Driving home from work last night I was listening to Lamacq's evening session. Unlike many I won't be sorry to see him go, his diet of white bread rock is increasingly peripheral to my listening world. So I'm expecting to hear the usual Coldplay/Oasis/Blink 182 instead he has this guy Killa Kela in the studio. A human beatbox, oh dear I think.
I remember these guys from the first time around huffing and spluttering to little effect. But then he opens (?) his mouth, and it's absolutely incredible. He has the whole shebang, scratching, reversed snares, hi hats the lot. Burn your decks, swap your 303 for a pasta maker, put that crate of old vinyl back in the garage you've just been made redundant. If you're looking for a note perfect Britney sample he's your man. I nearly crashed the car from smiling too much.
Then he actually does some work with a turntablist and holy cow it's even better, like a drum and bass spaceman (yes the Babylon Zoo one) without the glam rock sludge. I'm almost tempted to phone up the Beeb to let them keep Lamacq on.
Ok he's a novelty, but hell what a novelty. Has anyone heard his record, and is it as good as his live stuff?
― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 08:11 (twenty-three years ago)
I have a couple of his singles and they're pretty good. There's no doubt he's amazing. I find I end up being impressed with his technique, though, and I'm not much of a one for worrying too much about technique (over effect).
My favourite of all the Kela stuff I've heard is the thing he did with Scor-zay-zee and Lee Ramsay, who are two of my faves anyway.
― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 08:29 (twenty-three years ago)
Saw him in *action* this summer and it just blew us outa the tent. I dunno how it works on record/radio, I think you just gotta SEE it to believe it.
― nathalie (nathalie), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 09:09 (twenty-three years ago)
Saw him support the Super Furry Animals earlier in the year. He was really good fun and pretty impressive though I'm not sure I could face a full album of his stuff. More impressed by his technique than what he actually does with it, perhaps, so once that initial amazement wears off, not sure whats left.
― mms (mms), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 10:49 (twenty-three years ago)
His song "Check One" is the last track on Plus One's (increasingly excellent to my ears) UK hip hop mix "Champion Sounds", and it's pretty great. A fucked-up, almost drill & bassish hip hop groove (a la DJ Shadow's "Monosylabik" only done by human beatbox, but then with a slow, groovy R&B refrain floating over the top.
― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Tuesday, 10 September 2002 10:54 (twenty-three years ago)