Kelpe, Rough Trade East, October 15th
Kelpe played at Rough Trade East on October 15th
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By Matt Halam. |  |
Sunday, 18, Oct 2009 12:25
To be honest, I hadn't heard any of Kelpe's music and so was unsure what to expect, so entered the gig with curiosity and an open mind.
Rough Trade East, a record store straight out of the likes of High Fidelity, rough around the edges with an industrial edge, is the perfect setting for this intimate gig. As I entered the store it seemed like a machine was standing at the rear end of the room. Safe behind racks of CDs, counters and some old photo booth it stands there, starting to breathe slowly, the mechanic bleeps and synths start drawing the crowd in.
Kel Mckeow, aka Kelpe, stands behind his MPD-24 and starts to work his magic, accompanied with live drumming. We all patiently stood as Kelpe led us on their journey into the unknown and unclassifiable. Twisting and turning the sounds he fills the room with moments of pure abstraction. But soon the question comes sneaking up on me: is this it? Will the gig just take me to the realm of minimalist mechanical electro? Sure the beats are hypnotic and captivating, but they soon seem to turn into empty repetition... but wait, suddenly everything bursts. An incredible rhythm is exploding around me. Every sound that a second ago seemed detached and disorientated now gloriously comes together. The previously so-passive companion is beating away for his life, bringing the digital sound to a new dynamic and genre crossing level. The machine is not breathing anymore, it's pumping away on a merciless march.
I felt as if I was part of a special few who had just stumbled across this impromptu gig, where two young guys were experimenting, taking us all on this psychedelic journey into the realm of the unknown. Seeing Kelpe live, you feel as if they're taking you on a trip that they have carefully formulated for you, but at the same anything could happen. Some will dance away, others just stand and smile or raise their arms in the air. But all experience this special journey, that draws on the likes of minimal electronic beats, jazz and hip-hop to create a whole new musical sensation. Although their intros may be long, Kelpe bring dark disorientation, only to all of a sudden pick you up on a wave of incredible rhythm over and over again.
Katie Napier