- Posted on August 28, 2008 2:13 PM
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Robots in Disguise
Interview with Sue Denim by Zarina Raja
You just played Reading Festival last weekend. How was it?
Ah-May-Zing!
Did you get to see any bands?
Yeh, loads, MSI, Crystal Castles, CSS, Gallows, Glasvegas, The Kills, Metallica, The Death Set, Pendulum. There were loads of others I wanted to see, but they played on the other two days!
Did you stick about for the campsite looting on the last night? Sounded pretty horrible to me!
Don't know anything about that! (At least that's what we told the police when we were taken in haha). No, seriously, haven't heard about that. We did try to find a campfire though and then gave up and forward rolled down a muddy hill instead.
Was it the biggest festival you guys have played this year?
This and The Mighty Boosh festival.
How was the Boosh fest for you? Have R.I.D got anything else lined up with the Boosh that you can tell us about?
It was such good fun because we're all mates. It was a really good atmosphere. We are going to be doing some gigs at the aftershows on their live tour coming up.
Continue reading "INTERVIEW: Robots in Disguise" »
- Posted on August 27, 2008 3:56 PM
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Be Your Own Pet
Dingwalls, Tuesday 26th August
Review by Zarina Raja
Last night, Dingwalls housed the last ever UK Be Your Own Pet gig.
As always, Jemima performed furiously, spitting out shrieking vocals as if her life depended on it.
Her appearance had dramatically changed from the last gig that they did at the Scala a few months back. Her ‘typical American’ looks; long blonde hair, perky face and tiny frame, had changed somewhat drastically, and now suited the tone of BYOP’s music and her stage presence.
Her hair, now cropped short and with an undercut on one side, lay pasted over her face and covered in sweat. Her make-up dribbled down her face; her smudged eyes reeking of something wonderfully Punk like.
The set was hot and frantic; the songs were short and bursting with an appetizing vulgarity, mainly led by Jemima.
Towards the end of the set, like excited teenagers (most of whom were probably teenagers) the crowd surged on to the set for one last Be Your Own Pet sweat-filled orgy.
And that was the end for Be Your Own Pet.
Related Links
Be Your Own Pet Scala review
- Posted on August 12, 2008 11:24 AM
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The Tears
Robots in Disguise
Review by Zarina Raja
The Tears, Robots in Disguise’s third single from the album We’re In The Music Biz, is an Electro/Pop ballad spinning on the suspicions and paranoias that rear their ugly head in all relationships.
RID have not fallen for making a soppy love song – anything but. Although the melody is slower than the likes of past RID songs, it has an appetizing and delectable, yet threatening, edge. ‘I’ll cut her, I’ll cut her, I’ll F*** her.’
The Tears is a great Pop song, etched with a light Electro vibe, heavily carpeted with lyrics that every girl can relate to.
The single features various versions of The Tears, portraying an elasticity within The Tears which allows it to be remixed into something completely different from the radio edit.
The heretic mix by Tim Burgess of The Charlatans is a brilliant, danceable remix, one that emphasizes the slow urgency in the idea behind the song.
Billion $dj’s funkpanic remix is another great attribute to the single. Fast-paced, manic and slightly crazed, wonderfully representing a disbelieving lover.
Related Links
Robots in Disguise interview
Buy Robots in Disguise tickets
- Posted on July 17, 2008 3:20 PM
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Kap Bambino
Sin, July 10th
Review By Zarina Raja
Kap Bambino repulse contemporary musical boundaries. They veered, like a crazed machine, into the looming abyss of Death/Metal type Electro, fired by a burning Punk vibe that seethed and shuddered through every Kap Bambino track that crashed out from the amps.
Kap Bambino, otherwise known as Caroline Martial and Orion Bouvier, ripped Sin to shreds on Thursday with a spectacular – and highly anticipated– manic fervor. With Caroline on vocals, and Orion mixing Kap Bambino’s dirty Metal/Electro mixes, the crowd had no chance of maintaining any control – or dignity.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Kap Bambino" »
- Posted on June 23, 2008 1:35 PM
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Massive Attack’s Meltdown
Peaches DJ set – Silent Disco.
Southbank Centre – Thursday 19th June
Review By Zarina Raja
What’s the point of a Silent Disco? Seriously though, think about it – a Silent Disco. Intrigued, but not wholly amused, we headed to the Royal Festival Hall to check out this weird, quiet disco business.
‘But Zed, it’s fun…’that’s what they kept saying to me, ‘especially when you take your headphones off and there is no music.’ Oh right yeah, that is fun isn’t it? Is it?
