Well events like this don't happen often. The Bedlamite in question was Graham Dowdsall AKA DJ Gagarin performing live with Eric Random for as far as I'm aware the first time this century while he is limbering up for his up-coming tour with Pere Ubu.
Now I hadn't seen Eric Random play since for ever well the 1980's or early 90's at best and I know he doesn't play in London often so had to go along to this free show in a very cool Vegan cafe in Camden overlooking the canal. Ironically, it was on the opposite bank to where I used to regularly see Dids and occasionally Eric playing with Nico at Dingwalls back in the day.
This show was to promote Eric's first new album in 28 years Man Dog which is out now via Kalnggalerie. Check it out at:Kalngalerie online.
The duO performed using various keyboards and gadgets and in Graham's case an electronic drum machine that he plays with his hand. It was a bit strange being at a concert of Electronic dance music in a sit down venue but with such great drinks and music it didn't matter.
The opening number, Analog Earth, was beset by some sound problems as the Middle-Eastern vocal sample wafted over us and sounded not that unlike the Bedlamites circa 1987. As soon as the drums came in properly, the sound took off and we went on a great journey with them. Arc Light was a good bleepy drum-pad-led song with Eric singing as he did all night through a voice box of some sort that made him sound robotized rather than auto-tuned.
Black Smoke had more of the feel of an Indian Raga too it with Eric playing with his various keyboards, computers and machines to help build this intricate sound underpinned by Dids' electro drum patterns. Knock Yourself Out was a very bassy tune with some rappy samples that became quite trippy as the song went on in a sort of Loop Guru kind of way.
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I Supply with its lyrics about "Irresistible confidence and inspiration" matched with glacial dance sounds was cool and led into my favourite song of the evening, Uprising that had a repeating sample of a Muezzin's call to prayer over deep dubby swooshing noises and some good squelchy sounds.
Unreasonable Love was a full on digi-dub dance monster of a tune that was hard to sit still for, just as William Burroughs' voice started to ring out on the quite brilliant Go Figure and I could have sat for ages figuring out how this pair got those sounds and sounded this tight playing to such a select audience when they should be playing to hundreds of people.
Deadbeat Ultra was as close to Transglobal Underground as they came with a very cool female vocal sample wailing away through the song. Mad As Mankind still sounds wicked especially when played live like this. Eric's robotized vocals worked perfectly over the sonic stew they had cooked up for us.
They closed then set with On Your Knees. It had a real grime drum and bass feel to it and was a pretty powerful song to end the show. A great set and many thanks to the man from ATV for the set-list assistance. It was also cool to have a short chat with both Eric and Graham afterwards.
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