Undulating Ungulate

Have been mostly off the music scene for the past year or two. Over the past couple of months have reconnected a little, and seen a few things that impressed jaded me… nice to be reminded of the awesome talents lurking in the underground of this town. Here be some reviews.

Elisabeth DiMaria @ Watusi

How to describe this solo act? Unique captivating storytelling set over laconic beats, repurposing a three wishes/genie motif into a shattered fairytale journey through love, madness and despair, with a dancing costumed anime creature as your guide. Musically, elements of hip hop, ambient atmospherics, trip hop; vaguely Coco Rosie-esque. As performance, it had a vigor and spontaneity all too often sorely lacking live; crazed creative genius fizzing at the seams trying to get out. One suspects that you will never get the same thing twice from this lady.

Beastwars @ SFBH

Slow deep groove metal by some old hands who know what they like. Immediately appealling and familiar yet totally its own thing – like they have internalised heavy music and know what they like and can channel it out in an original form. Led by piercing growls and bass swagger, this beast strikes for and from the belly.

Stif @ Bodega

Three piece (drums gat keys) post-hardcore experimental madness. Very talented and experienced musicians (recognisable: a percussionist from Strike, and a Black Seed) having a blast. Varied between hardout and hardcore, and long slow atmospheric passages, with a range of stuff in between. Good shit. They have gigged maybe three times so far? Well worth catching.

Anthony Milton @ Freds

Experimental music stalwart. Gig was video (with Hilarious subtitles) of his travels in South America, set to music made of sound samples recorded along the way – jungle screeching and indigenous soundscapes, melted into intense building drones and crescendos, with random flute and distorted toy guitar. Inspiring stuff.

Filed by billy at 8:49 pm under culture,new zealand
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