Keeping my disparagement at bay, we entered the Royal Festival Hall. Upon entry, a rather large, yellow pair of headphones was slung around my neck. At this point, as curiosity got the better of me, I started thinking that maybe this was cool. Oh look, there are two channels of music…and where is the volume?
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Peaches" »
- Posted on May 13, 2008 1:54 PM
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Ladyfest 2008
May 9th -11th - The Underworld, Camden
Review by Zarina Raja
Ladyfest 2008 removed me from the blistering sunshine on Friday and into the clammy depths of The Underworld.
Tagged by our pink wrist bands, we descended into the dark, ready for three nights of female-based bands and a little Riot Grrrrl action.
Ladyfest London 2008 kicked off with a string of films at the Islington Arts Factory and some workshops on Feminism, Confronting White Privilege and a bit more feminism…(well, what did you expect?)…The Feminist Antique Roadshow to be exact.
Your Heart Breaks, Monday Club, The Bobby Mcgees, Slow Club and Kimya Dawson, all took to the stage throughout Friday night.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Ladyfest London 2008" »
- Posted on April 2, 2008 1:46 PM
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Be Your Own Pet
Scala, Tuesday 1st April
Review by Zarina Raja
I have no idea where to start. Be Your Own Pet completely obliterated the Scala last night. They played one of the most splintering sets that I have seen in for a long time. Jemima Pearl and her band make music to drown in - and last night’s set was no exception.
The boisterous, heaving, and sweaty crowd sunk into BYOP’s screeching Punk/Pop tunes with a frantic immediacy and fraught urgency. The gig stripped things back to basics; a bunch of crazed fans, lunging like lunatics, to a band that are wonderfully unrefined, raw and passionate performers.
Jemima Pearl, BYOP’s ferocious front girl, rocked it harder than Courtney Love during her Pretty On The Inside era. Jemima has the appearance of a typical American girl; tiny, pretty and blonde, a girl that gets all the boys sweating in their pants with just one look. As soon she opens her mouth, however, this sweet-as-pie image rapidly deteriorates.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Be Your Own Pet" »
- Posted on March 23, 2008 1:51 PM
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The Gossip
Shepherd's Bush Empire, March 21st
Review by Zarina Raja
Beth Ditto did it again. She completely obliterated Shepherd’s Bush Empire last night, leaving us gasping for breath and clinging on for dear life. She put on a fast, furious and frantic show – I don’t think that there has been a time when she hasn’t.
Saturday night’s performance explicitly portrayed a woman bursting through boundaries and quite frankly not giving a f***. You could see the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she screamed into the cowering microphone.
As soon as she set foot on stage, an intimidating energy soared through the venue, firmly grasping people’s attention and swallowing them whole in one wide lip-sticked gulp.
Ditto is an enviable mass of talent. She exudes an arresting charm that makes you stop and stare as her heaving cleavage smothers her unfathomable shrieking lungs.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: The Gossip" »
- Posted on January 29, 2008 1:30 PM
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Robots In Disguise
Interview By Zarina Raja
‘We have a lot of fans that give us support, but in terms of the music industry, we have had f*** all. ‘
Robots In Disguise are not afraid to fight their corner. ‘G-I-R-L, it’s not a dirty word’ they scream in their song, Girl , from their second album Get RID. No, it’s not a dirty word, but it is clear to the Robots that the music industry has trouble with it. Go on, say it…GIRL.
Robots In Disguise are really pushing the girls-in-a-band vibe and are doing it well. They don’t rant and rave about men like bored housewives, instead they drench their lyrics in something that resembles girl power - but a cooler version than the 90s two-fingered, Spice inspired variety. The Robots are way more Grrrl and a lot less Giiirl.
Robots In Disguise make crunching tunes that flip between danceable Indie, dirty Electro and thudding Pop. They always put on a ruddy good show for fans, never missing the chance to dress up in a silver cape, and always dripping in glitter.
Robots in Disguise have just released their third album, We’re in the Music Biz, which is available to download now and will be available to buy on February 4th.
Dee Plume and Sue Denim chatted to us on their day off (despite still doing interviews and sorting out tax returns). Dee was the first to talk Robots with me.
Continue reading "INTERVIEW: Robots in Disguise" »
- Posted on January 21, 2008 1:56 PM
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Ida Maria
Dublin Castle
Tuesday 15th Jan
Review By Zarina Raja
Ida Maria is a female artist that unifies surging rock, Swedish Pop and – I’m sorry to use the phrase but – Girl Power. She is a fiery chick with a guitar who has a bunch of songs that need to be heard now (and loud).
