually know Chilly Gonzales' songs - I think he was quite big in Poland in early noughties. Remarkably silly of me. Needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing him live again. And again, and again.

As far as Charlotte is concerned. First, I was amazed at how up-tight and uneasy she was on stage. Sadly, that her voice was too low in the mix did not help. The band sounded perfect but to me the show should have been all about her whispering/murmuring and it took the sound guy half of the gig to realise it. Luckily, when this was sorted out, the gig went fine, the artist relaxed, sang a couple of covers including Dylan's Just Like a Woman, a sad song that always make me cry. Charlotte would speak French forgetting that she is in England, her famous mum was in the audience, but even though I liked the gig a lot, I felt that the arrangements were too loud or innovative. An charming and lovable artist like Charlotte sounds most flattering on her own and not necessarily in fancy arrangements. But is is just me, my Dearest Readers.

Caribou, Mt Kimbie

Heaven again, 16th June 2010, a gig I had been looking forward to for quite some time. Somehow, I never got to see Caribou having missed a few opportunities.

First, Mt Kimbie - a decent live act, good electronic music. It was difficult to pull it off at a gig - an electronic live act - the audience did not come to dance and it is London so no one wants to dance. I appreciate Mt Kimbie but I was waiting for Caribou.

Caribou. Dearest Readers, I used to listen to the first album long time ago, enjoyed it but did not fall head over hill. With Swim, it was a different story. The album is one of my favourite albums at the moment, and I particularly enjoy it as a whole, with some melodies weaving through it, with a bit of soul, a bit of electronica or rather a lot. Perfect. Now here I am, in Heaven, slowly making my way to the first row. And I got what I did not dream of. The live show was better than the album. The sound was deeper, with a certain texture, and, last but not least, the musicians were talented. Especially the drummer. Initially plagued by technical problems, they absolutely delivered. It is a joy to see Daniel Snaith playing the drums, a strange flute, keyboard and singing. There was something in their act that I would call harmony, it was perfectly harmonious and also synchronised. I particularly enjoyed the drummer - who had would sometimes raise one stick and open his mouth, jumping on the stool, the bassist - who was very serious and with a great voice and, finally, the Caribou man - a perfectionist I would think. There are so many songs I liked much more live than on the album, which is unusual.

My brother would agree, he saw Caribou a couple days later, in Poland. They are better live than on the album he texted, drunkenly excited. Sadly, Caribou gig was the final nail to my cousin's coffin, construction of which started at a metal festival in Austria - 500 cans of beer and 500 hours of pogo - Caribou being the 500th can and 500th hour of pogo.

They were filming the gig so I am hoping, maybe, one day.

Beach House, White Hinterland

I hope my reception of the gig was not influenced by how tired I felt on 1st of June 2010, a delayed arrival at Heathrow at 3am, waiting for the tube to open, coming home at 6am, destroying a pigeon nest on the balcony, going to work at 1pm and straight after work to Heaven. I was fresh after Primavera, where, as my Dearest Readers realise, I had seen Beach House as well. But Beach House are special. And deserve all the effort. Not so much White Hinterland, an act that that tried my patience but I might imagine that some of my Readers would enjoy it.

Anyway, it was all about Beach House that night, a band I treasure.

Sadly, Heaven is not a perfect venue, with the stage up high and far away. You look up. I took my camera which, I came to a conclusion, I hate even more than my camera phone but it is good for my 'roadie' shots - please see above Alex Scully before the gig. The gig was the band's 13th gig, as they duly counted, we have to trust them on that, and they were slightly apprehensive given number 13's notoriety. It was going fairly okay until one of the stage embellishments (whatever they are called) fell. Luckily, no one was hurt, but it was hilarious as I was looking in that direction, I could see the thing swirling and falling. So that was the sign of bad luck. The show was brilliant, with a new song and quite a few older songs which I thoroughly enjoyed. I always wonder how old Victoria Legrand is as her lyrics sound mature and on a very decent literary level, or perhaps it is just the French blood in her.

During this gig I turned my attention from the ever charismatic singer to the guitarist who I saw came to Panda Bear gig at Primavera, focused entirely on the music. I would not say he is immensely talented but there is a specific sound to his guitar and the way he moves that make him quite unique. I felt sorry that in Bush Hall I ignored his performance.

On the whole, Beach House, slightly exhausted I could tell, made an effort and played a great gig.

Primavera 2010

XX.
Black Lips.
Pet Shop Boys.
Panda Bear.
Beach House.
Pavement.

Dearest Readers, this is just the beginning of an in-depth review of Barcelona's Primavera. Above is a picture of my friend's sister with a random crap violinist on the beach.

Okay, I am starting with this post, so I and my Dearest Readers remember. Above is a collection of random least crap pictures I took. I have quite a few good Beach House photos but perhaps another time. Another post.

