The rather splendid Modified Toy Orchestra have announced 2 dates for the autumn. You can catch them on:
8th September @ Birmingham Town Hall
and
10th October @ Manchester Bridgewater Hall
If you’ve not heard of them before, here’s how they’ve been described:
"Modified Toy Orchestra rescue electronic toys from car boot sales and convert them into new, strange and wonderfully sophisticated musical instruments. Taking them apart, they find new connections within each toy and seek to make a form of electronic music devoid of personal narrative or autobiography, instead asking bigger questions about our relationship with the next new gadget or our desire for the constant upgrade. Over 50 toys will feature in these UK shows, and no conventional musical instruments whatsoever. Last year, the Modified Toy Orchestra performed to much critical acclaim at venues as prestigious as the Hong Kong City Hall and the Royal Opera House, London. Previous performances have have also been transmitted on Resonance FM and BBC Radio 1. "
Thursday 29 July 2010
News - Modified Toy Orchestra - Autumn Dates
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Review - Converge - O2 Academy Birmingham - 13-07-2010
View The Review
8 out of 10
Kvelertak - unfortunately wasn't there in time to catch more than the end of one song so can't comment.
Gaza - like the bastard offspring of Will Haven and Knut, Salt Lake City's Gaza absolutely pummeled with heavy doomy passages and guitar harmonics while singer Jon Parkin screamed his way through the songs - and what a scream he has! The sound wasn't always the best for them, with the drums being a little quiet which didn't help them with the numerous tempo changes but this is Incredibly heavy, hate filled music playing incredibly well and I'm hoping they're back over again soon!
Kylesa - concentrating mainly on songs from last album To Walk A Middle Course, Savannah's Kylesa play rock with a heavy sludge influence and shouted vocals. I've got to say, I prefer them on record as whenever I've seen them their music never works great in a live environment, I find my attention wanders. They also miss a trick in that despite having two drummers the drum patterns just aren't very inventive and the only time is got interesting was when they had a short drum solo. Co - vocalist Laura Pleasants screams also grate a little because they sound so forced. On the whole, a little disappointing.
Converge - opening with Dark Horse from latest album Axe To Fall, Converge rip into their set and don't let up for the next hour. They seem to like their album openers because we're also treated to Concubine (as if they could leave that out!) and Heartache. Brum's own Shane Embury is in attendance and Jacob dedicates Locust Reign to him. A particular highlight is an absolutely crushing version of Hanging Moon from what's considered by some a lesser album, You Fail Me. I nearly banged my head off to it! Despite music and lyrical content, these guys are no hardcore miserys, and I was surprised at what a positive vibe there was, Jacob Bannon encouraging crowd participation regularly and getting a circle pit going. The music is chaotic, but it's a controlled chaos - this is tightly played music, each member playing their part perfectly from Kurt Ballou's frenetic riffing to Ben Koller and Nate Newton's punky rhythm section, and Kurt's roared vocals. The band achieve the feat of creating a hot sweaty basement gig feel in the corporate environment of the Academy 2 and show why Converge are held in such high regard. A strong contender for band performance of the year.
Tracklist:
Tuesday 13 July 2010
News - Final Supersonic Headliner Announced!
Following the news that the 2010 edition of Birmingham's acclaimed annual Supersonic Festival will be headlined by SWANS and GODFLESH, Capsule are excited to announce a further round of live acts who will also perform at this year's festival, including HALLOGALLO 2010 and NAPALM DEATH. Tickets are now on sale!
Michael Rothner's supergroup Hallogallo 2010 brings together band members Michael Rother (NEU!), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), Benjamin Curtis (School of Seven Bells), and Aaron Mullan (Tall Firs) to perform the music of NEU! as well as a selection of tracks from Rother's other projects.
Capsule are also excited to confirm that unquestionably the most influential band in extreme music's ferocious history NAPALM DEATH will be performing in their hometown to make their first ever Supersonic Festival appearance. Acclaimed as the creators of Grindcore, Napalm Death will be pushing the envelope of metal to new extremes in what is guaranteed to be an unforgettable performance.