Over the past two or three years the cheek and flair of has cleared the stuffiness out of the dance scene and, drawing on the finest post-punk and electro ethics, she has crafted memorable tracks as well as bought a verve and sense of fun along to her live appearances. When she was confirmed on the bill at this year's Sonar festival in Barcelona no-one could predict what she'd play but everyone wanted to be around to find out.
For those not lucky enough to be there, or able to get close enough to hear, Novamute have come through with a reproduction of her atmospheric performance. And let's make it clear, it is a performance. What sets Live at Sonar apart from any other mix release in the genre is her live vocal accompaniment, which both freshens her own tracks and adds wit, charm and unexpected harmony to others. Critics draw attention to her less than perfect pitch but who cares, the effect is unequivocal - her selections are faultless and the character and vitality she brings to the decks is unique.
The mix drifts in via the Eno-like beatless washes of Tim Hecker's 'Azure Azure', we can only imagine the scene as it ripples across the late sunny afternoon in Barcelona and segues into the warm electro of the first Kittens-own selection 'Happy Violentine'. Her vocals drop out as she moves into the undulating casio keyboard tones of Philus' 'Kuvio' and as the pace kicks on through The Hacker, Felix da Housecat and into further Kittin highlights, concerns are firmly quashed as to whether the clipped, tight rhythms and understated vocals can transfer from the sweaty confines of global ultra-hip nightspots to the expanse of the outdoors. A speeded-up 'Windowlicker' slots in effortlessly and dropping in the Superpitcher Remix of MFA's 'The Difference' followed by The Orb's Traumvogel is inspired.
Perfection is closing with the sublime Boards of Canada working of Boom Bip's 'Last Walk around mirror lake' - an evocative, gentle slice of aural beauty.
As she signs off and the sweat no doubt drips down from the marquee we might not have experienced it live but we can still feel the pulse. What a show.
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 30th January 2006
Record Label: NovaMute
Words By: Mark Steel
