LIVE REVIEW: Carpenter Brut @ Koko, London
The relationship between metal and electronica music has been blurred from the moment THE PRODIGY released the seminal Fat of the Land back in 1997, sparking an unlikely relationship between two genres that, until then, had seemed worlds apart. Fast forward a couple of decades and the likes of ENTER SHIKARI, PENDULUM and CHASE AND STATUS are flying the flag for ‘dance metal’ incredibly well, but synthwave, is a different kettle of fish entirely. Imagine music that blends techno, drum ‘n’ bass, house and synthesizers but formulated by an individual raised on metal and you’re not far off the genre at hand here. What’s incredible is that this has sprung up out of nowhere seemingly overnight to the point that the KOKO in London has sold out a full month in advance for tonight’s show of CARPENTER BRUT, with over 1,400 people inside ready to throw shapes and have a massive party.
Support this evening comes from Californian duo YOUTH CODE and despite the sparse audience that greets them half an hour after doors open, they’re not about to let it affect them. “Let’s fuck this place up!” yells singer Sara Taylor as she sets off on one of many high-energy routines that sees her kicking, jumping and hurling her body all over the stage. Backed up impressively by Ryan George, a man who leaves no doubt that his programming is not just pressing play, darting back and forth from his set up and at times holding the mic between his teeth so hard he’s in serious danger of breaking the rubber and shocking himself. He does, however, shock Sara when he lets the KOKO know that it’s her birthday that day, leading everyone in a rousing ‘Happy Birthday’ and bringing out a cake to boot. Aside from a slow start and a small slip up that sees the entire power cut momentarily, the likes of Commitment to Complications and Carried Mask are executed brilliantly, the beats rumbling and dark like the soundtrack to a jaguar on the prowl for its first kill of the day. This is a couple with a hell of a lot going for them, and you know that if they came back for a headline show at a venue akin to the Garage or the Barfly, they’d play to a packed house.
Rating: 8/10
Tonight was always going to be about CARPENTER BRUT, who playfully cut short a rousing venue singalong of TOTO’s anthem Africa with a massive explosion sound effect and the title track to their latest record Leather Teeth. It’s a brilliant song in its own right but live, with a huge screen behind the trio to tell the story and one of the best light shows ever created, it’s absolute nirvana. Every song is a perfect blend of B-movie graphics, chilling synths and vibes straight from the 80’s and there’s seventeen of them in a row to choose highlights from. The thunderous Chew Bubblegum & Kick Ass, Turbo Killer which incites a colossal mosh pit on the venue floor and the awesome Cheerleader Effect. At points, this is also a dark and disturbing journey through the medium of sound and vision; Sexkiller on the Loose is accompanied with images of soft pornography, slasher horror and gore whilst Inferno Galore is enhanced by a wicked satirical swipe of metal causing Satanism. Even the guys behind the sound desk are caught up in it all, dancing along and emphasising every small change in tempo or music drop.
The one disappointment from the set is that there is no live vocalist for the handful of songs that contain vocals, but the decision to put the words on the screen and incite a mass karaoke session is very much welcomed as an alternative. An outstanding Hairspray Hurricane closes the set and whilst Le Perv is great follow up in the encore, it’s a belting cover version of MICHAEL SEMBELLO‘s Maniac , that brings the house down in all its glory and sends everyone home with the biggest of smiles. The enigma known as Franck Hueso has done it again; this is a spectacle like no other and if CARPENTER BRUT can sell out a venue like this with little to no fanfare whatsoever, imagine what they’d be capable of if they broke through the glass ceiling.
Rating: 9/10