ELECTRONIC CAFE 2

ELECTRONIC CAFÉ 2 @ 229 THE VENUE, LONDON

Pixelstorm, EmT and half of Cult with No Name aka Pete, Ema, Tony and Erik

Saturday night’s shenanigans began with a convergence of friends in The Albany pub, just around the corner for our final destination for the evening at 229 The Venue where the second Electronic Café was being held, organised by scene stalwarts, Andy McNab and Mark Wibrow.

On entering the venue and grabbing our wristbands, I was impressed with the size of the venue with extra high ceilings, large video screen and great ambience.  It certainly felt like the perfect location for such an event, and it was already starting to fill up nicely when we arrived.

First ‘act’ on the bill was a DJ set by Peter Duggal who describes himself as a collaborator with Wolgang Flur ex Kraftwerk.  As everyone knows Wolfgang was an original member of Kraftwerk who are quite correctly cited as being the “Godfathers of the synth and electronic scene”, since their innovative album, Autobahn, released in 1974.

During the thirty-minute interval between sets, I spent time catching up with old friends and making new ones with Pete from Pixelstorm and Nick from Methyl Orange.  There were lots of my old friends there from bands such as Agency V/Tin Gun, Tiny Magnetic Pets, EmT, Cult with No Name, The Rude Awakening as well as representation from Radio Northwich and Satsuma Radio.

Stuart Calder (Electro Wave Show) Pete Steer (Agency V, Tin Gun) and me (We Are Cult)

Next on the itinerary were Tiny Magnetic Pets of whom I am a great admirer of as well as them being my friends.  They put on a great showcase of eight of their songs including one from the forthcoming new album.  It was good to get a preview of what we can expect from the next album, for which I have very high expectations.  TMP are a band that just keep on getting better and better and if you don’t already know about them then I suggest you check them out.  You can thank me later!

Tiny Magnetic Pets

Another interval, after which was Wolfgang Flur’s DJ set, which was accompanied by stark visuals and as you’d expect, music from Kraftwerk and similar artists.  Having a train to catch and being mindful of being out the following night to see OMD, I decided to leave the evening there. 

I unfortunately missed Mark Reeder’s DJ set.  Mark is an accomplished man of many talents including musician, record producer, label owner, remixer and DJ from Manchester who has been living in Berlin since 1978.  It was a shame I missed his set because I’ve met Mark previously at the London Contemporary Arts Centre on Pall Mall a few years ago to watch his B-Movie about pre- and post- Berlin wall coming down and the effect this had on East Berlin youth culture. We’re also Facebook friends.  The same event was attended by Stephen and Gillian Morris from New Order and Neil Tennant from Pet Shop Boys, the latter of which I chatted to for fifteen minutes about my writing, and Northern-ness amongst other things. However, I digress…

The whole Electronic Café event was a great success and I know that many people travelled from far and wide to be there, which is testament to its popularity.  I unfortunately missed the first Electronic Café event, but I definitely won’t be missing the next one, and I look forward to hearing when that will be. 

Here come the girls…

Bravo to Andy and Mark for supporting our synth scene in such a positive way. It was a not-to-be-missed landmark occasion.

Tiny Magnetic Pets: (1) Facebook
Peter Duggal: (1) Facebook
Wolfgang Flur: (2) Facebook
Mark Reeder: (2) Facebook

 

Walt Disco Supporting OMD at Cliffs Pavillion, Southend-on-Sea 17/3/24

OMD at Southend

A MOST JOYOUS EVENING OF MUSIC –
Walt Disco Supporting OMD at Cliffs Pavillion, Southend-on-Sea 17/3/24

Whilst most English people were out celebrating St Patrick’s day, I chose to see one of my long-standing favourite bands.  I wouldn’t normally see acts at Cliffs Pavilion, Southend (I’ve only been once before about ten years ago to see Little Annie support Marc Almond) but my bestie and her husband were going and offered me a bed for the night, so what better reason did I have? 

I’ve seen OMD many times over the years since the late 1980s and have always come away from their shows feeling good, energised, and happy to be alive in a time when OMD exist.  I’ve not seen Walt Disco perform live before, but I was fully aware of them having listened to my bestie wax lyrical about the since she saw them at the Bearded Theory Festival in 2022.  So, this was a double act that I did not want to miss.

