7th November
Gorilla
8/10
Whilst Mount Kimbie are ostensibly a band now and this is ostensibly a gig, they hit the stage at the relatively late time of 11pm showing an enduring connection to the club scene. The late start time allows for the audience to get suitably alcohol fuelled during danceable support slots from producers Lapalux and oOoOO, eliciting an exuberant atmosphere for the arrival of the main act.
Mount Kimbie need no introduction as they launch immediately into ‘Carbonated’ amidst greeting roars of approval from the assembled revellers. The addition of a live drummer and a host of new gear for this tour means their sound is considerably amped up from when I last saw them in 2010, a wholly positive progression. In a live setting their songs are reworked into elaborate constructions involving any number of guitar pedals and synthesizer settings; the effect is thrilling.
During ‘So Many Times, So Many Ways’ stuttering synth loops cut through the room atmospherically before fading into a bass guitar groove. This continues through the song, building to a climactic swell of reverb soaked sounds that wash over the enthralled crowd. When the familiar drum machine loop of ‘Made To Stray’ emerges out of this the euphoria of the room peaks; the anthem of many summer festivals impressively has the same impact in a dimly lit Manchester venue as on a blazing beach in Croatia.
After leaving the stage to wild applause, Mount Kimbie return for an encore of ‘Mayor’, the standout track from debut Crooks & Lovers. Kai Campos leaps around the stage, mirroring the audience who are induced into movement by the chopped up vocal samples and infectious synth hook, ending the night triumphantly.
