Catnip & Claws
Fans of IDM and experimental electronica got their fix, and possibly more, at the Owl Sanctuary on Friday night.
A strong line up of local musicians proved that electronic music doesn’t have to be danceable to be good. First to play were Jaztec, a “future ambient” duo. Reminiscent of BADBADNOTGOOD and Mammal Hands, the young outfit blended sampled beats with laidback sax, keys and guitar. Having seen them a couple of times before, it was great to see that they’d progressed once again – more complex arrangements, fewer mistakes. They’d also added an electric guitar to the mix, which sounded a touch too severe at some points. It’s an addition which needs refining, rather than omitting all together.
The Owl Sanctuary filled up further in time for following act EPIA. Tonight, EPIA were also a duo, but only because they were a member down. I’m interested to know how they sound as a full band, because with at just 66% attendance they really impressed me. Hard to pin to a particular sound, EPIA slipped from Icelandic dream music, to lo-fi, to wobbly baselines. Through their music, EPIA captured human experience such as romance, then transcended it with nods to magic and the extra-terrestrial.
EPIA were a tough act to follow, but winner of Norwich’s Next Big Thing Catnip & Claws took the stage like it was her birthright. With no introduction, Emma Catnip dived into her multi-layered electronica. It’s no surprise to discover that Catnip is classically trained, her music was precise and expertly constructed and inventive. To keep things unpredictable, she peppered her dreamlike electronica with harder beats, and complemented both with trippy visuals. Catnip slipped up by introducing an out-of-place sample at one point, but recovered like a pro.
Promoters Ideal Surreal put on a great show – one that was both engaging and niche. An alternative electronic gig, these three local acts showed Norwich you can enjoy your Saturday night with both feet planted firmly to the ground.
