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Senor Coconut...
review
Senor Coconut – aka Uwe Schmidt from Frankfurt, now living in Chile – is a veteran of the German electronic dance scene and has recorded over 140 albums under pseudonyms including Atom Heart and Lassigue Bendthaus, most released on his ‘Rather Interesting Records’ label.
In tonight’s incarnation Herr Schmidt treats us to gems from his Kraftwerk covers album ‘El Baile Aleman’ and his latest ‘electrolatino’ offering ‘Fiesta Songs’. For our entertainment Senor Coconut has assembled a fine band – nay, orchestra – of global musicians who are introduced every now and then: "On the xylophone, Johann from Copenhagen!…". And yes, there’s Senor Coconut – no, not him centre stage with the latin looks and rhythmic hips – swing right my dear, to the side-burned chap at the lectern prodding an i-Book and surveying the proceedings benevolently. Occasionally a dry smile plays at the corners of his mouth and around the crinkle of his eyes - and how could he resist
smiling?
Senor Coconut and his merry men ease effortlessly through cha cha cha and merengue versions of ‘Riders On The Storm’, ‘Smoke On The Water’, and classics from ‘El Baile Aleman’ including ‘Showroom Dummies’, ‘Homecomputer’ and ‘Autobahn, while the crowd are mambo-ing in lines, and echoing the words back to the singer who is egging them on to dizzy new heights of cha cha cha-dom. Aussie comic Mark Little is guffawing and getting into the groove alongside folk with ironic hairdos, rowdy lads chanting "We-are-the-robots!", and a Shakira lookee-likee who is working her hips like she’s just had a highly successful replacement op.
Top tunes of the evening include Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’, and an enlightening rendition of Sade’s ‘Smooth Operator’. Giving songs a radically different treatment lets you appreciate the song anew, some memorable examples for me being faux-lesbos tATu’s version of ‘How Soon Is Now?’, Kylie’s slow tempo version of ‘Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’, and an abhorent hi-energy version of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ witnessed at a poppers-drenched Bournemouth nightclub. Ouch. ‘Smooth Operator’ as interpreted by Senor Coconut brought out the full smoooooothness of the song. I felt like I should be hearing it in an exotic club with overhead fans, a perspiring double bassist, a hint of danger, the smell of spilt rum and fat cigars, and perhaps Lauren Bacall all quizzical eyebrows and hand on hip descending the stairwell.
And maybe Senor Coconut’s band would be more suited to some such venue, or perhaps a dance hall, where the crowd would dance with a partner rather than face the stage, because this doesn’t seem the kind of band to just watch and jig about on the spot a bit to.
There is humour in there, in the world of Senor Coconut and his band of merry men, but these chaps can really, really play their instruments; and despite the fun, gaiety and dry smile, Senor Coconut’s rhythmic reworkings are about more than just doing it for the irony. For my part though, I tend to prefer my easy listening in the comfort of my own home rather than live, perhaps whilst practising my golf swing, painting by numbers, or pouring a cocktail from my authentic boat bar. And alas no, I don’t salsa.
For Concorde 2 gigs see the Concorde 2's profile page on this site, or visit www.concorde2.co.uk.
about Concorde 2
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Okay, so you may have to walk a bit to reach it... but that just makes it that little bit more exclusive doesn't it! Located along Madeira Drive, the Concorde 2 is a sizeable venue with a huge variety of clubnights and bands on each month. Some top names, some great festivals, World Music... you name it. If you can't find something to pique your interest then you might as well pack your bags and head for Eastbourne... Click for more info and complete listings for Concorde 2 
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