CARIBOU LIVE | livemusic.fm

Daniel Snaith’s latest musical adventure is something of a supergroup, a term that usually shakes most music lovers to the core and inspires fits of uncontrollable rage and depression.  Names such as The Travelling Wilburys or the eagerly awaited NKOTBBSB (New Kids on the Block and BackStreet Boys) can send fear into any man’s heart and although a ‘Supergroup’ is something that should work, let's be honest, they usually dive bomb. There are exceptions of course; bands like Cream, Monsters Of Folk and Blind Faith have come together to create something truly special in the past.

Caribou Vibration Ensemble is no different. They are a hybrid mash-up of geeky musicians with an ear for a hypnotic melody and a powerful, restless beat. Other than Caribou and a small brass section, who recorded the brass for the incredible record ‘Swim’, the group consists of three big names. The first is seasoned DJ and Producer James Holden playing the entrails of a giant computer, the second, on Synth and electronics is long time caribou friend and re-mixer Kieran Hobden (Four Tet) and the last is Sikane and Yeasayer member Ahmed Gallab on drums.

When stepping into The Packed Scala, the atmosphere was buzzing with anticipation and this only increased when everyone noticed the two drumkits set up at the front of the stage, and the large giant modular synth taking up considerable space at the back.  All the other instruments were layered around the outside of the drums in a semi circle to accentuate their importance and simply reaffirmed the fact that tonight the beat was king. From the first second of the first song we were aware that we were part of something special; something more than just Caribou, who let’s not forget are a phenomenal live outfit on their own. Every song was accompanied by raw power and each harmony, melody and rhythm from their albums quadrupled to become bigger, badder and bolder.

Although quite small for the occasion, The Scala provided a fantastically intense setting for this loud and sweaty affair, giving the audience an ethereal light show to accompany the already tantalising performances on stage. It is difficult to talk about this gig in parts or highlights as it really was an non-stop flow of masterful elements, however, it was the small differences that made it so good. The drums, placed at the front, facing each other, made it seem as if the two stick-wielders were duelling, while managing to keep time and drive the beat forward. This reached an excitable climax when both drummers were stood high on their stools, to tremendous applause, smashing their kits to smithereens.

The main plaudits must go to Snaith himself who wrote all the music and conducted the proceedings throughout the performance, from behind his instruments, aware of everything that was unfolding before him. At all points he had his eyes on different sections of the band, nodding, gesticulating as if commanding his troops. His voice soothed and flew over the music with incredible delicacy, from laying underneath the music and being almost non-existent to being the focal point of the song, such as the final song Sun, in which he repeated that word over and over throughout it’s duration.

For all who were at this gig they must have felt honoured to have been given the opportunity to have been part of this musical occasion and to hear Caribou’s music in a vamped up manner that they will probably not get to see again. I, for one, can honestly say that it was the best gig I have been to this year.

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Words - Julian Van Gils