Pavement - it was a fantastic gig with a lot of singalong fans, I was in the second row and could not move, I felt like it is 2003 Radiohead gig in Berlin where I almost died. Lots of people crow-surfing and a general joy. I am sure Stephen Malkmus was drunk (he was drinking during the show) with this devil-may-care attitude, throwing his guitar around. But oh yes, it was a memorable show.

HEALTH - I know they are not really playing but there was something ecstatic about their music, a certain entrancing rhythm, I was not really looking forward to this show but it turned out to be amazingly good fun, I would say it was one of my highlights. And they spoke Spanish.

Panda Bear - Panda Bear was an angry bear, the visuals were not working, they were trying hard to fix the problem, with no luck. He performs with a tension, utterly focused on the music, the quiet songs work surprisingly well. Needless to say, a cult following.

Pet Shop Boys - great karaoke show, a big big show. I am glad I saw it.

Beach House - what is there left to say other than that they were awesome.

Black Lips - curious, a closing party - I think they must be very popular in Spain. Their show was a no-limits experience, with naked buttocks, crowd coming on stage and carrying the singer around. Most curious.

To be continued, Dearest Readers.

Double Dagger, Ganglians, Real Estate

No photos of Real Estate, Dearest Readers, as my mobile died in Cargo on 18th May 2010 before they came on stage. And Double Dagger were the best anyway (that's the non-hairy men in the above pictures).

Obviously, the Upset the Rhythm crowd knew better than to come close to the stage for Double Dagger, I did not. Happily at the front, I experienced this most unsettling performance with a leader absolutely oblivious to how deathly cables can be according to health and safety authorities. The singer was also oblivious to the fact that the creepy Spanish guy does not appreciate when someone is singing straight in his face and casts a spell on the offender. Hypnotic, dangerous, primal Double Dagger are live. And, I am afraid, live only. Go and see them.

Ganglians and Real Estate were good, I enjoyed the gig but, worryingly, I do not remember much. Double Dagger dominated the evening.

Roy Harper, Joanna Newsom

11th May 2010 at Royal Festival Hall I was not expecting a catharsis. To start with, I had an awful headache and memories of Somerset House where I enjoyed Joanna Newsom immensely but the feeling did not last till the end of the gig. There was something in her voice that got annoying after one hour.

Now I realise what an ignorant I was. First of all, I knew next to nothing about Roy Harper whose tiny little performance blew me away, tore me into pieces, brought tears to my eyes. And I was far from the first row, as you can clearly see from the above pictures that feature candle lights as musicians. Joanna being the brightest light with her instrument. Terrible photos.

And then came Joanna, and I have to admit, it is hard to play after Roy Harper has left the stage. At least in my eyes. Nevertheless, the petite harpist poster girl for many (almost a month later I will meet a random music fan at a gig who will show me a picture of himself with smiling Joanna from ATP, she is smiling because someone from her team has just asked her 'are you sure you want to have a picture with this guy?') won my cold heart with her arrangements, mature voice and funny banter. I listen to her latest album which I was allergic to before the gig.

But oh Roy, what a fantastic story teller.

CocoRosie, Light Asylum

On 4th May 2010 I had the pleasure to see CocoRosie live in one of the most creepy venues for a girl from pan-catholic Poland. Trust me, it is hard to get rid of fearful respect for churches. Light Asylum were an interesting electro act with mighty mighty vocals and catchy tunes.

CocoRosie delivered a wonderful theatre-like performance, dressed as mysterious water creatures also known as pirates or sirens with a boombox guy, a pianist and a drummer. They mainly played songs from the new album, making fun of British accent, one CocoRosie half being smiley and outgoing, the other mischievous and slightly grumpy. It will not escape my Dearest Readers that once again I have little or no recollection of the gig but I love CocoRosie with all my heart. If you search the web, you will find an in-depth review of the following night performance written by my friend and not just miserable photos and uninformative reporting of mine.

Leafcutter John, Mandelbrot, Lina Lapelyte

I would like to start as if this post was not delayed by well over a month and it is early May and not mid-June now. But the truth is, I neglected my Dearest Readers so only now do they find out that on 29th April 2010 in Cafe OTO I went to Keung aka Mandelbrot's album launch. I felt slightly nostalgic since Mandelbrot and Lina were one of my first London scene experiences but back to the gig. Lina is a talented experimental violinist and yes she incorporates a naked foot in her performances, most enjoyable. Mandelbrot performed with a drummer, an unforgettable show of a musician who is entirely devoted the the art, a true perfectionist of guitar noise. By now Dearest Readers must have realised that I do not remember many details as it was over a month ago and I had a couple of beers and cycled to the venue with a friend who insisted that she did not know rode code only to prove that she indeed did not by heading straight onto the oncoming traffic. No casualties.

Leafcutter John was most creative with a variety of non-instruments, encouraging the audience to join him, provide ideas for improvised lyrics. To Leafcutter John's disappointment, all lyrics proved to me melancholic even though he tried to be cheerful. A lot of fun.

Finally, they all played together but my favourite was Mandelbrot, even though I seem to be unable to explain why.