Cougar Microbes

“I know loads of you noticed that I dropped the shaker half-way through that song,” announces Jack Goldstein, the unassuming front man of Oxford band Fixers. After a brief apology and deliberation the group reach a mutual decision. “Let’s play it again.”

Most people inside Hoxton Bar & Grill were too busy bopping to notice the slight hitch. They are not complaining though, as the five-piece launch back into an immaculate rendition of ‘Crystals’, a sparse but pulsating slice of pop. This, merged with sweet harmonies, is their signature sound.

The unorthodox decision to replay the same song, to get it just right, is a reflection of Fixers’ craftsmanship and attention to detail, the result of which has seen these boys come far, very quickly. The BBC, NME magazine and the Guardian are all over these guys and it is easy to see why. They layer chiming guitars over electro samples and build up to epic choruses – without straying into Snow Patrol territory.

Every song is greeted with approval from the eclectic mixture of observers, which ranges from hipsters in their twenties to old timers with – evidently – cultured tastes. The set is paced brilliantly with a blend of up-beat grooves and lower key atmospheric moments that keep everybody engaged throughout.

Taken from their upcoming EP ‘Imperial Goddess of Mercy’ the lyrics “I’m in love with a tropical world” on ‘Trans Love’  just about sum up the mood inside the venue. There is definitely an element of sunshine to Fixers’ music.

It seems harsh to pick out individuals in what is so obviously an all round talented outfit, but drummer Michael Thompson is worthy of a special mention. He barely drops a beat all evening and injects an incredible amount of energy, the evidence of which glistens on his forehead as the evening progresses.

After an hour of top tunes, the band closes with new single ‘Majesties Ranch’. This dynamic tune, driven at times by dirty guitar and at times by three-piece harmonies, sounds like something the Beach Boys may have dreamt up if they were touring Africa in the 80s.

As the set draws to a close Fixers thank the crowd politely and wish us all a very pleasant evening. We like Fixers.

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Post by Kenny
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TRACKS:

Crystals by Fixers

My appreciation for The Kissaway Trail was established on the live stage and their performance, opening the main stage at Wireless Festival in 2006, was the basis for one of the early posts on this blog.

It seems incredible to think it has been nearly 4 years since that performance and the release of the band’s debut album but the tracks on that album still sound fresh today. Just as I began to think the band had dissapeared off the face of the earth news begun to filter through of an upcoming release ‘Sleep Mountain’ on hip us label Bella Union.

The Danish 5-piece kicked off an ambitious tour which seemingly brought them through London every other week and I caught performances at the Lexington, the Barfly and fiitingly stumbled across their show at the Hoxton Bar & Frill, just as I had done back in Hyde park.

Some of these venues where smaller than the actual bar stand at Wireless Festival and I was looking forward to hearing the bands repertoire, old and especially new, in such an intimate setting. With their chiseled looks and Nordic cool the band looked the part and received an appreciative response from the ever present Danish contingent before they even hit the stage.

Tracks from their debut sounded brilliant, obviously benefitting from the experience gained from years on the road; managing to be polished and magnified. Better still, the new material showed matured songwriting approach with co-frontmen Thomas and Soren developing a penchant for sweeping instrumentals and dramatic melodies. All this built on the foundations of a solid rythmn section lead by impressive skills of drummer Hasse.

Over a few nights I witnessed The Kissaway Trail put in a dependable shift and win over audiences big and small. With Sleep Mountain being released just recently I hope it is not another 4 years before I see and hear from them again.

Tracks:

The Kissaway Trail – SDP (White Lies remix)