Walt Disco

After having met some friends in a local hotel for some pre-show drinks and catch-ups, we meandered over to the Cliffs Pavilion, and joined what looked like a long queue, but which rapidly dissipated with professional ease by the well-practised staff.  With my wristband adorning my right wrist, we were in!  Mulling around in the bar, we bumped into some more long -standing friends, as we drank, chatted and joked.  Always good for the soul!

Walt Disco came on stage, and we stood stage left at the front, whilst my bestie’s hubby was the official photographer for the evening.  On stage walked five beautiful looking young men, each with their individual style.  Collectively they made equally beautiful music in their own unique genre which had undertones of Sparks meets Associates meets Suede meets Bowie meets Roxy.  They completely owned it and enraptured the audience, completely.  I was completely hooked!  My favourite track wasWeightless.

During the interval I went to buy an OMD tee, but unfortunately, they didn’t have a size Small in the design I desired.  (“It serves you right for losing so much weight,” jibed my bestie! LOL).  However, the lead guitarist of Walt Disco was there (Jack?), selling their own merch.  We had a lovely chat, and he said the rest of the band would be in attendance, at the end of the show.  More on that later.

Back in our positions within the main hall, OMD came on stage to rapturous applause.  They have been a stalwart band of the electronic scene for more than forty years, and their popularity hasn’t flickered one iota over that time; they’ve been consistently ever-present producing high-quality tunes over the decades.  This was show-cased to perfection last night as they effortlessly churned out all the old favourites, Enola Gay, Messages, Electricity as well as some lesser-known singles, Dreaming, Forever Live and Die, If You Leave (from Pretty in Pink) which I’ve not heard them perform in a good while. 

Old favourites like Pandora’s Box, Maid of Orleans, sat beautifully alongside tracks from their latest album, Bauhaus Staircase, Don’t Go, Look at you Now including the title track and Kleptocracy accompanied by stunning visuals.

Over all the years that I’ve seen OMD, last night’s gig ranks extremely highly in the pecking order, only trouped by the time I saw them in their hometown of Liverpool in July 1991 when we were all a lot young and had so much more energy.  At that particular gig, the crowd went crazy after every single song like it was the encore.  By the end of that show, I remember feeling high on energy and didn’t come down from my ‘gig high’ for weeks afterwards.

Andy McClusky, OMD

Back to the here and now at Southend, and at the end of the show we were luck enough to catch more of Walt Disco as they were packing away their merch.  I spoke to the lead singer and Jack from earlier came to join us.  They feel extremely privileged to be supporting OMD and are looking forward to returning to the American leg of the tour and getting more expose over the pond.  I’ve told my American friends to make sure they also catch Walt Disco when they go to see OMD.

All in all, last night was pretty much a perfect evening consisting of very good friends, top quality music from not one but two bands, and good humour all round.  I suspect I won’t live this ‘gig high’ down for several weeks too!

2/5ths Walt Disco with me and my bestie

OMD are currently on tour supported by Walt Disco in the UK, moving to the USA as follows:

(10) OMD tour dates – search results | Facebook
https://youtu.be/jK6npwVqTkI

Please note that Walt Disco are not supporting for every date, and will be replaced by Howard Jones at some venues.

OMD :  (10) Facebook

Walt Disco: (10) Facebook

DEPECHE MODE’s MOMENTO MORI REVIEWED

It’s been five years since Depeche Mode released their previous album, Spirit, which divided their audience’s opinions. Personally, I thought it was lazy as I knew the band could do so much better; many of the songs were lyrically weak and musically quite irritating.

The album released prior to that, Delta Machine (in 2013), also didn’t hit the mark for many as the band seemed to be venturing along a new path with twangy, bluesy guitars. Therefore, I didn’t have the highest of hopes for their current release Momento Mori literally meaning ‘remember we all must die’.

The album was written before the sad demise of Andy ‘Fletch’ Fletcher, the band’s keyboard player and who was described as ‘the glue that held the band together’. Many fans wondered whether Martin Gore and Dave Gahan would continue working together as Depeche Mode, so consequently when the band announced that they were about to release Momento Mori along with news of a global tour, the fans were extremely happy.

