THE 802 (London Barbican, 16/03/12)



A dissonant, chaotic, mesmerising smorgasbord of folk, electronic and modern classical-tinged compositions courtesy of Nico Muhly, Sam Amidon, Doveman and Owen Pallett. Particularly memorable was “The Only Tune,” a powerful and original reimagining of an traditional English folk song which may mark the only occasion where the amplified sound of head-scratching has ever been utilised in a serious musical composition.

(Photo: Tastelackingmodernist)

JEFF MANGUM (London Union Chapel, 13/03/12-14/03/12)



Yes, there could have been a bit more brass, yes, the sing-alongs were more muted than I would have liked, but goddamn, I just saw Jeff Mangum sing pretty much the entirety of “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea” in London’s most beautiful gig venue. I could go on about the rawness and power of Jeff’s voice, or the shivers “Oh Comely” sent down my spine, but what really sums it all up is that the standing ovation he received on the second night was perhaps the loudest and most passionate I’ve experienced in over 750 gigs. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES: CURATED BY JEFF MANGUM (Minehead Butlins, 09/03/12-11/03/12)



HIGHLIGHTS:

Jeff Mangum (the only man who could compel a thousand Guardian-reading halloumi munchers to sing “I LOVE YOU JESUS CHRIST”)
BOREDOMS (standing next to the speakers for the climax of ‘Acid Police’ was both the best and worst thing I’ve ever done.)
Joanna Newsom (as ever, ‘Sawdust and Diamonds’ nearly made me blub like a 5-year old girl)
Sun Ra Arkestra (I too want to be a cartwheeling, jazz-playing space wizard)
Electric 6 Holiday Special (which ended with half the band singing or sousaphoning Sun Ra covers out by the chalets)
Apples In Stereo (The perfect joy-pop salve for what remained of my eardrums post-Boredoms)
Mike Watt and George Hurley Play The Songs of The Minutemen (Simply bad-ass, even 30 years on).
Yann Tiersen (no accordion, but violin wig-outs and vintage synths galore. No complaints here.)
Group Doueh (Saharawi grooves and awkward hipster dancing. Even spotted Jeff Mangum throwing a few shapes.)
Magnetic Fields (Stephen Merritt and I nearly walked into each other outside the artist’s catering area. He did not look impressed.)
The impromptu Elephant 6/Sun Ra/Magic Band/Boredoms/ACME jam session in Reds at 1:30 Monday morning.

LOWLIGHTS

The atrocious sound for Olivia Tremor Control.
The ill-thought-out setup for the A Hawk And A Hacksaw-scored film screening, which meant you could neither see the film nor band.
Too...much...Finnegans.

Overall: Up there with the Ten Years and Matt Groening weekends, and a return to form after the dreary GY!BE event. Roll on December!

(Photo: John Gleeson)

ANDREW BIRD (London Barbican, 05/03/12)



An unconventional set from Chicago’s whistler-in-chief, comprising a run through his new album and an encore of traditional folk songs, covers and one or two old favourites. Not something you’d want for every show of course, but as a one-off it was interesting, and to be honest, Andrew Bird could play two hours of Creed covers and still make your jaw drop with astonishment.

(Photo: John Gleeson)

OBERHOFER (London Lexington, 22/02/12)



See review: HERE

M83 (London Shepherd’s Bush Empire, 16/02/12)



Let’s face it- an M83 show is basically the album played really, really loud with lots of shiny lights, unyielding percussion and judicious amounts of cowbell. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. By far the most enjoyable gig of 2012 so far.

THE LONG COUNT (London Barbican, 04/02/12)



There was no way a "multimedia concert" about the Mayan creation myth wasn’t going to be pretentious, but all things considered, this was a dramatic, intense and at times breathtakingly epic work from the Brothers Dessner. Tunde Adebimpe was the star of the show, his rumbling baritone eerily reminiscent of Matt Berninger at times, but My Brighest Diamond and Kelley Deal also impressed in their role as Mayan goddesses. Bit expensive for 75 minutes though.

(Photo: John Gleeson)

WILD FLAG (London Electric Ballroom, 01/02/12)



Scientific fact: Carrie Brownstein is better than you. And if all the new material is as good as the stuff they previewed tonight, she has scope to kick your ass even more.

(Photo: Jason Williamson)

LAURA VEIRS (London Queen Elizabeth Hall, 30/01/12)



Cute, but not really my thing.

(Photo: John Gleeson)

THE DO (London Bush Hall, 26/01/12)



Genre-bending Parisian pop par excellence, from one of the most talented bands in the business.

(Photo: We Love Fairground)

RADICAL FACE (London Lexington, 23/01/12)



Ben Cooper may look like the drummer in a metal band, but his delicately beautiful folk balladry is up there with Bon Iver for stirring the old heartstrings. His drummer also has some mad yo-yo skillz. An excellent start to what promises to be another great year of shows.

(Photo: Jacob Gaitan)