2nd October 06 - Soho Dolls Paparazzi Whore and Dance Bastards (debut) at Asylum Hull University (1/2) By Michelle Dee Photographs by Kate Langan www.katelanganphotography.co.uk

(1/2), (2/2).

Photograph Gallery 1, Gallery 2.

After hearing on the grapevine about new girls, Dance Bastards and also watching the cutting edge video created on a shoe string I was looking forward to their debut gig. I had checked them out for a few weeks on myspace -watched that stark video a good few times- and had the song Suckerrr firmly implanted in my head. As the girls take to the stage the first thing that strikes me is their looks. Amy looks quite shy and timid with glasses and jumper. Where as Kate looks more bolshie. Carrying with her a certain don't mess attitude and Mediterranean style; the type of girl that had a coterie of girls at her beck and call, propping up her status at high school.

This school girl analogy works well with the overall ethos behind both the band and their music. The beats come thick and fast but too start with Kate's voice is lost in this sound system again...Industrial beats with rap lyrics over the top. The second song Buka has a repeated eighties motif that morphs well with techno breaks. The guitar lines come over more like bass deep and resonant. Child like repetitions, hark back to school girl chanting, nursery rhymes and secret codes. Kate's voice gets stronger and I long to dance.

Double Dutch comes over slinky and fun with robotic dance moves to boot. Dance Bastards make good use of samples, beat loops, and voicing all combining to make the cool electro hip and slick vibe. Favourite songs were the one about the bitch who wore Mary Janes that smacks of girl gangs. This song could become an anthem for a generation of pissed of girls seeking revenge for never quite making somebody else's grade. Dance Bastards are like dysfunctional cheerleaders bitchy and sharp tongued boy she's cheating on you they sing. The songs beg to be learnt so you can join in.

After speaking with Amy and Kate I found them to be far from the bitchy tyrants their music suggests, but real women with more than something to say about societal injustice. Tonight I'm proud to be a Bastard.

This will probably be another nail in my coffin but someone said it's my responsibility to be honest so here goes. I first received the Paparazzi Whore album last year after hearing I'll Be Your Boyfriend on the Raw Talent show. I liked the tune at the time, it said something to me, what I'm not sure, perhaps it was a long time since I'd heard punk/electro girl fronted pop. It pleased me. Since that time the publicity material the band was using became increasingly disturbing. Pictures I'd seen from the Bestfrontseat launch had unnerved me. The use of sex and nudity to attract our attention increased three fold and the net result became glossy flyers almost like advertising a Soho sex show.

Continued...... Next Page (2/2)

Photograph Gallery 1, Gallery 2.

Photographs courtsey and Copyright ©  Kate Langan 2006

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