Brighton after dark: 5 November 2013

Bmusic

Nick Cave: Listening Out For The Boatman’s Call
Unless you’ve been cowering under a Cowell-sized rock for the 10 months, you will know that Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds released an album at the start of the year, called Push The Sky Away. It was an unmitigated triumph and they are currently touring it round Europe, after starting their jaunt at our very own Dome.

Push The Sky Away is an undoubtedly fine album, one of the year’s best, and it vies with ‘The Boatman’s Call’ for the title for the best Bad Seeds record. It’s hard, however, not to plead the case for the latter. The opening song, ‘Into My Arms’, has a valid shout of owning the best opening line to an album ever, and sets the tone for the rest of the record: “I don’t believe in an interventionist God/But I know darling, that you do.”

From here it’s an album that drifts and lilts on waves of organ, accordion, piano and Cave’s impeccably controlled lyrical delivery. It’s an album in the purest sense, each piece very much a part of the cake, with moments of almost unbearable poignancy – the chorus of ‘People They Ain’t No Good”, the pitchy plea of “Are You The One That I’ve Been Waiting For” the muted finale of “Black Hair”.

Thematically, it’s business as usual for Cave – mortality, love, religion, sex – and a vastly different beast to the album it preceded, Murder Ballads. That was an angry stomp through the very darkest reaches of the human psyche. Here, Cave seems a calmer man, a little more world-weary, not so centred on all that’s bad about mankind, but the possibilities that exist despite this.

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Words: David Hillier

Sade Ali and promoter Rhys-christian Mobsby

So tell us a little about yourself, Rhys…
“I’m 22 and I’m from Brighton. I currently work in the nightclub industry as a barman and as a promoter for Brighton ROX. I’ve been promoting for five years now and have worked in the biggest venues all across Brighton, including Oxygen, Digital, Life and Vodka Revolutions.”

What are your favourite nights out in Brighton?
“C U Next Tuesday at Digital. It’s been running since I started clubbing, so it’s almost become a standard for other companies to aspire to.”

What do you love about promoting?
“It’s the most sociable job you could hope for. Meeting people constantly, engaging with new faces, getting public opinion on the shifts of night culture… There’s nothing that tops it.”

What do you love about singing/performing?
“I’ve grown up performing. I’ve always known that the one thing I wanted to do was sing and dance. The first thing you think of in the morning and the last at night? That’s what you’re made to do. For me, it’s singing. And watching people’s reaction to something that means that much to you? The feeling is inexplicable.”

If you had to choose, what would it be, singing or the nightlife?
“Wow, that’s hard! Um… I guess if I had to choose it would be singing. As much as I love nightlife, it’s always been performing for me.”

In your eyes what do you think is so unique about Brighton’s nightlife?
“I think the people are what make Brighton’s nightlife so special! The public know what they want, and they sure as hell aren’t shy about voicing it!”

Tell me about your best clubbing experience in Brighton?
“As cheesy as it sounds, it was when Digital was doing a singing competition, and a friend entered me without knowing. Just a random Tuesday out and I end up singing to a packed club of over 600 people! Beyond crazy.”

Follow @SadeAli

>DON’T MISS<

4AD Sunday
Explore the impressive back catalogue of this hugely influential label, and you can even request your favourites via their Facebook page. From Ariel Pink to Zomby, with much more in-between.
Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Sun 10 Nov, 8pm, Free

Blow After Party
“What happens in blow stays in blow” – a mantra that reflects the hedonistic heritage for one of Brighton’s top club nights. Featuring popular DJs Vince Manganaro, Charly Lopez and more.
Coalition, Sun 10 Nov, 3am–8am, £5

BOOGIE WONDERLAND
New pop music club nights not your cup of tea? Then head to the Green Door Store to hear classic East Coast grooves, New York Boogie, Philly Disco and Hi-NRG soul. Plus newer edits, cuts and remixes.
Green Door Store, Thu 7 Nov, 7pm, Free

Drink Dance Repeat
With an eclectic mix of chart, indie and house upstairs, and R’n’B and hip-hop downstairs, there’s something for everyone.
Life, Sat 9 Nov, 11pm, £3/£5

Brighton Noise

Alastair Reid on this week’s gigs
Rather than embarking on a quasi-political rant beginning with Guy Fawkes, passing through revolution and ending with Russell Brand, I thought I’d leave that to the rest of the media. Here’s to the music. Mount Kimbie are one of the most forward-thinking acts in UK electronic music, a duo for which the term “post-dubstep” was coined. If dubstep is not your thing then you’re in good company. An eminent friend recently described Skrillex as “like a lightsaber hitting a car alarm”, but Mount Kimbie are a warmer, more laid-back affair , retaining the twitch and shudder with a warm heart and imagination. 2009’s break-out hit ‘Maybes’ is the best starting point and they’ll be on tour here to promote new record ‘Cold Spring Fault Less Youth’, supported by chillwave afficionados and copy-editor’s nightmare oOoOO.

Not into that? Want some guitars? The Green Door Store plays host to a trio of Brighton bands celebrating the launch of new EP Attentive Blood from Wild Cat Strike, also on Wednesday. Channelling angsty bands of modern youth, they are like dubstep never happened, harking back to the days of Crank! Records and Saddle Creek. The New Union are a poppier affair in main support, while tap-happy math pop four piece Poles Apart are set to open.

Returning to more electronic and experimental affairs, Thursday sees Spirit Of Gravity take over Green Door Store for a night of live electronic music. Our own Chris Kuzmiski recently sat down with SoG main man Geoff Cheesemaster for an interview, available on the Brighton Noise website, to discuss Brighton’s sound art scene, of which this night is set to be a starring attraction. The palindromic DOGEESESEEGOD will headline with their array of knobs and boxes manipulating sound waves for the huddled masses, terrifying string trio ARC will force every influence under a neon sun through their bows and cat gut, all after guitar-looping wunderkid Stereocilia builds rich layers of sound with some pedal board wizardry. I will be spending most of the night trying not to spill beer on the vintage keyboards in the electrocreche.

A quick tip of the hat before we depart must go to pop-punkers Summerslam 88 at The Hope, and the excellent Hella Better Dancer supporting The Self Help Group at The Palmeira, both on Friday.

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