KORA: Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh 22/9/07
Based on my experience tonight, the Scots really put the English to
shame in terms of crowd reaction. Amidst the stoners and cool kids assembled
(though no-one is particularly kid-like either- bliss!), I lose count
of how many times a dreadlock pokes me in the eye. I only mildly care.
The atmosphere is incredible. Yes sir, gone are the generally sedate
back-rooms of little old Cambridge. Can I get an amen? Mind you, maybe
I struck lucky tonight because New Zealand also appears to put the rest
of the world to shame in terms of complete insanity. The five men on
stage have a thing about pulling bizarre faces when they sing (and sometimes
just for the pure fun of it). I think they are scaring my new French
flatmate. She'll never come out with me again.
Kora are four brothers from the other side of the world, and another
bloke, who use the power of reggae/dub/drum and bass/blues/rock a la
Faith No More to wipe the floor with anyone that turns out to be within
twenty feet of them when they're wielding a guitar or drum stick. Or
keyboard plug. From the laidback message of "Politician" to
the jump-inducing "Flow", though not the most amazing band
lyrically, what they give in terms of charisma and performance makes
them an irresistible combination. Cabaret Voltaire is possibly the hottest
venue in the universe (meant in temperature and not in Paris Hilton
speak) and by the time they have got through an hour or so's worth of
material, wowing us with their musical prowess (the vocals are all extremely
impressive) the walls are dripping, nay running, with the juice of a
hundred men. Now there's a thought
I can't help thinking that
this is what I've been waiting for. Super super cool.
Anna C - R*E*P*E*A*T's northern hemisphere correspondent
www.myspace.com/koraroots
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