Well hello…
Crikey, i haven’t posted on anything on here for what feels like forever! I do have half an excuse though, as i’ve been lucky enough to go on a jaunt to Taiwan to visit some family. As it happens, during the the two weeks that i was away, some of the most amazing gigs i’ve ever had to miss took place in Cape Town, such as the Sticky Antlers, Toumani Diabate and Guy Buttery’s album launch at the Newspace Theater (whom, incidentally, i did an interview with just before i left, which you can read here). Oh well, them’s the breaks, however i can definitely say that Taiwan was an amazing experience, perhaps even worth missing all those gigs for.
The night before boarding my flight to Hong Kong i had the great privilege to share the bill with some old friends like Us Kids Know, Kidofdoom and Joao Orecchia at a great show held on a rooftop 19 floors up in the Johannesburg CBD.
As it happens, Joao Orecchia is just about to put his new album, Hands and Feet, out on the Portland, Oregon-based Other Electricities label, which is really gratifying as Joao and i had a few occasions over the last couple of years to compare notes on our respective album’s progress and it’s great to hear it finally done. Joao’s music reminds me a lot of The Notwist, Four Tet and Mùm, with an elegaic minor-key character playfully subverted with minutely detailed digital trickery. Ask anyone who’s seen him, watching him pull these songs off live is quite an experience.
Joao Orecchia – Midnight Serenade
I also got to do an album swap with Givan Lötz, whose music blew me away with its understated gorgeousness. This album, Easy Now, is ridiculously limited edition (i’m talking 20 copies) but hopefully there’s much more to come from him. His music reminds me a lot of Six Organs of Admittance at times, and Elliot Smith at others, with the occasional mindbending drone interlude . On the whole, however, what i love about his music is that it’s unconcerned with trying too hard to impress, winning you over with its sedate and monumental grace instead. Check the song ‘Soon’ out, in my opinion the highlight of the album and a worthy namesake of My Bloody Valentine’s swoonfest.
Nice, man! Heartwarming om jou woorde te lees. Ja so gaan almal maar weer terug na hul eie lewens toe maar dis damn moeilik vir my, hoor! Koud en winderig, laat die bal rol ***
Yes, that Givan Lötz album is indeed a joyful surprize. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.