大象传媒

Ah, Nakatomi Towers, your name makes it so easy to reference Die Hard, but you are beyond any novelty moniker. 听Your synthy electro new wave goodness is more than the usual New Order copyists, with an edge like a thorn to the rose. Hinting at times of remixes of Garbage, there's an American feel to the music, as indie and rock heritage is married with dance rhythms. 听The quirky playfulness of effects and darker edge to vocals and lyrics displays knowledge beyond the usual and often simplistic contemporary electro-pop reference points. 听They've quickly risen the ranks locally and it's easy to see why. The comparatively early evening setting, however, 听is as unnatural as their electronic pulse with only a small number of drinkers present, rather than the sweaty club they need.

Crossing the border for another gig after their recent headline show are Disconnect 4, who are also of 80s and New Order influence, but with a bigger sound (and a bigger cast). They recall the heritage of new wave from it's roots in punk and post-punk, particularly in the sparky and energetic performance from our front-man. 听'Eighteen' has an attractive air of despair and desperation, and 'Over Again Before' follows the same formula, which is all very well, but it feels like a limited template, and they need to show hints of growth to move on from this good starting point.

Turning our attention to rapidly growing in popularity Rams' Pocket Radio, they too have an 80s electro influence but from the harder industrial end of the spectrum. The likes of Depeche Mode and Skinny Puppy, and, in particular Nine Inch Nails in the pounding piano, seem to be the source of their dark strength. 听At times acting almost like a second bass, it helps form an ominous chaotic rumble that underscores their often spat-out vocals. 听'A Little Bit of Rhythm' crashes up and down like a jackhammer, like aural schizophrenia in its mood swings, and 'Teach You A Thing Or Two' has an Aphex Twin style jittery crash of instruments to it. 听Closing number 'Dieter Rams Has Got The Pocket Radios' soars almost like prog with its multiple directions, but has enough of a vocal sneer to keep it grounded. 听Turn on, tune in and cop a load of this Radio.

Willaim Johnston