'Iradelphic' album launch
Chris ‘Clark’ is not an artist known for being particularly prolific. With the majority of his releases taking three years in the making there is a tendency to forget about this veteran of the IDM scene in between offerings. However, given the quality of 2009’s ‘Totems Flare’, Clark’s latest album ‘Iradelphic’ has been received with much expectation and there is certainly an eager air of anticipation at Shoreditch’s Village Underground for tonight’s launch.
The album launch party can be a strange beast though. One would be forgiven for expecting it to be a showcase of the new album in all its shiny glory. But all too often this tends to be a misnomer and with the stage set for a straight-down-the-line one man DJ set it would appear tonight may fall into that category.
The crowd is keeping their part of the bargain at least. There is a real party mood in the venue with the largely young audience getting high on life (or anything else they can get their hands on) during the support, which includes a solid set from the ever-dependable Nathan Fake. Next up is a somewhat underwhelming performance from duo Leatherette, originally billed below Fake but elevated on the night. One cannot help but feel that the original scheduling would have been more effective, but it is no matter. There really is only one man we are all here to see tonight and that is confirmed by the rapturous welcome he receives on entry to the stage.
Immediately the tempo is raised both literally and metaphorically as a chorus of reverb drenched Moog Voyager synth lines are smashed apart by a thunderous off-kilter beat and rib cage shattering bass. Where others have drifted Clark gets straight to the point.
The crowd embraces it head on and there is now an energy in the room that has not been present for the previous few hours. Heads rock with more intensity and arms flail with more verve as Clark controls the ebb and flow of the rhythms like a seasoned lion tamer wowing the circus crowds.
As things progress though, it is notable that the set really does not bare much resemblance to the new record at all. In fairness it is hardly a surprise. ‘Iradelphic’ is a stunningly eclectic and textured piece obviously requiring the addition of live elements to the setup for it be realised in full. It is difficult to imagine how it will integrate into future sets without a radical rethink of Clark’s approach to his live performance and tonight is seemingly not the night he has chosen to take on that particular challenge.
This sidestep doesn’t detract from the quality of proceedings though. Clark produces a performance of the highest calibre pitched perfectly for the surroundings. The venue is ideally suited to the choral echoes of the electronic bleeps and tweets strung together with earthy growling low ends. The brick lined walls and high vaulted ceiling giving the sound space to grow into and by the end of the rather short hour timeslot there is a definite sense of longing for more.
Clark is undoubtedly as vital as he ever was and is fast becoming one of Warp’s most important assets, but tonight is a party with a great DJ set and nothing more. His triumph is obvious, but equally one cannot help feeling a sense of what might have been. The question of whether he can deliver the undoubted potential ‘Iradelphic’ suggests, is one that remains open to future examination.
Words by Chris Wash
Photo by Matt Wash
Click here to read our review of Clark's 'Iradelphic'.
And click here for a photo gallery of the gig.
The album launch party can be a strange beast though. One would be forgiven for expecting it to be a showcase of the new album in all its shiny glory. But all too often this tends to be a misnomer and with the stage set for a straight-down-the-line one man DJ set it would appear tonight may fall into that category.
The crowd is keeping their part of the bargain at least. There is a real party mood in the venue with the largely young audience getting high on life (or anything else they can get their hands on) during the support, which includes a solid set from the ever-dependable Nathan Fake. Next up is a somewhat underwhelming performance from duo Leatherette, originally billed below Fake but elevated on the night. One cannot help but feel that the original scheduling would have been more effective, but it is no matter. There really is only one man we are all here to see tonight and that is confirmed by the rapturous welcome he receives on entry to the stage.
Immediately the tempo is raised both literally and metaphorically as a chorus of reverb drenched Moog Voyager synth lines are smashed apart by a thunderous off-kilter beat and rib cage shattering bass. Where others have drifted Clark gets straight to the point.
The crowd embraces it head on and there is now an energy in the room that has not been present for the previous few hours. Heads rock with more intensity and arms flail with more verve as Clark controls the ebb and flow of the rhythms like a seasoned lion tamer wowing the circus crowds.
As things progress though, it is notable that the set really does not bare much resemblance to the new record at all. In fairness it is hardly a surprise. ‘Iradelphic’ is a stunningly eclectic and textured piece obviously requiring the addition of live elements to the setup for it be realised in full. It is difficult to imagine how it will integrate into future sets without a radical rethink of Clark’s approach to his live performance and tonight is seemingly not the night he has chosen to take on that particular challenge.
This sidestep doesn’t detract from the quality of proceedings though. Clark produces a performance of the highest calibre pitched perfectly for the surroundings. The venue is ideally suited to the choral echoes of the electronic bleeps and tweets strung together with earthy growling low ends. The brick lined walls and high vaulted ceiling giving the sound space to grow into and by the end of the rather short hour timeslot there is a definite sense of longing for more.
Clark is undoubtedly as vital as he ever was and is fast becoming one of Warp’s most important assets, but tonight is a party with a great DJ set and nothing more. His triumph is obvious, but equally one cannot help feeling a sense of what might have been. The question of whether he can deliver the undoubted potential ‘Iradelphic’ suggests, is one that remains open to future examination.
Words by Chris Wash
Photo by Matt Wash
Click here to read our review of Clark's 'Iradelphic'.
And click here for a photo gallery of the gig.
Clarke
