LIVE REVIEW: Sunflower Bean @ The Dome, Tufnell Park 18/02/16

Written for Gigwise: 

New York trio Sunflower Bean admit that tonight’s date at The Dome, Tufnell Park is their biggest UK audience so far, touring with their debut album Human Ceremony, which borrows the same producer as early Tame Impala, Diiv and Sky Ferreira.

The band, who is front duo Julia Cumming and Nick Kivlen with Jacob Faber on drums, has caused a considerable stir with “industry types” and appreciative nods from labels since their appearance at last year’s SXSW, being compared to Blondie, and the glory days of the 80’s UK indie scene.   

“You guys good?”, asks Cumming, self consciously on entering the stage. Opening with ‘Human Ceremony’, it is apparent that Sunflower Bean are onto something, what they lack in confidence they automatically make up for in technical skill right from the offset.

‘Easier Said’, one of their softer tracks felt anthemic, and ‘Tame Impala’, the gloriously dizzy ‘Wall Watcher’ and ‘Space Exploration Disaster’ were flawless, gritsy indie rock in its purest form.   

“You still doing good?” they ask, as if to somehow gauge how they’re being received. It is clear to see that Cumming and Kivlen are absolutely besotted with their guitars, treating the receptive crowd to a number of strung out, at times psychedelic PInk Floydian jams.

Their heady sort of hard guitars and sweet, sugary vocals is special, and Sunflower Bean filled me with optimism - indie music that is finally interesting again. Timely without being trite. Talented without being arrogant. Inspired without imitation. Their ability to emulate the past greats whilst imprinting their own brand of awesome is rather spectacular, and amazing for such new and emerging talent.

LIVE REVIEW: Dua LIpa @ Oslo, Hackney, 02/02/2016

Written for GIgwise: http://www.gigwise.com/reviews/105312/dua-lipa-live-gig-tour-review-london-oslo-setlist-tickets

Dua Lipa is a half-English, half-Serbian musician who's currently based in London. She’s essentially a walking Pop Star Starter Pack; stunningly beautiful? Check. Achingly cool? Check. And with possibly the most envious footing any new female artist could wish for. She’s looked after by Lana Del Rey’s management, and very much fits the same profile - an alt femme fatale, self describing her sound as "dark pop."

Finishing her five-date UK tour at the Oslo in Hackney was apt and sensible for an artist of Dua’s new-talent stature, where a modest yet enlivened headcount filled the upstairs room. Opening the set with ‘Bad Together’, a track taken from her upcoming debut, Dua is instant gratification - african-style pounding drums and soaring, honeyed vocals complimented her exotic, intense presence, her name in sharp neon lights behind.

‘Be The One’ was a sugary stellar pop high, written by Lucy ‘Pawws’ Taylor, and is the only track from the album not written by Dua. ‘New Love’, another absolute blinding pop song, was equally illustrious and shed light on a recurring theme - damaged yet artistic melancholic rebellion, much like Amy Winehouse or Lana, and a welcomed relief to all of the over styled, plastic tackiness of mainstream pop.

Dua has done some interestingly varied covers, and her rendition of Jamie xx’s ‘Good Times’ was pretty special along with a cover of The Weekend’s ‘The Hills’ which showed an even grittier side.

We all have our guilty pop pleasures, but Dua Lipa is nothing to be ashamed of - pop music done right, and one to keep a very close eye on.