Live report: Datarock @ The Luminaire, London UK 05/11/06
Datarock, like all the best acts to come out of Norway are on Telle Records. Yup, that's the folks who previously birthed Annie, Royksopp and Kings Of Convenience to the world. However, Datarock plough a completely different burrow to any of this lot. They create a crazy asexul hybrid of dance and rock music.
This gig is their debut UK headline show, and has been so furiously marketed by the promoter that The Luminaire is practically full to the rafters in anticipation of a set by a group unknown to the general London tastemakers/gig going public. Initially, the most striking thing about Datarock is their iconic red tracksuits. There are three core members of the band, however tonight they are joined on stage by fellow Norwegian band Ungdomskulen. As a live prospect, Datarock create a real party atmosphere with the core of the band taking care of drums, synths and guitar/vocal duties, whilst the other five or so bodies scattered across the stage jump up and down and generally lark about in their hooded tracksuit tops, occasionally joining in on backing vocals.
Possibly the best comparison one can make to Datarock is calling them an asexual Scissor Sisters. Their lyrics are overtly sexual, but if anything act as a rejection of sexuality. For example, take the album opener "Bulldozer" which carries the chant "BMX is better than sex," or "Sex me up" in which Fredrik Saroea screams that if you "sex him up," he'll "sex you down."
The band save their best tune (and surely future single) "Fa-fa-fa" for till the end. Featured on Annie's "DJ Kicks" compilation from last year, "Fa-fa-fa" (with it's incessantly funky riffing) is like a suped-up Tom Tom Club for the 21st Century. The backing vocals are left to the audience, whilst the ringer members of the band takes care of the stupid dancing. Datarock leave the stage to "I've had the time of my life" being played over the PA, and it suddenly becomes obvious that Datarock will be the name to drop in tastemaker circles this summer.
- Nick Levine