James Holden live review
On the one hand, the Purcell Room is ideal for James Holden: being both intimate and with perfect acoustics, the subtleties and rawness of his current live set-up – modular synth plus drums – are beautifully realised. On the other, though, it’s a bit of a stitch-up: the stuffy classicism of the place, all comfortable seats and hushed reverie, are completely at odds with Holden’s addictively loose techno that nags just as much at the feet as at the ears. But with a strict no-standing policy that makes tonight’s show one to be enjoyed more cerebrally than viscerally, it’s a relief that the compelling musical chemistry between Holden and Ben Page, his extraordinary drummer, offers so much to admire. Grappling with their instruments and bouncing improvisational ideas off each other, the pair translate Holden’s sinewy flights of fancy into muscular bangers that feel pleasingly subversive in the surroundings.
