Features | Festivals
SXSW 2007 -- Day One: Track Reviews
By Craig Eley & Andre Perry | 4 February 2008
About :: "Tough Cookie"
>Live at Friends; March 14, 2007
Throughout their entire afternoon set at Friends bar, I had an inkling that this Dutch computer-punk duo (Rutger Hoedemaekers and Marg van Eenbergen), while highly energetic, weren't doing their best to sing. The laptop beats were hot and the guitar parts were vicious but the poor singing seemed too much like an affectation. They weren't so much missing notes as actively avoiding them. My suspicions were confirmed when they dropped the last song of the set, "Tough Cookie." Propelled by a furious dance beat, Hoedemaekers and van Eenbergen sang their most beautiful vocals of the afternoon. While it was a mixed crowd at the Friends bar -- one guy walked in with a kilt and headed straight for the cheese plate in the back -- this song had everyone moving. Including the band, actually -- they jumped into the crowd and danced around with us, ending the set on a strong note.
Andre Perry
>Live at Friends; March 14, 2007
Throughout their entire afternoon set at Friends bar, I had an inkling that this Dutch computer-punk duo (Rutger Hoedemaekers and Marg van Eenbergen), while highly energetic, weren't doing their best to sing. The laptop beats were hot and the guitar parts were vicious but the poor singing seemed too much like an affectation. They weren't so much missing notes as actively avoiding them. My suspicions were confirmed when they dropped the last song of the set, "Tough Cookie." Propelled by a furious dance beat, Hoedemaekers and van Eenbergen sang their most beautiful vocals of the afternoon. While it was a mixed crowd at the Friends bar -- one guy walked in with a kilt and headed straight for the cheese plate in the back -- this song had everyone moving. Including the band, actually -- they jumped into the crowd and danced around with us, ending the set on a strong note.
Andre Perry
Architecture in Helsinki :: "Heart It Races"
>Live at Mohawk's; March 14, 2007
One of the many new songs that AiH busted out during their first set here in Austin, "Heart it Races" is wickedly upbeat, even by Architecture in Helsinki standards. The song eschews the more electronic dance sound (think "Do the Whirlwind") for something more organic and exuberant. About 5 members of the band get to sing on this one, especially for the pre-chorus chant of "boom-bada-bada-bada." Lead vocal duties are taken up by the band's energetic female singer who practically screams the track's name during the song's furious conclusion. It's a bouncy tribute to that feeling of falling for someone, and it captures the nervous energy like only AiH can. I certainly have my fingers crossed that this will translate as well to the new record.
Craig Eley
>Live at Mohawk's; March 14, 2007
One of the many new songs that AiH busted out during their first set here in Austin, "Heart it Races" is wickedly upbeat, even by Architecture in Helsinki standards. The song eschews the more electronic dance sound (think "Do the Whirlwind") for something more organic and exuberant. About 5 members of the band get to sing on this one, especially for the pre-chorus chant of "boom-bada-bada-bada." Lead vocal duties are taken up by the band's energetic female singer who practically screams the track's name during the song's furious conclusion. It's a bouncy tribute to that feeling of falling for someone, and it captures the nervous energy like only AiH can. I certainly have my fingers crossed that this will translate as well to the new record.
Craig Eley
The Rapture :: "House of Jealous Lovers"
>Live at La Zona Rosa; March 14, 2007
When Echoes came out in 2003 I complained to all of my friends that it was such an average album, a major letdown after the promise of club hit "House of Jealous Lovers." I definitely pegged the Rapture as a one-hit wonder. But then I saw them live at Coachella in 2004, where I was physically and mentally moved; the Rapture's live power hasn't worn off. Their rendition of "Jealous Lovers" at a headlining La Zona Rosa show displayed a remarkable intensity for such an old and familiar song. They didn't seemed bored to be playing it, but rather comfortable and excited that they could make the crowd go crazy when that cowbell part kicks in.
Andre Perry
>Live at La Zona Rosa; March 14, 2007
When Echoes came out in 2003 I complained to all of my friends that it was such an average album, a major letdown after the promise of club hit "House of Jealous Lovers." I definitely pegged the Rapture as a one-hit wonder. But then I saw them live at Coachella in 2004, where I was physically and mentally moved; the Rapture's live power hasn't worn off. Their rendition of "Jealous Lovers" at a headlining La Zona Rosa show displayed a remarkable intensity for such an old and familiar song. They didn't seemed bored to be playing it, but rather comfortable and excited that they could make the crowd go crazy when that cowbell part kicks in.
Andre Perry