Enigma Tales

Rebekah Ward / Music Journalism Student / Manchester, UK

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Super Creeps @ The Whisky Jar, NQ 16/2/17 - Live Review

The anticipated return of Super Creeps has arrived with an intense cocktail of funk and psychedelic bands performing live, bringing us Manchester's freshest talent for the second time around. We gathered in the basement of Northern Quarter’s former mill, now known as The Whisky Jar- a swanky little venue with a state-of-the-art sound system. Easing into an imposing turnout, the wavey night commenced…

Kicking off the night was Fro, a high spirited three-piece band from Bury, illuminating the entire room with their unique style. It always amazes me when the drummer of a band is the lead singer, as it was in Fro’s case. Jay Heald’s tight drumming was accompanied by mellow vocals which certainly spiced up the band’s aura. In the midst of their set, we were entranced by an instrumental piece, shortly followed by some shredding and shape throwing by the groovy guitarist Alex Goodall. If you’ve been somewhat enticed, I recommend that you check these guys out if you get the chance.

An astonishing last-minute fill in from Psyblings was just what the night desired. The psych rock five-piece produced heavy overtones with gut shaking power. Frontman Greg Dixon remained a part of the audience for majority of the show, maintaining the thrill and buzz within the crowd. Merging blues rock, punk and grunge all together stirs up a concoction of gritty noise that is guaranteed to make your mind bend. During their last song ‘Box Up World’, Dan Coleman dissects his guitar, descending into a dirty paradise for all the hear.

The savvy yet unpredictable Queasy introduced heavy funk rock to the stage that we had not yet seen. The five-piece gave us an endless supply of naughty grooves which engulfed the entire room. Both sharp and slick with their aesthetics and sound, the high-energy vocalist Jack Swann-Connor delivered fast paced lyrical brilliance balanced out by the smooth and groovy instrumentalists, hooking the crowd onto the fishing rod of funk. Catch these guys next time around at The Peer Hat next Saturday in Manchester!

Creating a mesmerising ambience with hard hitting vocal power Scruffy Bear were next to take stage. The four-piece blues rock band take influences from the 60’s with a subtle modern twist. Their melodic performance was extremely professional and obvious amounts of effort has clearly been put into this band resulting in exceptional stage rapport. Georgina Eaton’s roaring vocals devoured the crowd while a medley of moods was being portrayed. After being teased by Sass Lafferty’s bass runs and fills, we were then bombarded with John Roaches filthy guitar solos. Marching into their last song ‘Gold Brick’ where we were left only speechless from Ryan Hunt’s remarkable drumming.

Emperor Phunk revealed the prophesy that is their latest material, ‘Daddy Long Legs’ featuring the ludicrous Keirah Kirton. Not only did the five-piece funk rock band do a half an hour headlining set, but lead an hour long jamming session to knock one’s socks off. Despite technical difficulties, the funk was more real than ever. Appearing onstage alongside The Phunk was Will Lewis and Sean Owens, the dons of tone. We heard an eclectic mix of covers from bands including The Doobie Brothers, Vulfpeck and Living Colour, which was full of ridiculous guitar solos. Not to forget the Rage Against the Machine – ‘Bulls on Parade’ cover masters, Adam C and Jeremy nailing it for the third time running.  

To culminate such a funkchadelic evening, a relentless drum off occurred. A hypnotising pendulum of rudiments, rolls and brain melting grooves. Will Lewis vs Ollie Binns; blues vs funk; a recipe of boogie rhythms for the mind, body and soul. If you wish to unite in the name of Phunk don’t miss them at their E.P launch next Friday at Deaf Institute! 

Kudos to everyone who contributed to making this such a fantastically entertaining evening.

See you next time round Super Creeps.  

*Photos by HighHopesStudio*

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BadBadNotGood ‘IV’ Album Review

Release Date: 8/7/16

This July, Canadian Hip Hop Jazz band BadBadNotGood bring us their fourth studio album featuring collaborations with the likes of Kaytranada, Mick Jenkins and Future Islands Front man Sam Herring. This record is yet another fiery flowing instrumental hip hop album that yet still manages to say a billion words.

Saxophonist Leland Whitty permanently joined the band becoming the forth member after featuring on 2015's Sour Soul in partnership with Ghostface Killah (Wu Tang Clan). Including the sound of fresh but classic lounge vibes and soothing blues balladry without once stepping on any old ground. While Colin Stetson also uses his elegant, legendary sax skills to lose your mind during Confessions part.ll But for the first time BBNG introduce vocalists to the heavy guest list that the album holds in 'Time Moves Slow' featuring Sam Herring's distinguished breathy vocals. While 'In your eyes' features Toronoto's own R'n'B star Charlotte Day Wilson towards the end of the record with a graceful mellow fade-out.

