Institute of Contemporary Arts

XX Teens / Ipso Facto / S.C.U.M.

Date: 29 May 2008

Jahan Nazeer

Everybody knows that Thursday night is, most definitely, the night to be out in London these days. Especially in central London, where the weekend normally spells rip-off (in many translations) to an average Londoner with discernable taste. I hasten to add that the ICA, of course, does not fall into this bracket. Thursday it was and, as I arrived at the front entrance, I began to consider the evening's schedule. Tonight, East London's XX Teens were headlining, supported by Ipso Facto and S.C.U.M.

‘Brandy ‘n Coke please mate...' Well it was a Thursday... Drink in hand, I headed through to the main room where the first act were about ready to begin. S.C.U.M. are a five piece band from London. They classify their sound as Punk/Visual/Gothic and their Myspace suggests that their name may have been taken from the Valerie Solanus book of the same name - there is, at least, a quote from her book ‘Scum' on their page. Although a further look into Solanus' work makes me wonder why. Opening with electronic shrieks and a kind of synthesised thunder storm effect, S.C.U.M. launched into their set. With thumping drums, growling synths and overdriven guitar, their sound had elements of heavy metal with a techno twist. Vocals were of the heavily distorted variety, echoing over the music like orders over a broken PA system in some kind of Mad Max-like world. Often unintelligible, they nonetheless gave a haunting, aggressive feel to the already heavy mix and at points reminded me of a futuristic Arthur Brown. There was also an important visual aspect to their act, with a ‘fuzzy TV', ‘no signal' type of projection behind the stage and extensive use of the strobe light, all adding to the strange, apocalyptic feel. Very enjoyable.

‘Same again please mate...' Back in the now rather busier bar, it seemed strange to still be in daylight after such a dark set. Chatting with some of the ICA faithful, I was reminded that Ipso Facto had played here a little while back, and, from these reports, had done a pretty good job. Melodramatic Popular Song/Psychedelic/Other is how their Myspace page describes them, whatever that means... I finished my drink and bounced through to the main room where they were about to take to the stage. Immediately striking, Ipso Facto are Rosalie Cunningham, Cherish Kaya, Victoria Smith and Samantha Valentine, a four piece band from London. Poker-faced, they opened with vintage-sounding guitar riffs, winding organ parts and a chic solemnity that clearly interested those of us who were new to the band. Stylish, for sure, but their music was equally interesting. Somewhere in the midst of funk, rock and psychedelia, Ipso Facto ran through a great set that had the crowd engaged from start to finish. Haunting at points and then groovy as hell at others, somehow their mannequin-esque poise and a natural grasp of melody held the set together. Definitely worth looking out for and their recordings are equally great.

‘Yeah go on then...' The bar was, by now, a whir of excitement as drinks were drunk and people gallery pictures were taken. XX Teens were up next and with the ICA feeling much busier, I thought it best to go and find my favourite spot in the main room before the headline act started. XX Teens are Anthony Silvestre, Rich Cash, William Morrow, Jorgen Raa, and Mack Faulkron. , a London-based, Rock/Pop/Indie band. Taking to the stage wearing white shirts and black sunglasses, there was a certain swagger about XX Teens, an understated defiance maybe. They began their set with big bassline riffs and punchy drums, moving the crowd on impact and turning the temperature up a few levels. Messy, drawled vocals slurred over the top added a real flavour as the crowd got stuck into the skank-out friendly instrumentals. Running a line between indie, rock, reggae and punk, XX Teens were also a mix of more traditional sounds with more ‘synthy' elements. Joined on stage by dancers, which I thought was a bit unnecessary, the band always seemed to have one eye on the dancefloor as sampled horns, programmed drums and even steel drums were all added. In many ways, a classic British band, the XX Teens really are worth seeing and left the stage to large applause. Good stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

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