Asbestos Farmer / Stu McGoo / By Bizarre Hands / Polakov
Spin the Black Circle, Worcester – Friday, 7 April 2023
In a compact room above a record store cum coffee shop momentum is building for Surprise Attacks/WVFRMS regular DIY electronic music nights. Launched in February at Spin The Black Circle #2 brought forth the latest instalment of entertaining beats, blips and drones that had heads nodding, feet shuffling and mouths smiling on Good Friday.
Kicking off proceedings was Worcester’s own Polakov who’s mixture of ambient soundscapes, tape loops and field sounds of everyday life took us on a journey of what felt like an imaginary film soundtrack. And a damn good one at that.
Following that was Brum’s By Bizarre Hands and their abrasive, industrial-influenced drone. Occasionally bordering on the terrifying, this was atmospherically-charged noise as unsettling as a well-written horror. Enough to make you feel pleasantly uncomfortable and memorable long after the fact.
Local hero Stu MgGoo brought a different vibe that was no less intense, seeing a few moves being thrown by the audience with his euphoric melodic techno beats. Lo-fi in places, sunrise in Ibiza in others, the boy’s got hook laden tunes in his fingers that was received with a mighty roar as he finished his set.
Bringing the night to a close, Ludlow’s Asbestos Farmer aka Ben Sparrow brought a non stop arsenal of beats, acid basslines, build ups and break downs. Shades of Orbital, Underworld, KLF and a step into 90’s underground Rave territory raised the bpm and got the crowd moving. With Boz on vocal & MC duties the set evoked the euphoria of the 90’s Haçienda era.
Good things are happening. The night had a sense of community and collaboration and ain’t that just what we need right now.
By: Derek Bisto