With the ‘hypnotica’ film screenings taking over the Contemporary, it was no surprise that the Swedish group took over The Space. Full of hazy trance like sounds, the band created a hallucinogenic experience...
DJ Cherrystones played from half eight. Paired with the projection of moving images that flashed on the wall, the atmosphere felt like an art exhibit itself. The dark room was scattered with red lights and the montage that took over the screen had this old movie-esque quality; clips from black and white films, moving shapes and flashing bursts were splashed over it.
First band to play, Cowtown, channelled the post-punk vibe of a nineties garage band. With the lead singer grasping a red guitar plastered with stickers and Dave killing the drums in the back, the group had an almost grunge look. On the keyboard and vocals, Hillary Knott really completed the throwback for me, with a bob haircut alongside the t shirt and skirt combination I couldn’t help but think about Enid from the 2001 film Ghost World. Their sound was really enjoyable. Starting off with a confession and apology of “we’re not particularly psychedelic, sorry 'bout that” the band went on to play a bunch of upbeat punk tracks like Emojicore and Let Go. Characterised by fast guitar strums, eclectic sounds and a unique vocal tone, Cowtown were a success.
By the time Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation came on stage I was getting tired, which played well into the altered state, hypno feel to their tunes. I wouldn’t say that I was excited or pumped by their music, but instead, I felt taken away into a dream. The songs seemed to focus on the beats alongside the ebb and flow of sounds, rather than constraining themselves to a conventional song format. Even rejecting the idea that songs needed a chorus to be its focal point, they were much more free flowing. It felt experimental and relaxing with a mixture of sweet and trippy sounds working in combination with some deep electro beats.
Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation played at Nottingham Contemporary Friday 24 February 2017.
Josefin Öhrn & The Liberation Interview and Exclusive Playlist
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