Set the Tone (Friday, June 24, 2011) Blue & white checked wristband: Kode9 @ Plastic People The inimitable Jenny G. was visiting London this past weekend, and we decided to head down to Plastic People and see Kode9, who was playing a 6 hour set all by himself. Sweet.Though I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the venue (especially when I was writing this thingee about Four Tet) I hadn’t actually been there since 2009. After the local council crackdowns that happened there a little over a year ago, we got very thoroughly searched on the way in. Once inside though, everything was pretty chill (save for the contingent of young and intoxicated patrons who were terrorizing the loo).The last time I saw Kode9 was at Berghain in Berlin; he was with Spaceape so it was more like a proper gig. It was great to see him in this setting, where he could really build a set. He started things off slowly with some classic Burial, and tons of stuff I’d never heard before that I instantly loved because he is Kode9 and he knows what’s up. It got much dancier later on, and he even played two tunes off of the kickass Ossie EP that’s coming out this month (on Hyperdub, of course): “Set the Tone” and “Power of Love”. Oh, and Zapp & Roger “Computer Love”. YES.A highlight of the evening was running into Spoek Mathambo, who happened to be in town for a couple gigs (one of them being Glastonbury)! He’s just signed to Sub Pop and is releasing an EP to celebrate the occasion next month. Can’t wait to hear the full thing (but for now, there is this).

Set the Tone (Friday, June 24, 2011)

Blue & white checked wristband: Kode9 @ Plastic People

The inimitable Jenny G. was visiting London this past weekend, and we decided to head down to Plastic People and see Kode9, who was playing a 6 hour set all by himself. Sweet.

Though I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the venue (especially when I was writing this thingee about Four Tet) I hadn’t actually been there since 2009. After the local council crackdowns that happened there a little over a year ago, we got very thoroughly searched on the way in. Once inside though, everything was pretty chill (save for the contingent of young and intoxicated patrons who were terrorizing the loo).

The last time I saw Kode9 was at Berghain in Berlin; he was with Spaceape so it was more like a proper gig. It was great to see him in this setting, where he could really build a set. He started things off slowly with some classic Burial, and tons of stuff I’d never heard before that I instantly loved because he is Kode9 and he knows what’s up. It got much dancier later on, and he even played two tunes off of the kickass Ossie EP that’s coming out this month (on Hyperdub, of course): “Set the Tone” and “Power of Love”. Oh, and Zapp & Roger “Computer Love”. YES.

A highlight of the evening was running into Spoek Mathambo, who happened to be in town for a couple gigs (one of them being Glastonbury)! He’s just signed to Sub Pop and is releasing an EP to celebrate the occasion next month. Can’t wait to hear the full thing (but for now, there is this).