Reykjavík Grapevine - 29.07.2011, Page 28

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 11 — 2011
Music | Live Review
Music | Reviews
Lights & Music, Indeed
Words
Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir
Photography
Alisa Kalyanova
Cut Copy
NASA 20/7/2011
Cut Copy play NASA
Outside the concert venue, face flushed
pink to match his undersized varsity
jacket, Berndsen looked exultant.
Honestly, it was probably all the
jumping—a pigmentary euphoria trig-
gered by his onstage synthpop-hop
and ensuing gulps of oxygen. I mean
here the awkward, overstated stage
presence that is as crucial to the
charms of his Italo disco act as his
kitsch, pó-mó wardrobe. But perhaps
the blush was also tinted by pride—a
well-deserved elation at having been
chosen, according to a press release
for the concert, by the headliners them-
selves to open the show. The main act
being in this case Aussie electro band
Cut Copy who, after touring extensively
with powerhouses such as Franz Fer-
dinand and Daft Punk among others,
gained international recognition with
their sophomore release, ‘In Ghost
Colors,’ which debuted at number one
on the Australian music sales charts in
2008 before going on to sell Gold.
À la the spirit of our times, Cut Copy
is a band that feigns apathy while actu-
ally taking what they do wholly serious-
ly—which is ironic, but not in the usual
hipster sense. From the moment they
stepped on stage at NASA they ap-
peared wholesomely professional. With
an affectation of effortlessness, they
spun out electric rhythms tenaciously
reworked to maturity to come in at the
feet, not the ear.
‘So Haunted’ kicked off the show,
one of the eight singles the band would
go on to play out of a set of twelve
songs from their three albums. It was a
Wednesday night and attendance was
fair for a weekday. By ‘Blink & You’ll
Miss A Revolution,’ a young man was
puking beside the bar. The band mean-
while looked sober and focused—their
shirts soaked steadily with sweat, the
set’s halfway point was flagged by
the line of perspiration on Dan Whit-
ford’s shirt (post-gig, the vocalist and
frontman made a point of saying he
showered immediately following every
show.)
The live set was notably more rau-
cous than the highly-produced stu-
dio versions of the band’s repertoire.
Loud, and somewhat gritty, the live
version was much more dynamic than
one might have expected; it was every-
thing it should have been: not simply
a rehashing of the album, but a living,
breathing creature of its own.
Alas, when a band is good—espe-
cially, when a band makes good on its
promises… mainly, takes themselves
seriously for the benefit of their mu-
sic, rather than their ego, and appears
to be enjoying themselves while do-
ing it—one does not even want to do
the only thing one can do for a band
as an observer, which is to shower the
experience with description. Rather the
pen comes down, because the feet are
moving. Red in the face, we find it all
becomes simple again. Complicatedly
effortless. Like love. Like lights. Like
music.
When people historicise musical
genres they always look for flashpoints
and influences that ‘caused’ a band
or something to happen. Punk, for in-
stance, wouldn't have happened were
it not for the woeful state of the world
at the time, apparently. Can't have
decent music without some anger and
pain, right? And you always get some
jerk saying “well, y'know...the govern-
ment sucks and the world's going to
hell... at least we'll get some decent,
pissed-off sounding bands now.”
Well, it’s my turn to be that jerk:
Given what's been going on in Iceland
over the last few years, it was only
a matter of time before a band like
World Narcosis came along. You can
tell when bands are just imitating
other aggressive bands. And you can
tell when bands are genuinely angry.
There is an energy to the playing, to
the vocals, to the feel of the songs
and the lyrics. This 7” has got it. World
Narcosis aren't the finished deal yet,
but they have the potential to become
something pretty awesome indeed,
and this 7” is a great debut. If you're
into grind or harsh music in general,
then check it out.
- CLYDE BRADFORD
World Narcosis
World Narcosis 7”
World-Narcosis
Gnarly new grind
The first thing you notice about Sakt-
móðigur’s first album in thirteen years
is not the music. It’s the rather fetching
layout design. Opening up in the shape
of a cross, it shows what can only
be described as a bizarre initiation
ceremony to some gay S&M bear biker
club (Kópavogur chapter). You see it
all, cellulite and everything!
The music? Well it’s a bit of a mixed
bag. Playing OLD school punk (think:
Vice Squad from 1982), it sounds dry,
rough and ragged. Some songs do zip
by (‘Formingi,’ ‘Kjöt’), but other songs
really lack an explosive energy, and
occasionally feel like they’re running
out of steam towards the end. I was
serious worried at some points (‘2007’,
‘Hey þú’) that lead singer Karl was in
danger of rupturing a testicle trying to
reach the high notes.
‘Guð hann myndi gráta’ is definitely
old school fun, but does feel a little too
old school.
- BOB CLUNESS
Saktmóðigur
Guð hann myndi gráta
saktmodigur
Needs to take a rest every once in
a while...