Red Snapper and The Bays at Koko

Red Snapper and The Bays at Koko

07 December, 2009
by: Lowri

Trip hop, jazz and old musical heroes: Lowri Clarke sways to the sounds of UK instrumentalism at the wonderful Koko.

Red Snapper are one of those bands whose music has that essence of familiarity – even their new material sounds like you may have heard it somewhere before.

Tonight's line-up is compiled purely of instrumentalists. Anchorsong – the Japanese electronic artist – has massively upped his game since I first saw him two years ago at another Soundcrash gig.

His looped electronica – which was once performed alone – has progressed to using a full band and string section. The characteristic minor key darkness remains – as does the solitary mood of the music – but it's a richer sound. He's come on in leaps and bounds and his performance really warms the crowd.

Red Snapper's second album 'Making Bones' cemented them as part of the small gang of artists pushing the UK trip hop, ambient sound. Their rich and jazzy style fused deep, smoky elements of hip hop and breaks, with a smattering of drum 'n' bass.

It became a staple for fans of the chilled out sounds of Massive Attack, The Herbaliser, AIM and later Zero 7. Much as I loved the album – and their later work 'Our Aim Is To Satisfy' and 'Pale Blue Dot' – it is their songs with vocalist Alison David ('Image of You' and 'Seeing Red') which are the enduring favourites.

And their performance tonight is an excellent one – enthusiastic and heartfelt – but their songs are crying out for a vocalist. Their rich instrumental jazz and hip hop sounds lovely but it's not really enough somehow – or rather it is but would enter the realm of the incredible with the addition of a beautiful singer.

The Bays come on next and smash it. 'Performance is the product' is their ethos – meaning they've recorded no studio material and never rehearse. It's phenomenal to see them live. Purely improvised, building the music instinctively together. They are another outfit who have really progressed and their set-up now looks almost sci-fi in its modernity. The drums and cymbals arc over drummer Andy Gangadeen's head. The keyboards actually have what looks like an aerial.

The group build up some deep rhythms which lead into full on four–to–the–floor beats. The hairs on my arms are being shaken by the bass. Very loud and very good. Everyone is dancing and pleased to have some meaty beats to shake it to. It is testimony to the excellent Koko soundsystem that there's no ringing in my ears as I leave.


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Lowri