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Animal Collective ‘Painting Within’ Album Review

Release Date: 19/2/16

After four long years, psychedelic pop group Animal Collective are back with a bounce as confusing as ever, releasing their tenth studio album 'Painting Within'. Since 2012's Centipede Hz didn't quite pick up and inspire the ears of the weird and open minded quite like Merriweather Post Pavilion and Strawberry Jam did, maybe time off the scene didn't do too  much harm and took a turn for the better!

The brightly bewildering essence of the LP entails a rather playful arrangement of summery instrumentation accurately representing the first single released from this album, 'FloriDada'. Expecting nothing less from Animal Collective but overlapping, looped vocals somehow all in perfect unison. The Baltimore trio remain complex in construction with abstract ambient melodies. Each song imbued with the raw sound of natural fun guiding you urgently through a challenging yet exuberant labyrinth. This is the sound of revitalisation.

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Floating Points @ The Ritz Manchester – 12/2/16 Live Review

The spirals and swirls of the mesmorising neon spirograph back-set looming over the band whirled my senses amongst the combination of confusing and unpredictable instruments. A slow exposition of eastern-influenced electric piano in sync with a warm synth building a beautiful two-note opening. Skittering drum patterns lift any anticipation with the subtlest drops. From the modal jazz opening to the kind of proggy interlude with minimal techno in the drum machine building layers of polyrhythms. As the tempo drops moving swiftly into a trip-hop elegant daze themed set throughout the remainder of the show.

Neuroscientist by day, DJ/Composer/Producer by night. Sam Shepherd, Manchester born, post-rock, electronica musician sold out The Ritz Manchester last Friday night, accompanied by his band of three other very talented musicians. I took a liking to the layout and stage presence as it gave us a natural jamming essence. There was very little interaction with the crowd, with main focus on them and their incredible long jams Which brings me on to the point of crowd spirit. The crowd weren't the best, perhaps it wasn't what they expected or maybe there was not enough to dance to or simply lacking a long enough attention span to concentrate on real music. I looked to my left and noticed a girl scrolling through Facebook then over to my right to overhear shouting from a large group of lads. For me, you don't really need to dance, mosh or start a wall of death to enjoy the music. When there's excellent live music provided, simply standing and absorbing the talent you are paying to see is highly more important.

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BIMM band Emperor Phunk live review

Emperor Phunk, 6 piece, funk-rock fusion band take over Manchester to bring you the finest “free range organic phunk jams”. That's the latest trending genre if you haven't yet heard. These funky fellas came together to push people musically through the journey of experimentation and spontaneous jamming. A combined mass of influences ranging from blues to jazz, from funk to heavy rock, from metal to dubstep, with a little something for everyone!

I've pretty much attended every gig these guys have played so far since their first show on 30th October at Koh Tao, Fallowfield which was undoubtedly their best performance yet. Finding each song mesmerizingly unpredictable, I'd never seen a confused crowd move and groove as one entity of funk like that. The energy and thrill buzzing through the atmosphere was extremely vibrant. Front-man, Jeremy Lindemann the absolute ball of energy that he is, got the whole crowd head banging, getting everyone involved with the super dirty rhythms and beats that the incredible Drummer Ollie Binns' hit our way. An array of emotions are channelled through each song performed. Starting with Aaron Leadley's insane keyboard playing, goofing whilst grooving, between his phenomenal keyboard solo during 'Pocket full of magic', the bluesiest song you'll hear. Not forgetting guitarist, Jonny Pointer standing tall and proud, geared up in his horse head mask. As I mentioned the confused crowd earlier, I couldn’t tell whether they were more psyched with the sudden funkstep we heard breifly, or the dramatic appearance of bass player Chris Norris (who showed up very fashionably late on in the set), although it probably wouldn't have been the show it was without it. Guitarist Liam Gambles' face basically tells the story... You'll have to see that for yourself.

In comparison with the Rebellion gig on 14th January this year, retrospectively this was their best performance sound wise, making it their cleanest gig yet, thanks to the very well organised team and quality equipment. The band have hopes to get their finest material recorded promptly, Jeremy states that the EP will certainly be as grotesque as you think. Emperor Phunk are next set to play at Joshua Brookes on 2nd February, so come along and unite in the name of funk!

*Photo by Jade Pawson*

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Q&A with Aaron Leadley of BIMM band Emperor Phunk

Bekah:

So Aaron, keyboard warrior of Emperor Phunk. How was your first gig last Friday?

Aaron:

It was amazing! I enjoyed it so much. We got to unleash our music on a new unsuspecting audience and they loved it, I've personally played over 200 gigs and never seen a crowd move and groove as one entity of funk like that!

Bekah:

Not bad at all that, was that with your old band? What made you move onto Emperor Phunk then?

