Information about XAM is pretty scarce as they don't even have a Facebook page, but this Electronic duo opened the evening tonight at Soup Kitchen in Manchester's Northern Quarter. There wasn't too strong a crowd to begin with, but people continued to pour in during their set. Xam consisted of two gentlemen, perhaps in their mid to late 20s. One of the members sat in front of a large modular synthesiser with pedals and more wires connected to it that I would dare to count! And to my right, the other gentleman showed his multi-instrumental talents, first starting out playing the saxophone and then later switching to keyboards.
XAM performed a single continuous piece of music that seemed to rely heavy on improv. The modulated synthesiser opened their set with a playful, pulsing sound that reminded me of the music from cult comedy series Look Around You. As the repetitive cycles of arpeggios gradually escalated in volume and weight, the saxophonist began to add subtle timbres into the mix, merging natural instrumentation with Electronic soundscapes. The subtle, repeated nature of their music gave off a strong Ambient vibe, reminding me of Brian Eno's collaborations with Jazz musician Jon Hassell in the 80s. As the saxophone started to dominate the sound mix, the composition felt more dense and droning. The saxophonist then retired his instrument and switched to keyboards. Whilst it was enjoyable to see the sax in action, I think it was a little too subtle in the mix and there simply wasn't enough of it showcased to make an impact!
Fortunately XAM's body of music continued to get more exciting as the keyboardist doubled up the melodies set by the modular synth, creating a rich harmonious sound. The tempo of the piece began to gradually speed up with the modulated phrases ever so gradually shifting. XAM were well received by the crowd and created some truly blissful, peaceful and chilled out vibes, giving out an almost meditative feel. Their music requires some patience, but fortunately the open minded audience gave them a big cheer at the end. 8/10.
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The headlining trio managed to pack out Soup Kitchen's basement tonight after the word of mouth success of their debut album "Channel the Spirits". The Comet Is Coming is a Jazz trio who fuse their sound with Electronic elements. The trio consisted of Danalogue the Conqueror on keys, Betamax Killer on drums and King Shabaka on the sax (that's their birth names you know!)
After an ethereal warm up with bubbling synths, rolling drums and expressive sax, they soon kicked off with the keyboardist creating a dense rumbling dub influenced bass sound that shook my entire body! It was soon evident from their performance that this band ooze high energy, moving around the stage and breaking into sweat very quickly. The Comet Is Coming also got the crowd moving, with infectious funky grooves that got people dancing. The keyboardist not only made an array of fast paced heavy synth sounds, but added in all kinds of effects adding a more experimental Electronic approach to the performance. The drummer was an absolute beast with an endless supply of massive fills and funky breaks. Their amazing saxophonist helped to keep their compositions grounded in melody, but also ran off into wild soloing when the time was right. Each band member was extremely talented in their own right, and found times to perform solos throughout the night. Yet they shared a unifying vision of their sound, with each band member complimenting each other rather than trying to outdo each other. One of my favourite pieces of the evening was a few songs in when the trio went absolutely crazy, perform a lightning fast and intense piece with all 3 members going crazy on their instruments at once, resulting in loud cheers from the crowd.
Throughout the show, The Comet Is Coming also managed to work in more relaxed numbers that leaned towards a Jazzier sound, but in particular it was their fantastic energy and insane individual talent that stood out most. Set highlights included "Neon Baby", which was one of their funkiest numbers, but it was "Space Carnival" with it's strong rhythmic sax lead that sent the crowd crazy, dancing their socks off! The band went off to a huge applause and were demanded back for an encore, which they fulfilled, closing the evening with sheer class. 9/10.
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June 22nd 2016 @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester.
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June 22nd 2016 @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester.
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