Outtakes
Clockenflap fest kicks off New Year
January is typically a quiet period for gigs as punters recover from the excesses of December, but one large-scale event planned for early in the New Year promises to get 2008 off to a roaring start for live music.
Clockenflap, presented by long-term music design DJ collective Robot, is a film, installation art and music festival to be held at Cyberport from 2pm on January 12. While the organisers are keen to stress the multimedia nature of Clockenflap, it'll be the music that will convince people to make the trek out to Cyberport, especially to catch headline act the Young Knives and other acts from Britain.
The indie rock and post-punk revivalists (right) were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize this year for their album Voices of Animals and Men, which reached No 21 on the British album charts. With a taste for tweed clothing and catchy, angular melodies, the Young Knives made their name as
a support act for the likes of Hot Hot Heat, the Futureheads and the Rakes, and are preparing to release their second album next year.
Other notable British performers
on the bill are soulful indie popsters Bizali and disco-punk electronica act Kid Carpet.
Ticket prices and other entertainment for the 12-hour event have yet to be announced, but keep your browser pointed towards clockenflap.com.
Sounds from Taiwan at Kluub
Kluub, a tucked-away venue in Wan Chai, has been hosting some arty musical offerings of late and tonight will be bringing in its first overseas lineup for a night of mind-expanding tunes.
The Sounds From Taiwan event will feature three avant-garde musicians from the island plus an Australian guest. Because the night is being presented by local experimental music store White Noise Records, the performers are being advertised in suitably strange terms. Chang Hui-sheng is said to offer extended vocal improvisation and 'in a language other than speaking or singing, the voice presents itself with a strange yet intimate sound', while Yao Chung-han's sound sits on 'the gap between the points of departure and destination'. Fellow Taiwanese artist Wang Chung-kun will perform with motors, bottles, water, an air compressor and a laptop.
Bring an open mind to the venue at 14/F Footak Building, 367 Hennessy Road. The event starts at 8pm and tickets at the door cost HK$70.
Dragon-i date for DJ Jazzy Jeff
Hip hop Wednesdays at Dragon-i have become essential gigs for rap music followers (and those who don't have to work on Thursday mornings), and manning the decks next week will again be ground-breaking DJ Jazzy Jeff.
Jeff Townes was already a respected DJ before he hooked up with Will Smith as Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, pioneering several of the standard techniques used by hip hop turntablists.
Catch Townes on his fourth visit to Dragon-i in the past four years from 11pm. Entry is HK$200.