I tried to keep an open mind whilst listening to the album. I’d already heard a few tracks and wasn’t overly excited about the new release, but now hearing all the songs within the context of the album, I’m pleased to report that all is very well. The album opens with My Cosmos is Mine which was released as a single. The catchy backing synths are beguiling and then Gahan’s deep vocals kick in telling us in no uncertain terms not to involve oneself with his personal world. It’s not my favourite track on the album as it reminds me of Where’s the Revolution from Spirit in parts, with the same annoying middle eight section. Thankfully the album improves after this small hiccup in the proceedings!

Wagging Tongue is however my favourite song on the album, and I’ll wager that this will be a future single release as it has all the ingredients to be a very successful, with thoughtful lyrics, clean multi-layered synths and effective drumbeats. It has hints of Delphic or the much missed Mirrors in its backing melody which was instantly recognisable to me.

Ghosts Again has a strong multi-layered melody and was used to accompany the teaser video to introduce the album to the masses. The band are exploring new cleaner avenues of synth sounds which are nearer to the aesthetics of ‘classic Depeche Mode’, which for me, is a welcome approach. The continuing theme of love and death is especially poignant in this song with the thought-provoking lyric “everybody says goodbye”. An excellent song.

In contrast, Don’t Say You Love Me is a melancholic tune which has all the aura of Depeche Mode of old. ‘You are the singer, and I am the song’ is a powerful lyric which differentiates between two lovers and what love means from one to the other. It’s a beautiful track which I feel will be a grower.

The pace picks up again with My Favourite Stranger and is a track that wouldn’t be out of place on their turn of the millennium albums Ultra or Exciter. Its perfunctory looping melody interspersed with electronic cries keeps you interested and carries the song along.

Meanwhile Soul with Me is the Martin Gore delivered track of the album, delivering this lamentable tune with all the melancholic soul he usually attributes to his songs.  Its almost hymn-like and has some ‘very 1980s’ chord changes.  “I’m going where the angels fly” he croons so matter of fact, whilst the accompanying music is like a choir of seraphim and cherubim singing from on high, welcoming the soul to its final resting place, as the track morphs into a crescendo emphasising the point.

Caroline’s Monkey is a strange song lyrically and I don’t really know what to make of it!  Who is Caroline, and why are Depeche Mode singing about her monkey?!  Is it a metaphor?  Who knows? It’s a bit of a curveball to be honest.  Lyrically, it reminds me of Caroline Says by the Velvet Underground but with the added synths to make it completely Depeche Mode’s own.

Before We Drown utilises a range of synth sounds that we haven’t heard Depeche Mode use before however if this is the new direction that they’re moving towards, then I approve.  It has elements for Kraftwerk in its musicality, with its stripped down and clean delivery.  

The latest song to be released prior to the album release is People are Good. Again it wouldn’t seem out of place on one of Depeche Mode’s previous albums from the last century with familiar heavy synth sounds and a song construction that is all too familiar. This will be an excellent track played live as it contains a lot of strong sounds that would surely work extremely well in a stadium setting. I can almost see Gahan gyrating to it now!

Always You is another favourite on the album, exploring many new punchy, toe-tapping synth sounds and endearing lyrics suggesting a togetherness and closeness only shared between two long term lovers who completely are into each other. The chorus is a bound to be an earworm with its repetitive, heart-searingly, longingly and urgently repeating ‘it’s always you’ leaving the listener in no doubt of the love felt for their significant other.

Next, we have Never Let Me Go which seems like a familiar song title with a slight nuance. Whether this is deliberate or accidental, I don’t know, but once more we’re transported to a time when Depeche Mode were at their peak in the mid-1990’s and now they are seemingly returning to this halcyon era. It has hints of The Cult in its musical styling thanks to an urgent guitar melody which intersperses the vocal delivery. This is a Depeche Mode track that doesn’t sound like a Depeche Mode track in many ways, but still seems to work very well for them and fits in well with the overall ethos of the album.

Speak to Me slows down the pace once more, and is a track which once played live, will surely have the mobile phone lights swaying in the crowd (not quite the same as lighter’s flames burning brightly but hey, we’re in the 21st century now!) The ultimate track leaves the listener feeling like they’ve been on a journey of a foretelling of the afterlife, a place which is filled with deep love and acceptance. Ultimately the grim subject of our collective inevitable death, but delivered with such panache it doesn’t feel like anything to be frightened by.

At the time of writing the band have just embarked on their accompanying global tour, starting in America where both band members now live. I’m sure this album will be better received by Depeche Mode fans who weren’t so keen on their previous two albums, and it will find a place in their hearts and listening devices of choice, once again.

