MF lAL RAMMSTEIN SECC, Glasgow, Sat 17 Jul
Teutonic metallers Rammstein may seem like a hard sell. They sing in their guttural native German, their music mixing operatics with monolithic slabs of rock. But they still seem to have broken across the world. Fair enough, their audience might be from the core of metal, but can you think of any other band who are capable of booking out the SECC while still singing in an alien language? Sonically they are truly distinctive, the military precision of Nuremberg rallies as ethereal choirs collide with structured riffs. They call their own sound ‘tanz- metal‘, roughly translated as ‘dance—metal‘, due to its heavy use of electronics and beats, but perhaps the main reason their cult has grown is their truly astonishing live shows - surely the most intense and full-on gigs in the business. Barely a second passes when something on stage isn‘t on fire. The heat and danger is palpable from the crowd. But don’t think this is just the usual array of pillars of flame and fireworks: they
JAZZ GRAEME STEPHEN Henry’s Jazz Cellar, Edinburgh, Wed 13 Jul
Guitarist Graeme Stephen is one of the brightest talents emerging on the Scottish jazz scene. He first caught my ear with Fraser Fifield's excellent trio with drummer Stu Ritchie. who is also the man behind the kit in Graeme's own trio. with Mario Caribe on bass.
‘lt's more Open With this band,‘ says Stephen. ‘Fraser's material is pretty intricate a lot of the time. and I have a set thing I have to do. with moments when I can work away from that. With this group it is more open. and also more focused on the guitar. It's further away from the folk angle as well.
lle's based in Edinburgh these days. but he got into jazz in Aberdeen from a desire to improvise, encouraged by one of his guitar teachers. local jax/man George Nor'ville. As well as this trio. he launched an excellent sextet earlier this year. adding samphonists Fraser Fifield and Martin Keishaw and fiddler Chris Stout.
l lis own compositions were augmented by arrangements of music by Paul Motian and Bill f‘risell, one of the guitarists he cites as a major influence. along with Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Jim Hall. The sextet. which can be heard in the Edinburgh Jazz Festival in August. also saw him re introduce some of that folk influence.
‘Yeah. I did bring a bit of that back in. It's more highly arranged than the trio there are more colours available to me in that band. and I wanted to bring in more irripio'visers and let them work on the material as well. There are a few tunes I do with both bands. but I have pretty much a different set of material for each.‘ (Kenny Mathiesori)
take pyrotechnics to the next grandiose level.
It’s an industrial schlock rock horror show with echoes of Mad Max, Hellraiser and Blade Runner. A world of face-mounted flame throwers, sledgehammers, rocket cannons, surgical instruments and men ablaze. ‘Other bands play, Rammstein burns‘ is the motto their legion of fans have adopted. Equally disturbing and exhilarating, vocalist Till Lindemann is the deranged ring leader of this mechanical, maniacal circus. In fact, Lindemann himself is now a licensed pyrotechnician, putting him right in the thick of the inferno. ‘We like being on the fringes of bad taste,’ says guitarist Paul Landers, though many might argue that the customary simulated rape of Christian ‘Flake’ Lorenz with a giant, custard-shooting phallus might just step over that self- imposed edge. They are a totally unique prospect and it‘s almost impossible to convey the visceral thrill and power of their performance. It‘s a mixture of hysteria, laughs and terror.
Whatever you may think of their music, their action spectacular is unmissable. (Henry Northmore)
POP
SKYE MUSIC FESTIVAL Ashaig Airstrip Skye, Sat 17 & Sun 18 Jun
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Gathered under a tent erected on the Ashaig Airstrip, punters soaked by a bout of heavy rain before Skye‘s second annual festival began to dry off in what was a seemingly endless dance set. Arranged by local act Non- Stop DJs, Friday had appearances from Funky Transport, State of Grace, Ian Livingstone. Subbie legends Ham 8 Domenic. Radio 1's DJ Lottie. Evil Nine. Silicone Soul and. of course. local lovegod Mylo. The atmosphere in the venue took a while to build up. but by the time Lottie took to the stage every square inch of the dancefloor had been filled.
The homecoming gig for Skye's golden boy. Mylo, highlighted his status as one of the most popular dance acts in Britain at the moment. He may not be the saviour of dance music as some claim, but. to the people of Skye. he's definitely a hero.
On Saturday ravers made way for rockers as a host of bands from folk act Brolum to punk legends the Stranglers shared the stage. There was also an appearance from Mylo‘s brother Hector Maclnnes‘ band, lnjuns. and the now platinum selling KT Tunstall. The festival ended with Idlewild's first ever headline gig and. as bitten and drenched people jostled to make it to the front of the crowd, if was clear the band have lost none of their cult appeal. (John Paul Breslin)
Idlewild
7—21 Jul 2005 THE LIST 87