London – Britain may have voted to leave the European Union but the multinational nature of its capital city was very much evident tonight in a three-act line up at Birthdays, a stylish basement bar venue in Dalston, North London. Headlining was Ukrainian sister act, Bloom Twins, who moved to London three years ago, with support from Mexican-Lebanese singer-songwriter Blu Fiefer and recent London music graduates Arctic Lake who can’t quite complete the circle as they have roots in Lancaster in the north of England rather than Greenland. The show is part of Robomagic’s Finding The Female Headliner monthly residency at Birthdays, showcasing the best emerging female-fronted acts.
Described as offering an amalgam of Hip Hop, Trap and Alternative Pop, Blu Fiefer has studied music in London and gigged extensively in Beirut. Sadly the vagaries of London transport prevented a proper appreciation of her distinctive sound as we arrived just as she was closing her set to appreciative cheers from early arrivals. The crowd was still building as Arctic Lake next took the stage. The trio of vocalist Emma Foster flanked by Paul Holliman on guitar and keyboard and percussionist Andy Richmond has a tranquil stage presence in tune with it’s gently soaring soundscapes. The willowy Foster commanded quiet attention from the opening song “Friend,” combining a prodigious range and distinctive tone with a touch of soul while the instrumentation around her was sensitive, precise and inventive.
A highlight of a six-song set that included a thoughtful cover of New Order’s “Blue Monday” was the glacial “Heal Me”. The live version called to mind the fractured fragility of Daughter with added Kate Bush-like flights through octaves from Foster. “Limits” provided an atmospheric closer than provided further endorsement of the trio’s genuine credentials. Arctic Lake may tire of people comparing its sound to London Grammar but something tells me this band could grow into one equally stellar.
In comparison to Arctic Lake’s measured stagecraft, identical twins Anna & Sonia Kuprienko, aka Bloom Twins, arrive with a ready-made sense of theatre. The statuesque pair stand in front of keyboards either side of a drummer. Dramatically heavy, dark eye make-up accentuates the identikit personae while stage clothes show contrasting diversity; Sonia in leggings, boots and a sleeveless leather jacket and sister Anna in a girly crop top and leather skating skirt. Though just 19, the duo are already veterans of fashion shoots, have toured with Duran Duran and released a cover of Bob Marley’s “Get Up Stand Up” to protest against the political situation in their homeland of Ukraine. There’s a natural chemistry and ability to work a crowd, which has now grown to fairly full.
Bloom Twins opened with “Taboo,” highlighting stabbing beats and chanted vocals underpinned by synth phrases that briefly gave way to a melodramatic piano bridge. The rasping bass synth riffs of “Do You Dare” followed and this dark tone was echoed by the next song, a cover of Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love” which had a certain bleakness to it which equally seems to course through the duo’s original material. By contrast the twins are engaging to watch with high-fives, thanks and smiles at the ready to diffuse their darker purpose.
While the band undoubtedly had those in the audience who knew the early material, the fans seemed less familiar with the newer songs on tonight’s menu. Anna seemed to recognise this when she announced “Blue” as ‘this one you know’. With a stronger melody and keyboard driven hook, “Blue” seemed to define Bloom Twins’ brand of dark pop while the two voices meshed really effectively. It was decorated with an all too short flute solo by Sonia, who went on to treat us to a nice blast of harmonica on the next song. Along with the recent single, “Amnesia,” these two songs were the set’s high spots. Unlike the title subject, you’d be hard pressed to get the latter out of your head after a few spins.
As the set headed to a close, it did cross my mind that the Euro disco feel of their own song “Crazy” might make it a shoe-in for Ukraine’s next Eurovision entry, though they might have to cut the unexpected drum solo at the end. Bloom Twins were received politely and despite a somewhat forced encore you left slightly underwhelmed right now though absolutely mindful of the potential the band has for pop success.
For more on Bloom Twins, visit their Facebook page.
Tony Hardy
Tony’s great passion in life is music and nothing gives him more pleasure than unearthing good, original new music and championing independent musicians. His association with Best New Bands brings great opportunities for this. He also writes for Consequence of Sound and is a judge for Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition.
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