As soon as Ida Maria marched into view, it was clear that the hype about her was true. She strode to the centre of the stage and sucked in the gaze of a rammed Dublin Castle. Dressed in a short green lacy dress and black ankle boots, blunt fringe and red lips, she looked like she knew how to rock a packed venue.
After her first song, Drive, she kicked off her boots and peeled off her socks. Standing bare foot on the stage, she launched into the second song of the night, Louie.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Ida Maria" »
- Posted on November 30, 2007 1:41 PM
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Electrelane
Koko – Nov 29th
Review By Zarina Raja
Anni Rossi - a solo performer with an incredible voice and a viola - opened the show for Electrelane last night at the Koko. She appeared small and lonely on the vast stage. Her set was simple – just her and nothing else - but her performance was far from plain.
Most of her songs were dominated by her viola and a little foot stamping that gave her songs some base. Her set was slow and intriguing. She looked like her mind may have been somewhere else; possible tangled up from the specs of light bouncing off the Koko’s disco ball. Her arms jutted out to the side as she cut through the strings on her viola and murmured softly into the microphone; sometimes pushing her voice to an angular high. The crowd swayed slowly with her, well warmed up for the next band Yeasayer.
Yeasayer started their set with a drawn out arrangement of synths drowning the Koko in a heavy 80s vibe. Although Yeasayer sounded kind of 80s, at times they slipped in to Rock, experimental and instrumental throughout their set. The front man looked like he was from a recent Indie band whilst the other members looked like they had been plucked from a 80s Rock gig. Yeasayer were, in fact, amazing. They totally immersed themselves in their music and seemed unaware that they were performing to hundreds of people. Their music was unlike nothing I have heard for a while and I enjoyed it but still wanted them to get off the stage as quick and possible so Electrelane could start.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Electrelane" »
- Posted on October 29, 2007 11:02 AM
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Koko, 28th October
Review By Zarina Raja
How did the Klaxons win the Mercury award for best album of the year and not Bat For Lashes? Although the Klaxons exude a certain quirky, youthful charm, they are leagues below the incredible Natasha Khan and her fascinating band, Bat For Lashes.
As I stared down on to the backdrop of twinkling lights, glittering instruments, and make shift trees that were all basking under a mysterious blue haze, I could see that we were about to enter Khan's enchanting imagination. The rest of the crowd could feel it too because there was a warm calm that clung to the air as people quietly waited for Natasha to grace the stage. As she took her place, she gave the audience a shy smile and then began to sing something in French. We were immediately captivated by a sense of mystical awe as the KoKo whirred to life.
Continue reading "Gig Review: Bat For Lashes" »
- Posted on October 18, 2007 12:38 PM
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Virgin Mega Store
The Sex Has Made Me Stupid
Reivew By Zarina Raja
Every time I see Robots in Disguise, each performance tops the last, and yesterday’s performance at Oxford Streets Virgin Mega Store was no exception.
In store performances always lack the atmosphere that a gig has; people mill about, many seem to stumble into the performance without realizing who it is, and it is always too bright and too soon after work to allow yourself to be fully immersed by the music.
RID, however, had no problem in rocking Virgin with a variety of old and new tracks, a massive stage presence and a highly entertaining rock star attitude.
Clad in silver capes, back combed hair and blunt fringes, they swaned onto the stage, already owning the audience. Two robots followed them out, wearing silver cardboard robot outfits and dancing manically throughout the set, funnily enough, throwing robotic shapes that tease the hyper crowd.
Continue reading "Gig Review: Robots In Disguise" »
- Posted on October 15, 2007 3:08 PM
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Review By Zarina Raja
White Chalk is Polly’s most haunting album so far, even the art work on the album cover is eerie - a Victorian looking PJ with a pale face, painted by a disturbingly blank expression that longs to be read. It is the kind of album that you may expect to hear seeping under the doorway of a creaky old house, infested with child ghosts and a spinster pianist.
White Chalk is a quiet album that slithers its way to the back of your mind, prodding and awakening your hidden, bleak imagery until it manifests itself at the front of your thoughts. This album makes you want to stop in your tracks (and collapse to the floor) whilst the world spins on without you.
PJ Harvey’s ghostly presence wafts towards you from every angle, soft and poignant, and masked in a trembling sadness and suggesting something resembling regret and guilt.
