{"id":25063,"date":"2024-04-24T21:20:49","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T20:20:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/?p=25063"},"modified":"2024-07-05T12:28:49","modified_gmt":"2024-07-05T11:28:49","slug":"the-ennui-shattering-beats-of-red-axes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londoncult.co.uk\/en\/the-ennui-shattering-beats-of-red-axes\/","title":{"rendered":"The ennui-shattering beats of Red Axes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo credit: Il Gurn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dori Sadovnik and Niz Arzi<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>whose musical bond dates back<\/span><\/span> to<\/span><\/span> their school days, continue to revel in their partnership<\/span><\/span> with youthful vigor. This vitality throbs through their recent album<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>One More City,<\/span><\/span><\/em> released last year<\/span><\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/span>a manifesto of their matured sound, emerging<\/span><\/span> from a rebellion against the ordinary, <\/span><\/span>a<\/span><\/span> challenge <\/span><\/span>to <\/span><\/span>conventions, and <\/span><\/span>an<\/span><\/span> aspiration to transcend predestination.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo credit: Il Gurn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fusing diverse musical genres is hardly<\/span><\/span> an<\/span><\/span>extraordinary feat<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> yet Red Axes<\/span><\/span>\u2019 <\/span><\/span>distinctive panache for blending post-punk with dance beats has given rise to an album rich in melodic variety, brimming with dynamic contrasts, and charged with a desire to transform any instant into a<\/span><\/span> freak show<\/span><\/span>. The robust, <\/span><\/span>cohesive<\/span><\/span> sound of <\/span><\/span>One More City<\/span><\/span><\/em> owes much to a variety of production techniques, the spontaneous nature of creativity, and jam sessions with fellow <\/span><\/span>musicians<\/span><\/span>. The recording process welcomed artists from varied backgrounds, <\/span><\/span>including <\/span><\/span>female<\/span><\/span> rapper Janse<\/span><\/span>t<\/span><\/span>, Cole Alexander <\/span><\/span>of<\/span><\/span> the American garage rock <\/span><\/span>band<\/span><\/span> Black Lips<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>and<\/span><\/span> Clams Baker, the frontman of the London<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span> post-punk <\/span><\/span>band<\/span><\/span> Warmduscher<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

From <\/span><\/span>the outset<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>at fabric, the ambiance veered <\/span><\/span>into<\/span><\/span> the bizzarre<\/span><\/span> as a guitarist, donning oversized pink sunglasses,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>fit for a child or a woman, joined the Red Axes duo on stage, complemented by guest vocalist A.Lonzo<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s presence<\/span><\/span> in a zebra-striped suit and cowboy hat. The sound system roared to life, reaching max<\/span><\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/span>ear-distorting, supersonic levels. Amidst<\/span><\/span> lively <\/span><\/span>guitar riffs and a blend of live drums with analog beats, Dori<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s custom bass synthesizer filled the venue with its deep, resonant tones. The lyrics, sharp and incisive, rode the waves of swiftly shifting tempos.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Photo credit: Il Gurn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the concert progressed, only Sadovnik and Arzi remained, delving into a pastime they likely relish<\/span><\/span>\u2014<\/span><\/span>spinning acid techno melodies on their analog equipment<\/span><\/span>;<\/span><\/span> this<\/span><\/span> performance<\/span><\/span>, however,<\/span><\/span> structurally and tonally lacked the vibrancy of the preceding acts. The departure of live instrumentation and guest performers<\/span><\/span> led to an <\/span><\/span>unexpected<\/span><\/span> dip<\/span><\/span> in<\/span><\/span> zest, save for the relentless intensity of the sound<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span> In hindsight, reversing the order of the concert<\/span><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/span>s first two acts might have sustained the momentum, particularly as the guest musicians made a comeback for the final thirty minutes. (Their initial abrupt exit left one pondering the unpredictable nature of punk rock performances<\/span><\/span>)<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n