I'd seen Elf Traps name around. They played a residency at Band On the Wall last year and I considered going but there wasn't any recorded music on Spotify at that point (and there still isn't). I saw them described as electronic jazz but jazz covers many bases these days. The first couple of minutes makes me fear that are avant garde, experimental and minimalist (i.e tuneless) but they then kick into gear with bassy, dancefloor heavy rhythms. The drumming is amazing, covering everything from jazzy splash and syncopated rhythms to tribal polyrhythms, whilst the heavy electronics bring Aphex Twin or Autchre to mind. They deftly switch from minimalist jazz to glitchy breakbeat. When the keyboardist tinkles the ivories, they sound like a more electronic Gogo Penguin. One particularly percussive track sounds like Hot Butter's 'Popcorn' gone crazy. An excellent warm up act.
808 State have promised to play two sets tonight. The first set will see them playing the '90' album in full. The opening 'Magical Dream' is a bit of a low key start, a few bodies swaying to something that sounded cool in 1990 but hasn't aged particularly well. 'Ancodia's bassy, heavy beats and chiming electronics are much more like it, especially when accompanied by vintage images of the band. 'Cobra Bora' with it's classic rave sound, really gets the party started and is absolutely incredible. The clarinet led (or is it some kind of saxophone?) 'Pacific 202' is as classic as ever. The hard breakbeat of 'Donkey Doctor' is killer. The belching electronics, burping bass and '80s synths of '808080808' threaten to overwhelm the senses. The saxophone is brought out for the dreamy soundscapes of 'Sunrise'. They then take a short break before coming out for a second set. The second set opens with a huge squealing saxophone whilst crunchy bass and African rhythms provide the backbone. The latin rhythms of 'Ujala' jar with the glitchy stylophone but the bass midway through the track makes my insides quiver. 'Plan 9's Balearic vibes, complete with sun-drenched acoustic guitar, are great. 'In Yer Face' is pure techno armageddon whilst the crunchy mayhem of 'Cübik' is insane. Things are heating up and starting to reach fever pitch, and I possibly overdo it. An extended version of 'Pacific' is wheeled out again to a rapturous reception. Nicky Lockett (AKA MC Tunes) joins the band onstage for a funky 'The Only Rhyme That Bites'. Most of the tracks played tonight are over 30 years old but this seems to be more than pure nostalgia, as they still feel like a vital component of the UK dance scene.
808 State ****
Elf Traps ****
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