So, last weekend I was at the Le Guess Who? – a festival in picturesque Utrecht which I cannot recommend warmly enough. It was a blast, and the line up was a smorgasbord of mesmerising and strange acts. So this list consists of five tracks that were played at five of the best gigs. Apart from these I also saw: Den Sorte Skole, Liu Fang, Protomartyr, Weyes Blood, Richard Youngs, William Basinski, Prurient, Moor Mother, ICP Orchestra, Pharaoh Sanders, John Maus, Les Amazones D'Afrique, Hieroglyphic Being, Julianna Barwick, the Sai Anantam Ashram Singers, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jane Weaver, Sun Ra Arkestra and Princess Nokia.
Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares - Moma Houbava
22 Bulgarian women laying incredible vocal harmonies in the Utrecht Dom Church was an absolutely magical beginning of the festival. These arrangements are mind-blowing to experience live. Whoops and swoops, soaring solos, and almost flippant vocal acrobatics to wrap each composition up.
Juana Molina - Estalacticas
Realised I've listened to Juana Molina for at least 15 years by now. Finally I got to see her, and she absolutely ruled. Un Día was absolutely frantic, the trio was as joyful as it was flawless in its playing together, and I danced like a lunatic through the whole gig.Liars - Mess On A Mission
It was high time I was reminded of my long time love for Liars. I went with some trepidation as I know Angus is of recent the sole official member of the band and I didn't know if it was gonna turn into a full-blown raucous Liars gig as I've known them from before. But boy was I wrong to worry: songs from the entire Liars oevre in an absolutely gloriously noisy mess of a concert.
tUnE-yArDs - Look At Your Hands
Another positively WILD gig. Can't wait for the new album after having being completely pummelled by some new songs live.
Mario Batkovic - Ineunte
If Philip Glass had been restricted to an accordion as his sole output. Experiencing the sounds the good Mario managed to force out of his instrument live was an awesome thrill. That riff at 6:52 for example. Exquisite.
And as a bonus, here's some Arkestra madness:
And as a bonus, here's some Arkestra madness:
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