› Articles
Moimir Papalescu & The Nihilists + SunshineConcert Review: Live at Klub 007 Strahov, September 10th, 2004
|
||||||
|
Musically, Moimir Papalescu & The Nihilists and Sunshine have little in common beyond line-ups that mix conventional instruments with electronics. What the two bands do share, though, apart from being friends, is the ambition to break beyond the limitations of the Czech music scene. Both sing in English, and also have slick websites largely in English, but they also pay closer attention to musical trends beyond Czech borders than many of their peers. Sunshine, in particular, could well be on the brink of some kind of breakthrough. The band, originally from Tábor, have a sound that's far more fashionable now than it was when they first formed in the mid-90s, and they could easily be shoehorned into the current punk-funk trend led by The Rapture. Live, the collision of spiky guitar lines and pulsing beats and basslines sounds like a more anthemic version of The Cure. Craggy thirtysomething frontman Kay is another asset, working 007's low ceilings like a South Bohemian Iggy Pop. Unfortunately, while Sunshine have the right sound and the right look, they don't quite have the songs and this reviewer, for one, found his attention turning to the 007 bar midway through the set. (The relentless melodrama of Kay's Czenglish neo-Goth lyrics doesn't help much.) There's enough here, though, to make you think that Sunshine's forthcoming new album and upcoming European tour, supporting The Faint, could easily lead to something more. Next up, my first chance to see Moimir Papalescu & The Nihilists, seemingly the Czech Republic's only electroclash act. To use a horrible cliché, if The Nihilists didn't exist someone would've had to invent them - Prague finally has the fun, cool, credible, alternative party band it badly needed, and people are beginning to take notice. The chemistry between the three main players is critical here. Pretty frontwoman Jira "La Petite Sonja" Kröhn adds glamour and attitude to the equation, theatrically removing and replacing her visor sunglasses between songs as the band shifts from punky rockers like Perfect Boy to torch-song material like Everybody Calls Me An Angel. For around half the songs in the set, La Petite Sonja steps aside, allowing guitarist Jindra "Hank Jesus Manchini" Hoch to prove himself a wonderfully kitsch and equally charismatic stage presence. Shaven-headed Matěj "Moimir Papalescu" Papež completes the triangle, playing his deliberately cultivated mad Romanian boffin role to the hilt. While much electroclash ends up on the chilly side of cool, The Nihilists bring a sense of warmth and fun to the genre, vaguely reminiscent of campy 80s rockers The B52s. What's most surprising, though, especially for a group yet to release its debut album, is the breadth of material, which ranges from Suicide-style industrial throb through to a sweet electro-pop version of the Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra song Summer Wine. Another cover, a crowd-pleasing electroclash version of Kraftwerk's The Model, is a little too obvious, but it's hard to argue with the overall effect. Go see them. You'll like them. |
Share this page 
|
| COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE | ||
| READ ALL ART AND CULTURE ARTICLES MORE ART AND CULTURE ARTICLES |
|
PTV Fringe Picks 2012 by John J Bishop More madcap mayhem |
|
Interview: Al Di Meola by Frank Kuznik American Jazz Guitarist |
|
Cycle to Work Campaign by www.dopracenakole.net Alernative Commuting |
|
Prague Youth Theatre Summer Courses by Prague Youth Theatre Press Release |
|
Review: The Eden Game by Sam Beckwith Staged Reading of Havel Play |
|
Ladies Only by Lucie Kavanová Women-Only Train Compartments |
|
Interview: Jean-Paul Bourelly of the Black Stone Raiders by Frank Kuznik Jazz/Blues Guitarist |
|
In the Name of Havel by Ivana Svobodová Renaming Czech Streets |
|
Steamin' on the Piazzeta by Mary Matz Národní Divadlo Piazzeta Sauna |
|
Commentary: Art and Democracy Sent to Prison by Erik Tabery Roman Týc & Ztohoven |
|
Pacey: Doing It My Way by PTV Staff Paul Pacey Interview |
|
The Nightlife of a Great Yogi by Petr Třešňak Swami Maheshvarananda Sex Scandal |
|
Follow-Up: Who's Afraid of Alexei Zakharov? by Hana Čápová Dolní Olešnice Update |
|
Quiet Revolution by Mary Matz How Ballet is Changing |
|
The Best Prague Blogs in the English Language by Isabella Woods Expat Blogosphere |
| READ ALL ART AND CULTURE ARTICLES |
Visit the Art and Culture main page
Find listings, help forums, tips and more
.jpg){kind=small}
Cashback Solutions
Cashback helps you to rent property & makes your arrival to Prague...
Galeria Harfa
The biggest shopping & administration mall in Prague
Ristorante Soave
La cucina italiana
MORE ARTICLES
Prague TV Home | Contact | About | FAQ | Site Map | Search | Advertise | Privacy | Terms of Service
Prague TV is a Real Time Production. ©2012 All rights reserved.
