One of the most welcome surprises of last season was undoubtedly Demdike Stare, the duo who rose to prominence thanks to three releases put out last year, later gathered into the compilation "Tryptich", released in January.
In London, at Xoyo, a top-notch evening unfolds, between heavy dub, veiled techno and sonic abstractions. Opening the night are Casper C, among the most prominent emerging names of the London underground.
Their always sharply-focused set comes across as a perfect blend of certain Underworld moods and the fog of the latest Tim Hecker. Drones melting into the beat in a motion that, however, stands apart from the latest Fuck Buttons, being more ethereal and fluid.
The late hour at which John Roberts starts playing is perfect for a set that blends dancefloor energy with relaxation. His third release, put out in 2010, marks him as one of the standout names on the global techno-ambient scene, as demonstrated by the hour and a half of the show. Underground ambient textures, woven and dotted with 4/4 beats, at times quiet, at times explosive. All of it played out through bounces and stillness.
The real stars of the evening, however, are Demdike Stare. Over their hour of digressions, we discover them in a different light. Beats almost entirely stripped away, leaving only flowing, swaying streams of abstract sound, embroidered with glitches that never overstay their welcome.
The sound expands and vibrates, yet never really manages to truly draw you in. The material, which perhaps works better in the studio, comes across as a bit thin when performed live. There's certainly no shortage of flashes of brilliance and clever touches, but what dominates is a sense of irresolution. What's missing is the bite of a clearly defined sound (dark-drone-dub?) that almost never manages to leave a mark, to tear through the veil separating a mere stylistic exercise from a fully realised statement.
The drones stutter along and, in the long run, even bore the crowd that showed up in force and, not long after the live set begins, turns to chatting and ordering beers at the bar.
Ride the wave of great music
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This article is an English translation of the original Italian text by OndaRock Staff, published on OndaRock.it. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence, under the editorial responsibility of OndaRock's editor-in-chief, Claudio Fabretti.
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Edoardo M. Cappuccio
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Gabriele Brombin
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