DES TEMPS ANTAN - Sage Gateshead - 30th January 2014

This energetic trio of Quebec musicians is playing their first ever English show tonight at Sage Gateshead but, disappointingly, although they have been tramping the byways of Canada and Ireland since 2003 there is hardly a mention of them out in cyberspace. This is a shame as they are a highly skilled and dynamic band that combine several different genres and deliver a warm hearted and spellbinding show.

With a cheery shout of "Gateshead, Bon Soir" they head off at quite a gallop taking in Irish jigs, blues, R&B and some excellent Cajun gumbo. The trio have some strong original features including underfoot percussion (you need to hear AND see it), slide bouzouki, and soaring vocals. Its a shame they are confined to a seated venue as were they to be let loose in a steamy bar the place would explode with energy.

Their fabulous melodic repertoire takes in ballads, jigs, reels and some authentic foot stomping. The combination of guitar, fiddle, accordion, harp and bouzouki makes for a storming evening. With a stream of stupendous series of laments, ballads and occasional a-cappella vocals this is a night to remember. 

Words: Greg Johnson

OUTFIT - The Cluny, Newcastle - 23rd January 2014

I really like Outfit’s debut album ‘Performance’ even though electro-pop (of a Hot Chip kind) is not my usual thing. The band have been promoted as an enigmatic bunch, with minimal PR and maximum mystery which leads you to conclude that they might be a bit socially awkward. Not a bit of it, it turns out. These are loveable Scousers with trademark Liverpudlian sense of humour and an infectious enthusiasm for live performance. 

They were given very able support tonight by openers Lionhall who deal in sparse arrangements juxtaposed with Ana’s soulful and searing vocals. 

Locals Tessera Skies also put on a great show, with new songs aired publicly for the first time proving they’ll have longevity. 

A decent crowd welcomed Outfit onto the stage at 10pm for a set lasting 50 minutes that drew heavily on the aforementioned album. The band were chatty and exuberant, whilst the music transformed into something more joyfoul than on record. 

Highlights were the album’s title track, ‘Nothing Big’ ‘I Want What’s Best’ - a song about indecision (I think) and early e.p. favourite ‘Dashing In Passing.’ 

So, a really good gig and I left wondering why Outfit are promoted as enigmatic when they should maybe be touted as the ‘Pet Shop Boys of the noughties.’

Words: Russell Poad

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Future Disco Vol. 7 - 'Til The Lights Come Up

I’m always a bit wary of compilations. They’re the kind of thing people get their cousins because they know they’re into music.

Unlike the worn-out, conveyor belt of the Ministry of Sound brand, the Future Disco moniker has time on its side. It’s still only seven volumes young and looks as if it serves a more important purpose than simply cataloguing the 90’s to 00’s dance chart.

Compiled by DJ and Needwant record label boss Sean Bronson, ‘Till the Lights Come Up’ suggests a focus on the ‘Magic and mystery of the early hours’. That point on a night out where your ears go a bit fuzzy and every sound satisfyingly leaks into another, but you’re still happily jiving on the dance-floor, probably making a tit of yourself.

The album covers ground between house, dance and neo-disco – possible Chill-house territory. The Psychemagik Remix of Mirror Mirror’s ‘Kaleidoscope’  proves to be the catalyst for that sound; heady with a touch of ambience yet mildly danceable; maybe swaying a bit or trying not to fall over after all those trebles.

Axel Boman’s Remix of Name In Lights’ ‘Naughty’ provides the modern house juices of the album, coupling shiny synth with a knocking beat, that flows comfortably throughout the track. A more signature house sound, can be found in Ejeca’s  ‘Together’ which combines just about the right amount of bouncing piano chords with sharps, pulsing beats.

Some of the tracks have crude Homework-era Daft Punk qualities - squelchy basslines and orgasmic female vocal samples in Renato Cohen’s ‘Suddenly Funk’.  Elsewhere, Mount Kimbie’s ‘Made to Stray’ is put through the blades of a software blender to create an odd yet distinctive remix by DJ Koze, that couldn’t get further away from the original, without losing it’s genius. 

There’s an overall consistency to the sound of the album, although later moments like Templehof ‘s ‘Drake’ (Future Disco Edit) and Tale Of Us & Clockwork‘s ‘Lost Keys’ seem incredibly light next to other tracks. It’s like there’s an overly conscious effort being made to milk the concept of hours passing and the night moving on but coming off woozy and lethargic rather than relaxing.

‘Till The Lights Come Up’ stands well above other dance compilations, simply by promoting the more obscure or unknown artists on the scene. Until it starts to dissolve into a floppy mess; reflecting the heap your body is in after on too many, the album makes a good claim that those hazier hours of the night might just be the most special after all.

Words: Nad Khan

EVOLUTION EMERGING 2014 - applications now being accepted

Generator NE are again looking for the best emerging North East talent to play this year’s Evolution Emerging - their takeover of venues in the Ouseburn Valley on Saturday 24th May.

They’re asking regional bands and solo artists (from any genre) to apply to play this year's event.

Evolution Emerging will see more than 25 emerging artists playing alongside special guest headliners and artists unearthed through their Tipping Point blog.

You have until Friday 7th February to apply. All you have to do to is submit your track via http://www.generator.org.uk/evolutionemerging

Joe Frankland, Artist Development Manager at Generator says:
“We’re all really proud that Evolution Emerging has given an early platform to a massive number of the North East’s biggest artists - Lulu James, Mausi, Lanterns on the Lake, The Lake Poets, Beth Jeans Houghton, We Are Knuckle Dragger, Eva Stone and Boy Jumps Ship to name but a few - so there really is no better opportunity to get noticed and we encourage any artist in the region to get involved – don’t miss out!”

Evolution Emerging is supported by Arts Council England, ERDF and PRS for Music Foundation.