February 22nd, 2009: Arnaud Rivière / Api Uiz / Ero Babaa / Opera Mort

@pixi

Most of the regulars showed up and more, which is good for the fine people responsible. It had been a while since I attended a kliton gig, but I intend to break that pattern. That one was to kick off the tour that will see Api Uiz and Ero Babaa set fire to Germany — it’s actually halfway through by now, I’ve been slow updating this thing.

I got my second chance at hearing Opéra Mort — this time without hearing troubles. It was well worth the expectation, and justified my aggravation at having that set spoiled back then. What I like most about them is that they throw in unusual elements in their noisish brew. Like rhythmic loops, not an important part of the mix, but the touch of spice that made it all the more satisfying to me. And processed voice will get my vote every time, even though they went light on that ingredient. I really liked this set a lot, and thanks to él-g and Jo T. for that one.

Then it was back to the usual suspects, with a twist because Ero Babaa actually went quiet and almost sane for a while. Of course that went out the window before the end of the set, but a surprise from people I’ve heard so often is always welcome. And I liked the way they just cut their set out abruptly. I think that makes total sense, even though that sounds weird applied to them — in a good way, like if I said Kenny G. made sense, though that’s not really gonna happen.

Api Uiz will probably be bitching about the many breaks and technical difficulties, but it didn’t really matter. There even was a good side to it, in that they had the opportunity to display several times how they can go to full speed instantly. Many things in their music are common with other bands out of that particular Bordeaux scene, and that’s exclusively for the best. There’s all this uncompromising energy that never crosses over to the sanctimonious. As good an entry point as any to the wonderful world of les potagers natures, and even though I still like Chocolat Billy best — I just could not resist the name-dropping — they’re too good to miss one of their gigs in these parts: instantly engaging but with more underneath if you want to delve deeper.

I was afraid hearing Arnaud Rivière on quote-unquote turntable again so soon would be boring, but it was totally different. Much rougher than his take with eRikm and Jean-Philippe Gross earlier this week. The percussive element brought by banging stuff was there, but put to another, far less regular use. And the mixing board part was closer to the mind-blowing stuff I know he can pull off. Not that good in my opinion this time, but close enough to make the performance a good one, in an edgy hungry way I hadn’t heard from him in a while. Maybe be not his best in and of itself — I’ve heard him so many times I definitely am getting picky — but the spirit was a reassuring proof of wide open tomorrows. He’s definitely neither afraid nor complacent, and that’s more than enough to make want to hear what’s next. He’s off to Israel for a few gigs today, if you’re over there catch him if you can, and don’t shy away from talking to the guy after the show, especially if you’re a composer/musician yourself. He’s very open-minded and is confident enough to stray out of his particular path.