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A monday night at the Magnet and a range of acts are announced to perform a live gig featuring local talent; Crop Rotation, We Got Wires, DJ Buddha intermittently throughout the night and headliners, Picture Book, celebrating the launch of their new single, “Strangers”.

The night was apprehensive with a crowd of thirty already arrived by 9:30, listening to the chilled out beats of DJ Buddha at the decks.  First up was Crop Rotation, who playing a set of three to four songs using a heavy backbeat and strong melody line with interesting harmonies. The cross section of rhythms alongside building up of layers gave a hint of Vampire Weekend influences that contribute to their alternative style but identifiable at the same time.  To find out more go to: www.myspace.com/bugogogo

 After a second set from DJ Buddah, We got Wires, a band formed in LIPA were next on stage.  Their maturity and knowledge about performance and their audience came across as strong with a good layout of the band and their image.  Harmonies and instrumentation added extra dimensions to the band alongside their obvious passion for their songs. Track “Another Minute” came across as moving and confident, with a strong use of riffs that explore emotion. Not only does the band go beyond the usual conventions of song writing,  but they enjoy it and demonstrate it in a moving way to the audience.  The combination of electronics and harsher rock sounds compliment each other well and contribute to the band’s large range of ability in the world of sound. To find out more, go to: www.myspace.com/wegotwires

 By the time DJ Buddha had started his third set, the crowd at the magnet had built up to show their support for Picture Book. As the gig was the final of Picture Book’s two week tour, their knowledge and confidence showed. The layout and visual effect of the stage added to the persona of mystery. Not only was everything on stage done successfully live but the visual effects chosen ranging from lego to mysterious, ambiguous earth shaped objects caused a real atmosphere of the band that added years beyond the band’s maturity level.  The effect allowed for emphasis of the music and to add many layers to their artistic style.

  Anthems such as “Parallel Spaces” and “Strangers” were evidently popular amongst the crowd and successfully sold at the gig on their launch EP. The set also  included alienated songs such as “Pessimistic predictions of the past and Future”  featuring folk like violin and lonely vocals, from front woman Aya alongside heavy electronics and beats to emphasize the mood given by Master ToKo (the ‘beat master’) and Lord Highowl.  The lonely, isolated vocals and minimal electronica allowed for a true insight into the band and evoke the feelings desperation, tearing, upset and heartbreak.  The atmosphere on stage was obviously electric, with high hats being spontaneously hit and much movement to the beats provided by the brothers.  Not only does Picture Book successfully build up an atmosphere to funk down to at their gigs, they provide tracks that the audience feed off and find caught in their heads days later. Go to www.myspace.com/picturebookaregreat or www.picturebookmusic.com (Singles “Strangers” and “Parallel spaces” available on iTunes.)

By Jennifer Carroll