Nathan Fake - Wax Stag - The Mariner of Danu (DJ)

Back to the Arts Centre for another evening of dense, richly textured electronic music from Nathan Fake, with support from Wax Stag, and a DJ set from The Mariner of Danu. This was a thoughtfully programmed evening, with both the main acts performing music built around prominent rhythm tracks. Wax Stag’s performance consisted of live drums, played on a kit in the centre of stage, layered over a pre-recorded backing track. It was a skilful, intriguing set and acted as an ideal introduction to the main act.

Nathan Fake is a local electronic music artist who has built and sustained a lengthy career based on a varied, eclectic approach to largely instrumental electronic dance music. Music of artists who came to prominence in the 1990s, such as Aphex Twin and Autechre, appear to be significant influences, but Fake’s approach is wide-ranging and often surprising; tracks that start in one direction will often develop unexpectedly or veer off suddenly into new territory. The diverse set is given a degree of unity by the brightly coloured abstract images projected on the screen behind him: echoing the music, theseimages may appear relatively static for a while before you realise that that colours and shapes have altered completely.

Afterwards, and as The Mariner of Danu gets going upstairs, I enjoy a pint of Adnams in the bar with my friend James. I browse through the programme of upcoming events. Norwich is fortunate to have such an excellent venue, and I’m glad that I’ll be back before long.