Mechakitten October 25, 2008

From the minds behind The Autumn Store and Robot vs Dinosaur- two of Birmingham's most eclectic DIY live music events- comes Mechakitten, a night which seeks to unite the otherwise disparate genres of indiepop and electronica.

Taking place at Island Bar, Suffolk St on Saturday October 25th, the event combines performances from the leading lights of the UK's underground indie/electronic scene with DJs playing indiepop, electronica and noise-rock until the small hours.

Topping the bill is a rare performance from the reclusive Seeland. As former members of Warp Records favourites Broadcast and Plone, the duo build upon the strengths of their previous outfits whilst adding a rich melodic backbone to the proceedings. Combining bubbling synth atmospherics with hushed vocals and delicate guitarwork, their gentle yet engaging electronic pop gems touch the soul as much as they massage the brain.

Fresh from the release of their critically-acclaimed single 'Autovia' on their own Happy Robots label, London's Arthur & Martha have carjacked the driving motorik sound coined by the likes of Kraftwerk, Can and Neu! and made it their own, the end product sounding not unlike like Aphex Twin remixing NME's legendary C86 cassette. Fans of the likes of Stereolab as well as Germany's afore-mentioned monsters of Krautrock will find much treasure in their blissful electropop constructs.

Birmingham's own Arc Vel represents a musical paradox: while unmistakably the most "electronic" act on the bill, to pigeonhole his work in such basic terms would be to misunderstand the true nature of his work. Tempering the inherently cold nature of sequencing with liberal use of found sounds, skittering organic beats and a hefty dose of analogue warmth, his music is the warm, beating human heart all-too missing from modern electronic music.

In sharp contrast, openers Mexican Kids At Home have "indiepop" written right through them. Gorgeous boy-girl vocals, toy instruments and the occasional Casiotone burst meet with untapped reserves of youthful exuberance, enabling the Derby-based five-piece to craft shambolic yet catchy pop vignettes guaranteed to get the evening off to a good start.

Rounding the night off will be DJs playing an indiepoptronic selection taking in acts as diverse as Stereolab, Bearsuit, the Postal Service, Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth, Max Tundra, Saint Etienne, Cornelius, Broadcast and many more. Entry is £4, with doors opening at 8:30.
Websites

http://www.theautumnstore.co.uk/
http://www.robotvsdinosaur.co.uk/

http://www.bar-island.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/seelanduk
http://www.myspace.com/arthurandmartha
http://www.myspace.com/arcvel
http://www.myspace.com/mexicankidsathome

Official Website: http://www.mechakitten.co.uk