Fink. Fink Meets The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Ninja Tune.

Reviewer – Rowan Blair Colver.

This review was originally published in Now Then Magazine Issue 67

A long way from Fink’s funky roots, a symphonic orchestra summons images of stiff necks and seated audiences. Then again, other bands have managed to merge their sounds with classical sensibilities quite successfully. Fink brings his acoustic guitar along with songs from his latest album to Amsterdam, merging with the technical brilliance of the Concertgebouw Royal Orchestra.

Fink, or Fin Greenall , has collaborated before, most notably with Amy Winehouse and Basement Jaxx, proving he is a singer of quality and reputation. His voice carries the music like the pouring of liquor over ice. People want this, to work with and to listen to.

This is an album to listen to when it’s raining, or when you are reading. It’s chilled out, apart from every now and then when you’re broken from the spell of studio quality sound by the sound of rapturous applause. It opens with the memorable title track from his recent album, Berlin Sunrise. His firm voice sweeps in from what seems like strange rumbling, swelling with the symphonic orchestra.

For periods the man himself stands back and lets the orchestra play. They produce an array of musical spells that wash, sprinkle and crash. Then it is Fink’s turn to solo and the orchestra hushes down. Undoubtedly under a spotlight, he gives solid renditions of ‘Wheels’ and ‘This Is The Thing’.

This is where you realise it is funky. He hits his chords in that way that makes you move, the drums subtly begin to assist, and before you know it there’s some bass. It’s very clever – tapping your foot to an orchestra in the living room. The array of classical musicians again takes us into a soundtrack style number, which for me takes away the mood. At this point I wanted more singing. I do get a couple more songs before the end of the album.

Overall, given the choice to own this album, I’d choose yes.

Please visit http://rowanblaircolver.moonfruit.com

Bonobo. Plug.
21st May. 2013

Reviewer – Rowan Blair Colver.

This review can be found in its original publication of Now Then Magazine Issue 63

Anticipating the performance of material from Bonobo’s new album The North Borders, I entered the live room at Plug to the tune of angelically vocalised bassy rhythms from a shadowy DJ at the sound desk. Taking a comfy seat at the back, I watched as the sold out room filled. The Bonobo crowd were a mixed bunch. I saw several dress styles including, to my pleasant surprise, a goth or two.

Their choice of support act, a soulful group of synth, string and vocal talent called 14th, was brilliant. To open, a colourfully dressed woman casually walked on with her band and treated us to around 40 minutes of delightful rhythmic seductive sounds. There was obviously a lot of respect between them and it showed in their performance.

After another volley of heavy and driving DJ work from the desk, Simon Green, aka Bonobo, strutted on stage just after 9pm. Calm, casual and collected, he revved up his beats machine and began to construct his opener. What began as a simple groove was slowly built up into a progressive intro for new track ‘Cirrus’. Using a midi keyboard to hammer down the bells in time to his funky programming, the crowd went crazy for it.

After a short stint alone, his live band appeared. Keyboard players, a drummer, a brass section, some woodwind and of course, who could forget Szjerdene, his extremely talented singer collaborator for this album. It is very refreshing to see quality acts using the real thing rather than referring to libraries of samples. Very refreshing and well worth it. The natural sound, although harder to control from the desk, provided a layer of beauty that a computer just couldn’t replicate.

As a master of rhythm, you’d expect the show to have an excellent flow. The live band did it admirably. From the first track – bouncy, fun and intense – the set gradually wound down, with Szjerdene treating us to her smooth, pitch-perfect vocals alongside some slow, heavy beats. By drawing on tracks from the new record and plenty of classics in between, the music was adorable and the blend of soul, funk and downright heavy bass was just right. The flow carried us down and back up again several times throughout the performance and, with the assistance of amazing lighting effects, solo performances from preeminent musicians and great crowd interaction, this was a night absolutely full of quality.

Please visit http://rowanblaircolver.moonfruit.com

When Sigur Ros asked a group of directors and artists to each produce a music video for a track from their brilliant latest album Valtari, the response was phenomenal. Each video stands out. The complete list of videos can be found here.
Valtari Film Experiment Videos. I'd recommend watching them all. However, today I want to talk about this one. The title track from the album, hence also called Valtari, is a moving piece, full of grace and echoing sentiment to the ethereal.

Christian Larson, photo to the left (from his website, linked), was given the task of producing an artistic representation of the music to this awe inspiring track. Rather than choosing some cliche mountains or birds on the wing, which are beautiful in their own right, Christian took the liberty of exploring something a little more inward facing.

What begins as a blank and weather bitten landscape, featuring an old and industrial looking gargantuan building, the scene moves to a hooded figure in white. The introduction of this feeling enticed by these images is clear to me. We are speaking in metaphor. The faceless hooded figure, dressed in white, the bad weather, the empty building, battered by time... it reminds me of fear, and then peaceful awareness.

We are then drawn inside. Into the innards of the building, further into the realms of personality perhaps, but never the less, we find a dancer. Mucky and clothed in simple trousers only, the slim but muscular male figure begins to somersault and twist to the sound of the strings. We see the figure from outdoors, now also inside, a woman, as she passionately removes old and dry cracked paint from the corridor wall as she ventures further inside. Examining integrity, peeling away the facade of old and unused, feeling the truth behind the illusion created by perception of what is right.

The figure dances within the confines of an empty room, tall and spacious, with old rusted pipes and methods of delivery lying wasted in various alcoves. He spies the newcomer, the woman, dancing like a ballerina on an elevated platform. She captivates him instantly with her presence as the music begins to shift. Suddenly, their dancing begins to flow, together, separately on their individual platforms, equal, but joined intimately through feeling.

In an instant, she is gone, and to his dismay, he turns and searches for what is missing. And there she is, in his doorway. Jonsi begins to sing and the couple begin to dance in unison, together, following the moves each other are flowing with. Then, they embrace. What follows is an intimate display of desire and passion, wanting and fascination. Self control, strength and instinct are key to this dance. Sometimes the actions are clumsy, and this is enjoyed, the flow remains. They get to know each other, their pace, their wisdom of the dance. Over time, the decision is made, and the new comer, the female dancer, removes her outer clothing to reveal herself as naked as the man, in simple trousers. And they continue to dance. As she has seen his domain, learned his flow, enlightened his passion, she joins him in true intimacy, without gown or mask. They become the same dance and it is the most beautiful video I have seen in a very long time.

Sigur Rós - Valtari
Sigur Rós 'Valtari' Mystery Film Experiment: Valtari by Christian Larson
Written & Directed by Christian Larson. Choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
Cinematography by Mattias Montero, Costume Designer Lydia Kovacs, Produced by Noreen Khan.
sigur-ros.co.uk/valtari/videos/valtari-larson/
Taken from the "valtari mystery film experiment" - more details: sigur-ros.co.uk/valtari/videos/
Valtari is available to purchase now: sigur-ros.co.uk/valtari/buy/