Though there wasn’t a Saturday afternoon block party to close things out this year, they retained an outdoor stage and made that the centrepiece of a day of fantastic music and comedy over eight stages. I kicked off the final day of Culture Collide with Japanese solo artist SiMoN, who accompanied lyrics in his native tongue with the electric guitar. It was quite slow and often reminiscent of Sigur Ros, both in pace and the tendency to combine random English phrases with the native language. An apt, if not surprising, way to start off the day.
I reconnected with Bombay Show Pig next, who opened up the main outdoor stage, retaining their position as my highlight of the festival, alongside Ireland’s Kid Karate. Their guest bassist, who I’ve since learnt plays with Hanni El Khatib, once again added another fantastic layer to their already inspired music. They snuck in a song performed today for the first time, with a phenomenal riff as its centerpiece. Fans of Big Scary should definitely look into this Amsterdam based duo.
As is part of the drill with the block party, the day is spent jumping between the main outdoor stage and two indoor stages in Taix, a French restaurant that is the suprising hub of Culture Collide. Moving back indoors, Chateau Marmont, an electronic group from France were getting people moving in the champagne room. Fitting, no? The four piece alternated between instrumental numbers (with occasional vocaloid effects thrown in for good measure) and ones with more traditional vocals. The easiest comparison I can make is to fellow Frenchman Sébastien Tellier, though with the vocaloid (that robotic voice effect that has been the cornerstone of so much French electro) and the general musical aesthetic, they tick all the boxes for what you’d expect from a band of the genre. Good, catchy and entertaining electronica!
I caught Float Fall next, an atmospheric and minimalist duo from Belgium duo, focusing their attention on the keys and guitar, performed by Rozanne Descheemaeker and Ruben Lefever, with beautiful vocals added into the mix. They had the odd extra element here and there – I particularly enjoyed the French Horn, which was added into a stubbing cover of “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime”. Definitely looking forward to checking these guys out when I get back to Australia.
You never know what you’ll find at Culture Collide, and Mumiy Troll, a group from Russia, are one such example of the sort of band you’d be unlikely to see anywhere else. The music of the five piece is nothing outwardly interesting, however their stage presence and unique banter made them a fun experience. I particularly enjoyed the comment: “We only have Siberian tigers. There are no polar bears”. Which was then followed by their keyboardist donning a fake Polar Bear head. As you do.
Swedish trio The Deer Tracks, featuring the striking Elin Lindfors on lead vocals, xylophone and ((the blowing keyboard thing)), backed by drums, keys, illuminated triangles and heavy electronic elements. Their music was fun, danceable and very likeable. Back on the outdoor stage, US based six piece NO led us into the evening, with a vibe reminiscent of The National – albeit with a slightly less monotone voice. “See You In A Better Life*” was a highlight of the set, as I got into position for the one and only King Khan…
*May or may not have been the song title. Given how difficult NO are to track down in a Google search, getting a confirmation on that is… tricky. If you know the song I’m talking about please get in touch!
