Just in case you ever happen to be at the Chinese restaurant East on 56 Kingsland road and you’ve stuffed yourself on sweet and sour chicken with spring rolls, had one too many glasses of white wine and you still want to go out and dance to Italo Disco, then Computer Blue (held at Red Lounge, directly underneath East) is the perfect place for you. An intimate monthly electro disco-club night in Shoreditch, set to a back drop of a pseudo-tacky-Bruce Lee-Karate-film-set, filled with glamorous extras that wouldn’t look amiss in an episode of old US sitcom 'Dallas', all dressed up to the nines in bright make up, suits, shoulder pads and sparkly evening dresses.
Strolling down the winding metal staircase, I accustom myself to my new surroundings rather quickly. I immediately like the Italo Disco music the DJ is playing; bringing back fond memories of growing up as an eighties kid in the south part of the continent, listening to a lot of trashy euro-dance stuff from random unheard of Italian–German singers such as Sandra or Sabrina. It seems I’ve acquired an almost natural affinity to such crazy, ultra machissimo poppy grooves. But neither Chinese food, nor Italo Disco are my main agenda for the night. Tonight I’ve come to see TEMPOSHARK perform live.
I first came across Temposhark last year through various rock and electro nights they performed at. I even managed to get a copy of their first single last December, "Neon Question Mark", so I was already looking forward to reviewing this gig. With their debut single under their belt and a follow up single and album set for release this year, Temposhark have managed to get themselves a hefty fan base, as indicated by 12:30 when they came on (kinda late for a gig if you ask me) and the venue had reached its full capacity.
With the gallant Rob Diament on vocals with his expressive heart-felt voice, to the rocky, foxy chic of bass-player Jasmin O’Meara, to the Apple Mac-synthesiser king Luke Busby, Temposhark are the perfect assortment of pop, electro, new wave, rock and funk, which is very then and yet very now. An array of musical influences can be heard from bands like New Order, Duran Duran, Kate Bush and Frou Frou to Fischerspooner, Mirwais and Pet Shop Boys. Most of their songs are immersed in electronic orientated sounds with some verging on the fringes of rock, such as their upcoming single and morality tale ‘Little White Lie’. I recall striking, catchy lyrics such as ‘Meet me at the after show’ and ‘Yes I’m married but I’ve left my wife and kids at home’ and it’s precisely this thoughtful and intelligent lyrical content combined with the up beat, bass-heavy pop rhythms that makes Temposhark stand out and will no doubt ensure their longevity.
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Before their last song, Rob casually mentions that they’re performing for MTV next week and this was their rehearsal. He proceeds to sing a semi-hyper, epic rock ballad ‘Not that Big’, perhaps indicating that this looming performance doesn’t faze them at all. The audience completely laps it up, especially the crazy dancing girls in the front row who’ve been lip-synching and gyrating along to all of the set. By the end of the gig everyone around me seems totally awakened and ready to dance the night away to more electro Italo Disco by resident DJ, Fonteyn.
Temposhark are a very likeable band with an infectious electronic pop sound and remarkable presence. They manage to mix just the right amount of Studio 57 decadence and catchy, crossover pop tunes with innovative artsy edginess and good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. Two big thumbs up
(www.temposhark.co.uk)
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