Clubs PROFILE
www.list.co.uk/clubs Captain Corelli’s Mandolin is carefully designed to
BONOBO Occupation Soul, jazz, hip hop and electronica producer of note What kind of monkey business is this? OK, very clever. Bonobos are indeed a species of small Chimpanzees (which are apes not monkeys for the record) but the Bonobo in question here is Simon Green who has released a slew of jazzy beats on Tru Thoughts and Ninja Tune.
Good pedigree. What might I have heard? Any of his previous long players (Animal Magic, Dial ‘M’ For Monkey and Days to Come) released on the aforementioned labels, not forgetting a Solid Steel mix, a host of EPs and even a DVD (2009’s Live at Koko) while his new album Black Sands hits the shops this March. Each features a laid-back mix of jazz funk, deep electronic grooves and hip hop beats.
Nice. But is it too chilled for the dancefloor? No way. ‘When Bonobo made his debut at Departure Lounge in 2008 he absolutely nailed it with an expertly mixed set ranging from hip hop, funk, electronica, Balkan, drum & bass and the rest, alongside numerous tasty mixes of his own gear,’ explain the heads at Departure Lounge (where he’s guesting this fortnight). ‘Many of our regulars hold that night up as one of the best in our seven year existence – mighty praise indeed. We can’t wait to see what the master will deliver this time round.’ I’m convinced. Anything else you’re dying to tell me? It’s also well worth pointing out that a DJ set from Bonobo isn’t the only special feature at this month’s Departure Lounge as there will be live jazz/reggae/funk fusion from Edinburgh five-piece The Ordinary Allstars. (Henry Northmore) ■ Bonobo guests at Departure Lounge at the Caves, Edinburgh, Fri 26 Feb.
38 THE LIST 18 Feb–4 Mar 2010
ELECTRO PADDED CELL Kitty Kat Klub at Universal, Glasgow, Sat 27 Feb.
Richard Sen is being a bit modest when he describes the music he makes alongside partner Neil Higgins in Padded Cell as ‘just dance music, really.’ Asked to elaborate a little further, he’ll concede that the duo are often lumped in with the nu-disco movement, but that he isn’t a great fan of being classified. ‘The minute you become part of a scene, that means you’re only popular as long as it is,’ he points out. At the very least, this outfit deserve the courtesy of
being described as one of a kind. Sen and Higgins first met around 15 years ago, when they worked together in a branch of London’s Record & Tape Exchange. They would go on to record individually – Sen as one of the
Bronx Dogs on Heavenly, Higgins as one of Wall of Sound’s Dirty Beatniks – but remained in touch, and finally came to record together in the early 00s. Their 2008 debut album Night Must Fall featured
vocal contributions from Battant’s Chloe Raunet and Liquid Liquid’s Dennis Young, among others. More than that, it introduced Padded Cell as a group in love with the quality end of 80s electro, rather than its superficially populist side: Goblin, Arthur Russell and Carl Craig are all worthy influences. A new single will be finished soon, and a remix of Brian Ferry’s new single ‘You Can Dance’ is forthcoming. Beyond that, they just don’t want to be pinned down. ‘Britain is so fickle,’ says Sen. ‘You can be in one year and out the next. That’s why we look to Europe for our inspiration now.’ (David Pollock)
Manda Rin
INDIE PINUP LADIES’ NIGHT Flying Duck, Glasgow, Fri 26 Feb
‘The main thing I noticed about our last Ladies’ Night is that it was packed out,’ says John D, one of the team of promoters who run Glasgow indie club Pinup Nights. ‘The sexes were pretty balanced, though, because I think lots of guys made a point of coming down when they realised there’d be lots of girls there.’ In the six years of Pinups’ existence, this is the third time D and co have put on a Ladies’ Night, with the last couple falling on Valentine’s weekend. Despite the slight shift in timing this year, he once again expects a good turnout for guest DJs Tracyanne Campbell and Carey Lander (Camera Obscura), Adele Bethel and Ailidh Lennon (Sons & Daughters), Manda Rin (Bis) and Emma Pollock. Also playing will be Marie du Santiago and Emmy- Kate Montrose from defunct Northern Britpoppers, and one-time Lauren Laverne vehicle, Kenickie, what D describes as a ‘hunky secret treat’ and live bands French Horn Rebellion (Kitsune), Maple Leaves and Conquering Animal Sound.
All this and a ‘Vintage Village’ bazaar and cheap entry for girls. D says that Pinups is currently more popular than it’s ever been, and notes that this might be partly down to theme nights like this. ‘It’s hard work doing one every month,’ he says, ‘but good fun. Like, we joked about flooding the toilets at Festival Pinups last summer, and we’re looking forward to doing a Country & Western one later this year. We just have lots of silly ideas, really, and we enjoy putting them into practise.’ (David Pollock)