IT’S LIFE AND DEATH IN DC10

Words: Rich West
Images: Tasya Menaker

Life and Death; a collaboration of talented thinking-mans’ artists, live acts and producers with many sonic musical ideals in common that is centred around a self proclaimed “dark pop and house approach with a definite psychedelic sensibility”. And I would add an element of emotional intelligence to the top-line explanation of what you are likely to hear at a label showcase such as the one I attended on July 31, 2015, DC-10. Yes! Life and Death have made it to Ibiza to embark on a maiden 5-week mini residency at the White Isle’s famous lone super-club that will feature label signees and leaders in the aforementioned dark psychedelic sonics; Mind Against, live maestro Recondite, co-boss DJ Tennis, Best Breakthrough act and Irish national; Mano Le Tough, fans favourites’ Thugfucker and lead-duo Tale of Us, amongst others.

Under the trademark hanging caged candles they flock, barely a soul under the age of 25, for this is music crafted by adults for adults and one for the die-hard fans of this particular classification of sounds. The setting was DC-10’s more intimate smaller front room – sometimes affectionately referred to as the ‘bat cave’ so I’m told personally by former Circo Loco resident Jo Mills. This setting unfortunately caused the trademark open-ended and far-reaching waves of emotionally charged synths to suffer a slight abbreviation that may have benefited from being allowed a little more room to manoeuvre in the main hangar. Alas. Curtain raiser Job Jobse offers a clever flare of classic 80s electro and a subtle percussion arrangement over a strong tuneful bassline that sets the night up perfectly. A classically trained strobe atop of the artists’ head kept to the industrial strength and regimented but soulful beat throughout the night, ensuring a sense of trippy grandeur.

Mind Against replaces the softer, more relaxed drum of the intro with a militant-like sharp repetitive Hit. The duo add cold, eerie and dark elements in to the cauldron too, and despite a constant melodic undertone that tells tales of mystery and fun with random upfront and dance-persuasive sections of snappy tik-tak percussion and condensed rim-shots, a return to that powerful Circo Loco-like beat arrangement is always re-established. As one of my entourage so aptly put it; “it’s all very serious”. And quite right too as the dedicated and knowledgeable audience – not crowd – have come to see their acts perform at their version of a ‘gig’.

Sparse but effective use of the mixers’ extra curricular abilities ensures tracks stay true to their originally intended output, and the first vocals in earshot are harrowing and dramatised, and yet still lift the mood and move the story on with a certain obtained glee.
With an hour left Mind Against open the diaphragm as we are treated to an uninterrupted soundscape that leads directly on to Recondite’s more vigorous and uplifting live take. Sharp repetitive upbeats that are not so reliant on the previously powerful baseline and a fundamental need to inject energy in to the emotion ensues, and it has the now full room in pronounced bounds.

Tale of Us. I’ve seen Life & Death’s flagship Italian team hone their soundscape project to the point that what you get is one endless backing track supporting electric snaps, clashes of pin-sharp percussion over ‘empty’ spaces and thunderous dark melodies… with the odd purposeful change in direction or pace keeping matters fresh and delightfully fun. It’s story telling at it’s best and it’s why they are at the top of their game and will remain so for a good while yet. Life and Death’s debut on the Island is a perfect example of something that has been expertly programmed to grow and nurture. And it’s here to stay.