Raf and O Live at The Basement, Brighton 24/04/10
Raf and O have been playing a slew of shows to promote their upcoming single, Through The Length, and album, A Giant In The Snow. Both are due out in May. The Basement is in my home town, in the infamous Lanes and in a street with some breathtaking graffitti on the walls along its length. The venue was all subterranean bricks and pipes with grills over lights, a calm arts space with a distinctly ambient vibe to the band room. A simple set up, minimal lighting, seating cut into steps with cushions for comfort.
Raf and O switched on their machines and proceeded to play a potent set drawn mainly from their new album. The sound was good tonight and the 3 piece band came over with authority and a strong sense of direction. Raf, Rich and Dids triggered, tweaked and manipulated sounds; Dids excellent driving atmospheric percussion and grooves, Rich`s laptop, keys, guitar/bass and Raf`s Juno, MicroKorg and samples combined to drive the songs in graceful, yet powerful congruity. The songs threw out an elasticity borne out of this live manipulation. What also stood out was Raf`s coaxing and teasing voice and when Rich sang in harmony with her, there was something very special about that perfect union. Sky and Go Find Another Planet from A Giant In The Snow were awesome, and they ended with new single Through The Length. It was just supreme. Sound angles swerving, balancing and bouncing off the walls. The band playing on instinct, grooving on the mesmeric guitar plucking and rhythmic rush. Raf singing with a big heart and stinging soul as it rose to a majestic pulsing crescendo and then, without warning, stopped dead. The silence was deafening. What a performance.
Raf, Dids and Richard
all images copyright Paul Hawkins. All rights reserved.
Buy the new single featuring Through The Length (album mix) additional mixes by Gagarin & Robert Logan and Go Find Another Planet Mellowdubmarine mix. Available now from ITunes, Boomkat and other digital musical stores
Through the length - GEO020 (GOE Records) digital download on Geo Records.
New Album A Giant in The Snow (GEO017 - out May 24th) on GEO Records.
