Saturday 12 June 2010

Plaid and The Southbank Gamelan Players

I imagine it shows a little in my music that when it comes to personal influences, Plaid have got to be top five. So, you can probably understand how thrilled I was to discover that Plaid (in collaboration with The Southbank Gamelan Players) were going to gig, just a half hour walk from my front door, at The Mac in Birmingham.

The Southbank Gamelan Players opened things with "a loud style welcoming piece" followed by six beautiful songs - the last of which was a cover of Actium by Aphex Twin. Watching the performers was fascinating and hypnotic, but distracting, so for long periods I listened with closed eyes. The vocals and flute parts were a little bit 'new age' (what else should I have expected?) but the coarse sounding two-string fiddle (when it featured) was a perfect counter to the warm tones of the rest of the orchestra. I preferred the quieter, sparser parts - they made me feel like I was sitting in a wood, catching the sounds of distant creatures (I thing the 'new age' vibe was getting to me).

As good as things were going, I admit I was waiting for Plaid to join in and when they did, well that's when the music really took off into the ether. This is the collaboration that Plaid seem to have been working their whole career towards. Both bands fit so well. The music was lush without being too safe (I suspect a technical fault cut short Plaid's involvement in one of my favourite trance-like tracks which was a real shame). Programmed gamelan electronics and the real thing wove together with quiet glitches, airy strings and warm bass. The music was uplifting and enthralling. A big 'thank you' to all involved.

Got to go - I feel inspired…