Aaron:

That's with my old band The Shamrockers. Emperor Phunk was started because we all wanted to play with other musicians who can jam and create with minimal preparation. The whole band is a very organic entity, songs are written via jamming and then refinement rather than sitting down and consciously writing a song. The move to the Phunk was done because I felt like it was time to move on and really push myself and other people musically, we're just all about experimenting and seeing if we can come up with something new.

Bekah:

Ah nice, yeah you guys are like a huge breath of fresh air if you ask me aha. So is there no one in particular who sits down and writes the songs or does it all come together naturally? Or all free range and organic like you say.

Aaron:

The majority of the time I lead the jams. So if we have a riff playing and nowhere to go, I'll start shouting out chords for the guys to follow and give the song some movement. But it's a mix where everyone puts in their own thoughts and ideas primarily. Obviously Jeremy writes lyrics though he's always open to suggestions in much the same way the music gets written.

But we're mostly free range organic Phunk jams.

Bekah:

Nice! Haha I like it. Bedsides free range organic funk would you say there are any other genres you'd class yourselves as? Was that dubstep I heard in one of your tracks?

Aaron:

Well we're really a funk rock fusion band. And you did hear a bit of dubstep! That came about by having a bit of a joke with the guys while we were having some down-time, we joked about making some dubstep, the next day we went into the studio and wrote some phunkstep. It's all about maintaining a sense of musical fun and deception. The last thing we want is for our fans to be able to predict where the song will go next. Is it funk or is it dubstep or is it jazz? Whatever it is, it's Emperor Phunk messing with your mind!

Bekah:

Phunkstep! Haha quite bluesy too in some parts. Who's your main influence personally or all together as a band?

Aaron:

Yes well, you can't play rock or funk without getting back to the roots. I couldn't speak for the band because we all have such wildly ranging influences. My personal main influence when playing with the Phunk, is Ray Manzarek the keys player for the Doors! Without doubt one of the funkiest cats to ever caress the keys!

Bekah:

Yeah you're right. Nice choice, what a legend. So how long have you lot all known each other then, did you all meet just through BIMM?

Aaron:

I literally worship the man! We've only known each other for a year now, we all met at BIMM and we're all aware of each other as musicians. But it took a couple of months to convince everyone to be in the same room for a jam, that jam we had is our set opener "Join the Phunk".

So from the moment we started playing together in a room, we started writing as Emperor Phunk. It was just a special moment with some pretty special guys and now it's lead to a band!

Bekah:

Sounds like it was just meant to be then. Have you got anything recorded yet? Or anything up on YouTube at all. I'd love to hear pocket full of gold again aha. Is that what it's called?

Aaron:

Pocket full of magic is my favourite song we play! Though that's because it's basically a 3 minute keyboard solo haha.

It was one of those moments where the stars aligned and everyone gelled. We have no recordings, however this month we are going into the studio and working on recording our first few tracks with aims to put an EP together as soon as possible. In the meantime we are booking gigs, our next one will be at Rebellion bar on Deansgate Locks on the 9th of December. It will be groovy and dirty and phunky and nasty so get down!

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Arcane Roots // Heaven & Earth TbT EP Review

Kingston Upon Thames brings you three-piece alternative rock band, Arcane roots, with their new this month EP, Heaven & Earth. Andrew Groves' vocals may have the power to make you feel uncomfortable in parts if you don't sit well with heavy sreamo music. However, working their way up within the post-hardcore, heavy rock scene amongst the likes of Lower than Atlantis and Don Broco, the polished edge and structuring of each track is intelligently put together.

Introducing the five-track EP is the bold and energetic 'If nothing breaks, Nothing moves'. Gentle piano keys begin to stir up what descends into a roaring soaring melody. Drums harden, initially toughening up the track, as riffs become wild underneath the progressing screamed vocals.

'When did the taste leave your mouth' is much more emotionally driven and desperate in sound. This track captures the most believable emotions channelled through the medium of Groves' wailing. However, this track appears to be embedded with much more generic sounding instruments, triggering no immediate head bobs or foot taps for the listener.

During 'Leaving', the lyrics really pepper this song with extra power. Therefore, the message intended on being portrayed via this track is accompanied by a steady paced rhythm and delivered passionately as a really clever heavy rock record.

My most favoured track on the record is, 'Slow Dance', with it's title representing it's soft intro featuring a beautiful, rippling guitar riff that soon gets injected into the spirit of the heavy material entwined within the track and maintains throughout through out, to the end. The energy picks up and plummets us into a messy and filthy guitar solo, wrapped up within a sludgy yet electrifying ending.

After all the thrashing and slashing 'Vows and ceremony' sets the tempo well for the finale, which is soft within places and another with real emotional importance. The raucous is wrapped up until next time you decide whether to hit reply or not.