LAFIDKI (Cambodia via Berlin), Forenzics (Sydney), Reactionary (W'gong) and ReDCell (Sydney) as VJ @ RAD Bar Wollongong
Hey its tuesday in Wollongong, but that didn't stop some fringe dwellers coming out and sussing a crazy night of improvised mayhem. 1/4 Inch Presents a night of (perhaps I mean this in the full sense of the word) extremely talented, if not freakish performers...
First up is W'gong's own reactionary, in solo mode... decks and digital, spinning from mellow ambient to mid paced eclectic electronic beat ups, they have been described as "psychedelic and ethereal" which is not far from the truth, in solo mode probably more restrained...
Next up Forenzics launching their new album "Malign"... what can be said about Forenzics... it is actually fully improvised soundscapes of as many effects and knob twiddling, weird instrument experimentations, techniques, and sounds that you just haven't heard from any other band... these guys have been at it for a long time, and even though initially the chaos may send you a bit sideways... upon a more thoughtful approach you can hear that deep connection to experimentation at its essence. A scary realm to wade into, but these guys obviously, simply love it.
Last up is Lafidki from Cambodia (but currently based out of Berlin) currently doing a national tour of Aus, and also heading to NZ... slightly similar, but also different in so many ways. Drilling out solo, a desk full of gear to twiddle with, Lafidki starts ambience but swells and dynamically changes, high appegiated synths peel away to release a banging' beats, Some of his heritage can also be heard entering the samples and the use of ethnic samples flavours the music. Some solo performers can be a stone to watch, not this guy, as dynamic as his set goes, so does his body...from swaying , drifting with the feeling, to almost uncontrollable head banging while the arms go like an octopus...from holding a synth line, tweaking a level, adding an effect, seemingly all whilst being lost in the sound and physically bouncing with it.
The appreciative tues crowd, is seemly beguiled by the birthing of something totally new every movement of each of these acts... all to the incredible live visuals provided by ReDCell VJ, a usual co-collaborator with the Forenzics, a rarity in the gong where you get to witness something with such a difference... it may not be to everyone's taste, but hey not everything in life has to taste like vanilla... 4.5 stars...