Another Country in the Same Kitchen

OK so The Windmill doesn't have a kitchen, well, not for punters, unless you count the BBQ events, but the blog title is a better nod towards a classic album. Not that tonight is anything like that album and the artists wouldn't've played the Windmill so we could digress even further and call it Another Music in a Different Venue. Without a Kitchen. Unless it's a BBQ all dayer. Anyways, if you're still with me Simon and I decide to meet up and where better than the Windmill to take a punt on the bands on offer. Never disappointed in this kitchen. It's sold out and busy with a very young age group. They really should have seats with those London Underground signs reserving them for us oldies. First up is a silhouetted figure going by the moniker of Stone who is one person pestering the synths. It's a laid back dance set which glides slowly into a dub groove which is excellent. Simon says The Orb and I certainly wouldn't argue with that. So a good start to the evening and a band which we can see compared to our view of the others. Well, we can see the silhouette if not their face. It's bloody cold outside so we don't venture out the back. Next up are MM'99 who have doubled the stage presence with a female singer who's on synth duty and a drummer who I couldn''t see too well. They seem popular with the kids and accessible enough is a dance vibe nearing on Europop but without the histrionic singing. I really don't mean Europop in a negative way. Last up are Another Country $$$$ (see the link?) who are a duo. At a tenner a ticket the artists to pounds is 2 quid... unusual for the Windmill which is often about 20 pence per artist on stage. AC$$$$ play a great set of what I think is probably UK Garage or possibly 2-Step but I'd have to defer the distinction to those who follow that general genre more closely. Gets the crowd going and us too towards the back of the crowd. The big screen is now used for visuals so worthwhile putting up and hiding the lovely Windmill logo and tinsel down curtain. I am not usually lazy enough to simply repeat the advertised sounds but maybe this will give you an idea of what they're like: "Manchester-based electronic and visual arts duo: heavy pop. hopecore breaks, distorted UK garage, archival post-dance collage." So not 2-Step Garage but Distorted Garage (UK no less) and whatever "hopecore" is. Some new (sub) genre I've not (knowingly) encountered before. So a good night and I finally agree to give Simon my ticket price (less fees). We part at our bikes and I cycle home through the chill air to an empty house (cats are out too) and depress myself by reading Thérèse Raquin but that's another blog.

Stone

MM'99

Another Country $$$$