Gig Review - Sunda Arc

The last time I ventured into Norwich Arts Centre, I saw ambient electronic outfit Szun Waves. You’re probably thinking “Who are they?” … Quite a good question really. They’re experimental … to say the bloody least.  I gotta mention, I was slightly anxious when we rolled up outside the venue and I’m already contemplating whether this could be the most alternative crowd I’ve had the pleasure of bumping shoulders with. My concerns only deepened when we entered the auditorium... A wall of ambient noise traced though the holy ceilings of the Norwich Arts Centre, while the jarring flashing images flickered upon the dark stage of the ominous band. I was certainty intrigued, albeit a little ticked off by the lack of health and safety warnings. I’d probably recommend any ambient-electronic loving epileptics out there to steer clear of Szun Waves, not worth your health. Well fuck it, it doesn’t matter anyway. I spent half the night pranging out that everyone in that audience would be dead within the next 32 hours…  I did quite enjoy the evening, and would have given the drummer a pat on the back after the show, but that’s without mentioning that a good chunk of the performance was spent deeply pondering the prospect that this could be some form of proxy band created by the government to brainwash hipsters for their eventual mass suicide in artisan coffee shops, craft breweries, and kilo sales around the country.

Anyway, Sunda Arc at the very same venue, under the very same roof as the highly coveted Szun Waves. I was convinced that this time would be different. I would attempt to be more present during the gig. Luckily, my nerves shifted as I discovered Sunda Arc aka Jordan and Nick Smart are two thirds of acclaimed jazz trio ‘Mammal Hands’, embarking on a new electronic endeavour. Sunda Arc released their ep, ‘Flicker’, at the turn of 2018. Having been well familiarised with Mammal Hands previous work: ‘Floa’ and ‘Shadow Work’, I was feeling quite chuffed that after the first listen, the brothers seemed to effortlessly traverse genres while still holding a clear grasp on what makes Mammal Hands so brilliant: thoughtful, eerie, and strikingly beautiful songs. The Sunda Arc ep captures this with a sure sense of their new sound and extremely enjoyable ambience while leaving you desperately hungry for more after just twenty-one minutes.

Back to the gig, and we didn’t get a chance to see DOM IV or Jonathan Krisp supporting as we were busy faffing around in the corner shop deciding what beers to get. We did however manage to catch the majority of Miles Otto impressive live set who was armed with just a head torch, some trippy visuals, and a set up which resembled a paranoid schizophrenic frantically trying any button he could to escape the four walls of various electronic equipment he had constructed around him. Otto’s energetic nature, and infectious love for the experimental, upbeat techno he was divulging onto the spritely Norwich crowd gave us all something to smile about. My dirty-techno-loving Lithuanian friend Mykolas could barely believe his eyes that he was witnessing this frenzied performance from the safety of sleepy-old Norwich, and not some freezing cold industrial building back home. I can’t be sure, but I think I caught him shedding a tear as he disclaimed just how ‘underground’ this event was.

Otto left the stage to a raucous applause – I did quite appreciate that the crowd were feeling it as much as we were. I must say, they probably left me wanting more for good reason, the EP was only the tip of the iceberg. Don’t you just love it at a gig and you’re being utterly treated. Nothing could possibly go wrong within the next hour. Money well spent. You know, when between songs you’re able to relax in the comforting knowledge that the next song is likely to be even more accomplished than the last. It makes me tingle. Jordan and Nick gave the crowd a variance in songs from Flicker and some dark, up-tempo new material which certainly seemed appropriate given the vibe of the crowd and the evening. What was notable about this performance was the seamless transition between acoustic and electronic equipment; a brilliant medley of piano’s, saxophones, analogue synths, and home-made software patches.

I know what you’re thinking…  hold your horses, we don’t generally give star ratings for gigs we’ve attended, and this will be no exception. I guess the main points to take from yesterday’s gig are: hot of the press new music from Sunda Arc, Norwich’s electronic scene isn’t too shabby, and lastly, I successfully got over my fear of ambient electronic gigs... for now.

Catch em’ while you can.

Slider & the Goose