Diaryer

The Emirates, Carling Cup q/f, 30/11/10

We’ll remember this one for a while. When Wigan’s Stam came on for McManaman (just like the 90s)? When that pitch-invading boy never quite made it to the pitch? When the Mexican Yawn went round on 72 minutes? The ‘attendance’ of ‘59,000’? Oh, the match. Arsenal won without switching on the engine, let alone thinking about which gear to use. Wigan, for their part, seemed to have lost their car keys. Tedious.

The National Gallery, 28/11/10

Bridget Riley has been making paintings that make your eyes wobble since the 60s. This exhibition was a collection of new and older work, limited to only 8 pieces, none of which were particularly exciting. The film, The Artist’s Eye, though, was fascinating. Plummy British accents speaking about the ‘shape of colour’ and stuff to throbbing, confusingly eye-popping images. 

The Social, 24/11/10

Set of knob-twiddling by Luke Abbott at a crowded Social. Superb, warm synth sounds and beats much more punishing than expected. Dancing happened. It looked like he was doing stuff up there on stage, but I have my suspicions he may have been doing nothing at all.

Soho Theatre, 20/11/10

Superior character comedy. Dark, extremely twisted, you never know which corner it’s turning next. Sometimes just plain odd. Is it supposed to be funny? Ultimately great fun. Like entering a Victorian freakshow, it messes with your mind.

The Coronet, Elephant & Castle, 19/11/10

Amazing theatre venue with balcony and red velvet trimmings. Nathan Fake twiddled knobs, we sat in the seats. Caribou played, it was rammed. They were excellent as ever. I managed to get fully consumed, totally lost in the sound. Four Tet twiddled knobs and James Holden DJed, both excellent, had a big dance. 

Sometimes you can’t explain why a record grabs you. This sounds like The Coral. On occasion, it dirges. The frontman drawls semi-interested, arrogantly. But those lyrics. The brilliant, roomy 60s production. The whistlable tunes. It’s mysterious, elevated.

Worried this might have been just another Mike Leigh film, I was prepared to be disappointed. Another Year is just another Mike Leigh film. Totally involving, completely absorbing, horribly emotional and a great performance from Lesley Manville.

Cafe Oto, 11/11/10

H Hawkline chuck kraut, folk, 60s Garage psych and pop into a blender. Occasionally ramshackle, always fun, with the odd deliciously sticky tune. Their debut album is out now.

Gyratory System – One man on a tiny keyboard and two on brass through a multitude of effects. The synth backing is spazzy, Dan Deacon-like, the effects make the brass sound wronger than wrong. The overall effect is lurching, sickly. Like a musical accompaniment to a dream sequence with dwarfs. Except it’s a nightmare.

Islet are tribal, heavily percussive, celebratory. They strip, run around the place, bash the ceilings, swap instruments, scream, shake and generally create the kind of inclusive, hippyshit experience that went out in ’68. It’s hardcore, involving and utterly engrossing.