Momento Mori by Depeche Mode is released on Friday 24thMarch 2023 and is available via all the usual retain outlets.

Amazon.co.uk : depeche mode memento mori

Duran Duran are Future Perfect

On 22 October 2021, Duran Duran released their first album in six years with their fifteenth release, Future Past and inevitably it met the music scene with much anticipation from fans and critics alike. In my humble opinion the Duran boys have produced some of their best work in the past decade, most notably the flawless album from 2010 All You Need is Now which is never far away from my listening ears.

I was delighted to listen to Future Past and find that with each spin, my listening pleasure was enhanced time on time. It’s it a grabber and grower ie it grabs your attention with the first listen and grows and grows on you the more you listen. The things that are particularly noticeable to me are the superlative lyrics coupled with a range of musical styles yet still remainsinimitably Duran Duran. From the opening track Invisible (also released as a single) through to the balladeering beauty of Falling featuring Bowie’s piano man, Mike Garson,accompanying.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMCd5zrsFpE

All of You is classic Duran with the right mix of funkiness, voice, drums and melded together in an unforgettable multi-layered melody, paced to perfection.  There are a number ofcollaborations on this album, which is a trend Duran toyed with on Paper Gods.  They didn’t always hit the mark on that album but on this one its en point; here on Future Past they have featured the vocal talents of Tove Lo on Give it all Upwhich adds a modern dimension to the album, and on More Joy! featuring CHAI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXe5ptuGz-4

The next song on the album is the currently released single, Anniversary that opens with a repetitive beat whilst Le Bon’s instantly recognisable vocals kick in.  The title track Future Past is a slower paced track with Paul Young-esque bass that takes me right back to the memories of growing up in the 1980s.  Lyrically it’s a sardonic track that is reminiscing of good times past but hopeful for a better future.  Its essentiallya song encouraging the listener to make the most of now because it will soon become the past ‘and we are living now’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdkOCDIV7TU&list=RDgdkOCDIV7TU&start_radio=1

The next track Beautiful Lie is the first Side B track if you are listening to the vinyl version of the album which has been released in an array of coloured collector’s vinyl.  It picks up the pace with a funky baseline and melody which carries you along the track. Tonight United continues in the same funky vein with another tush-shaking track, again exploring the lyrical themes of living life for now.  One wonders if the Duran boys are feeling a little more mortal, now they are in their 60s?  Whatever the reason, one can only celebrate it as their musical output is superlative.

Duran Duran – Tonight United – YouTube

The pace is tempered once more with Wing, which has echoes of being a Bond film soundtrack, you can almost see the naked female silhouettes in the title track floating in front of you.  More Joy! featuring CHAI is a song which does exactly what it says in the title; joyful, inclusive and playful.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VJKazAhXgs

The album concludes with Falling featuring Mike Garson as previously mentioned. A beautiful melancholic track that lends itself perfectly to the tender beauty of Garson’s piano playing skills and le Bon’s balladeering.

It’s difficult to name a favourite track on this collection as each on truly has its own merits.  If pushed, I’d have to say All of You which contains highly relatable lyrics and Give it all Up with a mesmerising trance like beat coupled with ToveLo’s vocals that’s hard to get out of my head (and it don’t want it to!) although ask me tomorrow and that may well have changed! 

All in all, I’d say Future Past was definitely worth the wait, and I’m personally hoping that Duran Duran don’t leave it another six years before their next album release.  I think we’ve all been patient enough, boys!

Future Past by Duran Duran was released by WEA globally on 22 October 2021 and is available from all the usual music outlets.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FUTURE-PAST-Deluxe-Duran/dp/B0954932VD/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=duran+duran+future+past&qid=1635258183&qsid=260-5881883-7096852&s=music&sprefix=duran+duran+%2Cpopular%2C154&sr=1-3&sres=B0954932VD%2CB09547TCBN%2CB08GMRC85B%2CB00009P8DB%2CB09HVRTMFX%2CB09HCJKFKF%2CB099C28BCY%2CB09FWZWN9D%2CB09HG59K3Z%2CB00000DG1R%2CB09GBZWFCG%2CB084WK9BXQ%2CB09CRTT296%2CB07SYXJK2X%2CB08NDXBFMQ%2CB096D1C4VQ&srpt=ABIS_MUSIC