Kid Carpet / The Damn Shames @ Cabaret Voltaire
From 'Shit-hop' to 'Disco Voodoo'
| 06 Jan 2008
For such a nascent band, The Damn Shames (4/5) are shamelessly self-assured (awful pun intended), despite apologising for their "awkward stage manners." Dance choreography aside, the set is super-tight, with tracks such as Fear of Assault part of an impressive wall of sound. Klaxons and Liars comparisons hit the mark, but one suspects a truly distinct sound is on the way.
Ed Patrick's (AKA Kid Carpet) latest EP, The Kid's Back, marks the transition from 'Shit-hop' to 'Disco Voodoo' (me neither). Thankfully, lo-fi sampling, casio keyboards and Fisher Price toy guitars are still in the mix, as is the trademark tongue-in-cheek delivery. Dismiss this guy as a novelty act at your peril- he remains one talented musician who just happens to believe in the infinite wisdom of the Tamagotchi. Recent work with dancefloor masters Si Begg and Norman Cook seem to suggest increasing mainstream credibility, but let's hope he doesn't start taking himself too seriously. Leaving much of his older material at home, tonight's show is muted compared to previous outings (no riotous cover of Van Halen's Jump for instance). With a new album in the offing though, don't bet on this being the case for long. [Paul Mitchell]
Ed Patrick's (AKA Kid Carpet) latest EP, The Kid's Back, marks the transition from 'Shit-hop' to 'Disco Voodoo' (me neither). Thankfully, lo-fi sampling, casio keyboards and Fisher Price toy guitars are still in the mix, as is the trademark tongue-in-cheek delivery. Dismiss this guy as a novelty act at your peril- he remains one talented musician who just happens to believe in the infinite wisdom of the Tamagotchi. Recent work with dancefloor masters Si Begg and Norman Cook seem to suggest increasing mainstream credibility, but let's hope he doesn't start taking himself too seriously. Leaving much of his older material at home, tonight's show is muted compared to previous outings (no riotous cover of Van Halen's Jump for instance). With a new album in the offing though, don't bet on this being the case for long. [Paul Mitchell]