Rockfeedback @ Ja Ja Ja continues with Moshi Moshi’s night @ London Lexington, 18 Nov with Champagne Riot, Niki & The Dove + Lára Rúnars – plus footage from last month
By: Thomas Hannan
Rockfeedback may have only been on board for a month, but we’re delighted to see Ja Ja Ja just keeps going from strength to strength. In October, none other than Clash Magazine’s Deputy Editor Matt Bennett curated the evening of fun, and next, in November, we have Stephen Bass, co-founder and A&R extraordinaire of tastemaker label Moshi Moshi, firing up our love of all things Nordic.
Moshi Moshi Records began life by releasing left-of-centre, lo-fi releases, but with a knack of spotting those destined for great things, they soon became one of the best UK independent labels. They launched the careers of Bloc Party and Hot Chip, have seen chart success from Yeti and The Rakes, and put out high-profile album releases from Architecture In Helsinki, Au Revoir Simone, Hot Club De Paris, Mates Of State, Lo-Fi-Fnk, Tilly And The Wall, DNTEL, The Mae Shi…(to name a mere few). Moshi Moshi has also helped introduce the world to the likes of Kate Nash, Late Of The Pier, Friendly Fires, Lykke Li, Florence And The Machine, Casiokids, Slow Club and Danananackroyd via their much loved Singles Club, where they show their dedication to new music by releasing a 7” each month from a brand new act.
Unsurprisingly then, Stephen Bass has picked a cracking line-up - a brilliant mix of mysterious, shimmering pop-perfect electronic for your listening and viewing pleasure. Just like the Moshi Moshi roster itself, it’s reassuring left-of-centre, but unashamedly infectious. Let us introduce them to you...
Champagne Riot (Denmark)
Champagne Riot is the brainchild of two Scandinavians, Caspar Bock and Anders Reuter. The former released a solo EP under the Champagne Riot name on American label Shelflife Records, which caught the attention of then music journalist and aspiring music producer Anders, who instigated a correspondence which led to them united in 2009 to make perfect electronic pop music described as ‘part rebellion, part romance. Part sugar, part lunacy. Part daydreaming - part nightly raids. 0% phony and 100% real. No compromises, no common sense. And no plan B’. Their debut EP entitled Moonstruck will be out late 2010.
myspace.com/champagneriot
Niki And The Dove (Sweden)
Niki & The Dove is a new project led by the mysterious vocalist and songwriter Dish Dish Dance. The band is comprised of long-term friends and associates the help bringing Niki And The Dove’s epic melodies and the shape-shifting beats theatre life in a live show that timbre of intimacy and confidence.
nikiandthedove.com
Lára Rúnars (Iceland)
Born and raised in Reykjavík, Lára Rúnars developed a love of music while growing up listening to her father playing and recording with legendary Icelandic band Grafík. Through him Lára was first introduced to artists such as Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Nick Cave. Her debut album Standing Still was released in Iceland in 2003 and in 2004 she collaborated with Damien Rice, performing live and recording together. In 2006 second album Þögn (Silence) -inspired by Stina Nordenstam and the Cardigans and performed in Icelandic– was released. Her infectious breakthrough indie-pop album Surprise is out now on Icelandic independent Record Records.
www.lararunars.com / www.myspace.com/lararunars
For more details visit jajajamusic.com and moshimoshimusic.com
Venue: The Lexington, 96-98 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JB
Tickets: On Sale Now
Stage times: 7.30 doors / 8:20 Lára Rúnars / 9.10 Niki And The Dove / 10.00 Champagne Riot / 10.35 Moshi Moshi DJs
See below for footage of last month’s gig:
The Deer Tracks
Rökkurró
Artists in this article: Niki And The Dove, Lára Rúnars, Champagne Riot