DJ Yoda's Magic Cinema at Koko

DJ Yoda's Magic Cinema at Koko

21 July, 2008
by: TOrton

A lot of artists mature with age, and with Yoda, it's a problem. His pioneering AV scratching and mixing has propelled him on in leaps and bounds in terms of renown and industry clout, but musically he was never greater than on the first of his How to Cut and Paste series. Back then hip hop was crying out for the musical equivalent of head strapped goggles and clown sized comedy shell toes- a man who could bring together Gang Starr and Paul Barman and leave you feeling warm and contented.

As the years go by, Yoda's left me feeling dazed and confused by where it all went wrong. I keep getting older, but the jokes stay the same age... and now we're not just hearing them, we're seeing them too.

The live AV scratch spectacular at Koko, or DJ Yoda's Magic Cinema Show, to give it its stage name, could have been a stay-at-home affair enjoyed from the sofa, without the £3 Yoda branded Popcorn (money, money, money, money… moneeeeey) and the pneumatic DJ riser. The way film should be enjoyed.

Not that it isn't lapped up by the rest of the sell-out crowd. This particular audience seem to have just 'got it', swapping Yoda WAVS between university halls Limewire and collecting his CDs with their new yummy Boxfresh wear. "Apparently Yoda remixes A-Team!"... "Yoda ROCKS"... "Yoda's like... soooo funny. LOL." The commercial student crowd adore the man and the show that he curates.

And I can't fault the work in scratching and looping the scenes. It leaves you with a sense of awe. Biz Markie, The Wire and Carlton of Fresh Prince fame show Yoda's talent at digging up and combining obscure clips with the cult. It's technically superb and genuinely witty.

The problem with the show is that it seems like it should be seen, not heard. When me and my companion get up to LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out', it's sad that only five other people in the place seem to know it, while the rest stand with their eyes transfixed to the huge projector, feet planted to the spot. "Guys... it's a hit!"

DJ Yoda's Magic Cinema Show is history spoon-fed to those that never got it and probably never will. I guess a show is just what it is, and a visual one at that, but I still can't help but feel let down by his choice of tracks and the lack of faith in music to stand up and co-exist with the visual.

I shan't be back, but many, many will...

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TOrton