I guess everyone who was present at Polymorphism's first installment at Kater Holzig last Friday will agree that the staged 100% SILK showcase can only be considered an overwhelming success. Only one week later, the CTM-initiated series continues, this time at Berghain, highlighting another US-based 'auteur' label that defined 2011, Hippos In Tanks, which will bring along a lineup that instantly made us cry here at NFOP as it is pretty much the essence of what is fresh and exciting and different in underground music right now: James Ferraro, Laurel Halo, and Nguzunguzu.
When Mr James Ferraro had finished performing at Berghain Kantine sometime in the middle of the night during this year's CTM Festival under his latest moniker Bodyguard ("#AVANT-GARDE-DONE-INCORRECTLY", Tiny Mix Tapes), he had left an audience in that indistinctly uncomfortable state between amusement, anger, frustration, and outright confusion, as he had not only managed to remain invisible for the majority of the crowd during his brief set (actually standing left of the stage in the middle of a constant, thick stream of artificial smoke, mostly doing nothing safe for occasionally manipulating his keyboard, with not much effect regarding the musical output), moreover his Silica Gel mixtape turned out to be even less varied when performed live than it had appeared coming straight from the hard drive, especially when combined with the very short, looping video sequence of Hummers and other regalia of late capitalism that dominated the stage where most would've expected the actual artist to appear. Considering the fact that his latest digital single Raiden is not much of a progress, let's remain favorably skeptical with regard to his next show on Friday.
A lot has been said about Laurel Halo's debut album Quarantine (I've recently reviewed it over at Electronic Beats), out now on Hyperdub and streamable in full below (courtesy of FACT), and as far as I know, the reactions have been unanimously euphoric, already putting the record in one of the top spots for 2012's album of the year. In addition to Quarantine, with her recent Spring EP as King Felix, and the material she has put out in the last two years, Laurel has already proven to be one of the most unique and truly original artists of the decade.
Nguzunguzu, the duo of LA residents Daniel Pineda and Asma Maroof, might be the least exposed of the three headliners, but this fact surely doesn't mean they're any less significant. To the contrary, the duo's blend of staggering tribal beats, House, hip-hop and outré R&B is among the most breathtaking music you'll come across this year, an assessment that will further be underlined after the release of Nguzunguzu's forthcoming five-track EP Warm Pulse, out July 3 (digitally)/August 14 (physically) via Hippos In Tanks, a simply staggering effort of bewildering and unexpected dance music that will convince the last skeptics, if there should be any left at this point.
The night will be completed by DJ sets by The Monokid as well as Leisure System's Puzzle and Opium Hum. Go here and here for further info. No advance sale of tickets, doors open at midnight. Needless to say, highly recommended.
I guess everyone who was present at Polymorphism's first installment at Kater Holzig last Friday will agree that the staged 100% SILK showcase can only be considered an overwhelming success. Only one week later, the CTM-initiated series continues, this time at Berghain, highlighting another US-based 'auteur' label that defined 2011, Hippos In Tanks, which will bring along a lineup that instantly made us cry here at NFOP as it is pretty much the essence of what is fresh and exciting and different in underground music right now: James Ferraro, Laurel Halo, and Nguzunguzu.
When Mr James Ferraro had finished performing at Berghain Kantine sometime in the middle of the night during this year's CTM Festival under his latest moniker Bodyguard ("#AVANT-GARDE-DONE-INCORRECTLY", Tiny Mix Tapes), he had left an audience in that indistinctly uncomfortable state between amusement, anger, frustration, and outright confusion, as he had not only managed to remain invisible for the majority of the crowd during his brief set (actually standing left of the stage in the middle of a constant, thick stream of artificial smoke, mostly doing nothing safe for occasionally manipulating his keyboard, with not much effect regarding the musical output), moreover his Silica Gel mixtape turned out to be even less varied when performed live than it had appeared coming straight from the hard drive, especially when combined with the very short, looping video sequence of Hummers and other regalia of late capitalism that dominated the stage where most would've expected the actual artist to appear. Considering the fact that his latest digital single Raiden is not much of a progress, let's remain favorably skeptical with regard to his next show on Friday.
A lot has been said about Laurel Halo's debut album Quarantine (I've recently reviewed it over at Electronic Beats), out now on Hyperdub and streamable in full below (courtesy of FACT), and as far as I know, the reactions have been unanimously euphoric, already putting the record in one of the top spots for 2012's album of the year. In addition to Quarantine, with her recent Spring EP as King Felix, and the material she has put out in the last two years, Laurel has already proven to be one of the most unique and truly original artists of the decade.
Nguzunguzu, the duo of LA residents Daniel Pineda and Asma Maroof, might be the least exposed of the three headliners, but this fact surely doesn't mean they're any less significant. To the contrary, the duo's blend of staggering tribal beats, House, hip-hop and outré R&B is among the most breathtaking music you'll come across this year, an assessment that will further be underlined after the release of Nguzunguzu's forthcoming five-track EP Warm Pulse, out July 3 (digitally)/August 14 (physically) via Hippos In Tanks, a simply staggering effort of bewildering and unexpected dance music that will convince the last skeptics, if there should be any left at this point.
The night will be completed by DJ sets by The Monokid as well as Leisure System's Puzzle and Opium Hum. Go here and here for further info. No advance sale of tickets, doors open at midnight. Needless to say, highly recommended.