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Decoder Ring / James De La Cruz / Flamingo Crash |
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Monday, 08 May 2006 |
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The Zoo Sat May 6 Committing the cardinal sin of live reviewing, I arrive too late to catch yet another support slot by Flamingo Crash, which is probably for the best, keeping in mind the old adage, “If you can’t say anything nice…” Thankfully Avalanches reservist James De La Cruz has imagination to spare, and while he may just be blithely cutting up other people’s records, fag in mouth, his complete disregard for hip hop DJ genre conventions makes his set entertaining to the power of ten. From the Beatles, to drum & bass, to Eric B & Rakim, tempo and musical compatibility are no obstacles for this DJ – it’s all about surprises and bringing the party, and given that half of Decoder Ring are dancing down the front, De La Cruz succeeds once again.
With a sprawling array of keyboards, laptops, and guitars ready onstage, visual director Simon K begins his spectacular 16mm projections, ushering in the sonic atmospherics of Decoder Ring to an appreciative Zoo. Surprisingly lively for electro-shoegazers (the pre-show dancing must be like stretching before track & field), the band surf waves of sound from albums Somersault, Fractions, and their self-titled debut (Welcome Shoppers enthusiastically received by older fans). The dreamy Serac with its drum & bass explosions impresses, as does the thumping near-prog house of Escape Pod. Compact but spunky vocalist Lenka coos her little heart out, especially on Fractions, but it’s the Orbital-inspired Out Of Range towards the end of the set that shows how Decoder Ring have coalesced as a band – the subtle incorporation of guitar grit with glassy bubbles of synth noise and human voice is completely entrancing. Ending with a new track that crosses Bloc Party with krautrock, Decoder Ring leave no doubt as to their unique presence in Australian music. There really is no one else like them currently, and given their obvious enthusiasm for what they do, hopefully we can enjoy them for some time to come. TOPHER HEALY
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Last Updated ( Monday, 15 May 2006 )
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