Continue reading "Album Review: White Chalk - PJ Harvey" »
- Posted on October 10, 2007 12:02 PM
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Alison Moyet
Interview by Zarina Raja
It's not every day you get the chance to question the likes of Alison Moyet. The Essex born singer began her musical career in a number of punk rock, pub rock and blues bands and later joined Vince Clarke (Depehce Mode) to form Yazoo. Two albums and several hits later, Moyet took a turn down the solo path and emerged with a backlog of hits and a West End theatre role or two under her firmly tighetened belt.
We grabbed a moment of Alison's time ahead of the release of her new studio album 'The Turn' (released on Monday, 15th October) and the single 'One More Time' (Monday 8th October). Catch her during her upcoming gigs... and while you wait, wrap your eyes around the responses from a woman with overpowering talent and intergrity.
Your passion for your music is patently clear – what was the defining moment in your life when you decided that you wanted to pursue a career in music?
I never really was planning for a career in it. I expected to get a job and do a bit on the side as a semi-pro. Be a part of the pub-rock scene like Dr Feelgood and Wilco Johnson. I became a pop star by a turn of fate and then played with the cards I was dealt.
Continue reading "INTERVIEW: Alison Moyet" »
- Posted on October 10, 2007 11:42 AM
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- Zarina Raja
No other band suits their name more then The Go! Team. Their performance at the Astoria was exactly that – it was all Go! Go! Go! The Go! Team were the headlining act for the NME Fresher’s Tour, supported by Operator Please and The Satin Peaches.
A tantalizing fusion of light and colour exploded onto the stage along side The Go! Team. The band jiggled and jumped, and pumped and sweated to the music. The gig kind of resembled that of an aerobics class with an athletic looking Ninja (lead vocals), all legs and toned arms, leading the class and spitting out vocals. She bounced around the centre of the stage, flinging herself about to the music, dressed in hot pants, stripy leg warmers and a vest top. From a distance, Ninja could have easily been mistaken for one of the 118 team, and although that is not a good thing, the look worked for her.
A whooping crowd bobbed about to The Go! Team, punching their fists into the air and singing back to Ninja. The Go! Team slip into the indie genre, but also merge pop and hip hop to create a juxtaposing set of party anthems. They are a wildly energetic band, literally working out on stage and gulping down water as if they were at the gym. The Go! Team interacted with the crowd too, making fans feel appreciated by the band and garnished their performance with personality and intimacy.
Continue reading "Gig Review: The Go! Team" »
- Posted on August 22, 2007 2:52 PM
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The Sounds
Secret Gig at the Hoxton Bar and Grill, Old Street.
Review By Zarina Raja
The lengthy wait before The Sounds finally took to the stage was definitely worth while. The crowd grew more and more charged with every sweaty minute that passed, sucking on drinks and dancing around to the Electro noise that was gushing from the speakers. Although crushed between four of the tallest people I have ever seen in my life, I managed to keep my place firmly at the front with my camera poised for some serious Maja action.
Continue reading "Gig Review: The Sounds" »
- Posted on July 11, 2007 10:25 AM
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New Young Pony Club
Fantastic Playroom Album Launch
Review By Zarina Raja
Oxford Street's Virgin Mega store was heaving with funky looking girls and ridiculously indie looking boys, all ready for a dose of New Young Pony Club. It seemed a bit odd to be that dressed up at 5.30pm on a Tuesday night but hey…
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- Posted on June 14, 2007 9:20 PM
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CSS
Great Escape, 2007
Review By Zarina Raja
CSS exploded on to the MTV2 stage with a throbbing mass of disco-pop-electro-rock and most definitely exceeded everybody’s towering expectations.
Lovefoxxx, the lead singer in CSS, looked as effortlessly cool as ever as she jigged around the stage in a loose t-shirt and tight trousers, drizzling each song with a sexy Brazilian slur as the audience surrendered themselves to a band that is undoubtedly one of the hottest female led bands around.
She flirted with their fans by incorporating lyrics such as ‘To all the ladies in Brighton that want to kiss music’ and ‘Let's each chips and listen to Hot Chip.’
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: CSS" »
- Posted on June 14, 2007 9:15 PM
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Robots in Disguise
Barfly, Friday 18th May,
Review By Zarina Raja
There is no better venue in Brighton than the Barfly (formally known as the Gloucester) to watch a band like Robots in Disguise. Despite the slimy walls, the sticky floors, and dingy red lighting, the Barfly oozes a certain grimy charisma that seems to guarantee a damn good party.
The place is practically falling apart, and definitely not ideal to watch bands, but it worked for the Robots. With RID, there is no need to for professional venues in the hope of polishing their music because that would crush everything that RID epitomizes.
Continue reading "GIG REVIEW: Robots in Disguise" »
