Homecut Directive
Live at Rocket on Monday, 31st July 2000
Tonight features the "other bands" taking part in this year's FutureSound 2000 competition. By "other bands" I am of course referring to the fact that so far we have see all-guitar, mainly indie/punk/rock bands, yet tonight we see what else is on offer around the Leeds live scene. First up are Base 4, who are a samples/loops/techno band, and perhaps I can say little more than that for I am unfortunately ill-informed as to that genre. They are a three piece, perhaps not really a "live" band, as there is little to actually watch, but they are certainly a band to dance to - thats what many people seem to be doing anyway, and for those down here they are enjoying what they are hearing. Even if I, incorrectly, bundle this all into the "dance" category, I hope you get the idea. No vocals after the first couple of tracks, their set reminded me of Glastonbury, in a tent at 3am being entertained by the multitude of sound systems around.
Next up are Superelectric, one step closer towards the guitar bands we've seen up to now, whilst retaining the mid-late 80s / early 90s indie-dance crossover aspects to their music. Their set reminds me of a number of acts from yesteryear, as I've mentioned in previous reviews, Soup Dragons, Stereo MCs and The Verve all mix up into one hell of a live show. They cannot help but entertain, they've brought all of their "dancers" to get the vibe going, and singer Callaghan is again trying to invent new dance moves. This is a band to watch - their recent demo has met with widespread approval, not only from leedsmusicscene, and with a free 8-track CD on offer to tonights crowd Superelectric cannot help but increase their ever-growing fan base.
Finally, we see the more laid-back band in Homecut Directive. This is more soulful, with a general hiphop feel, rap vocals, but not in-yer-face - theres more of an appeal to their music, a way of catching everyone in tonights crowd, pinching the fans from Base 4 and Superelectric and bringing everyone into the Directive. Its soulful, its bluesy, its got a woodwind (or is it brass?) section, laid back guitars, imagine laying out in the Caribbean sun...nice!
