NCI Club | cambridgemusicreviews

Emma Kupa opened the show with a solo performance, featuring a backward chronology starting with tracks from the last Mammoth Penguins album ‘Here’ back to choice cuts from her 2020 collection ‘It Will Come Easier’. As always Emma’s sensitive lyrics interweaved with her melodic guitar to sublime effect.

Lande Hekt has a new album, ‘Lucky Now’ which featured strongly in her set, from the jangly pastoral delights of ‘Rabbits’ to the bittersweet politics of ‘A Million Broken Hearts’. Her live voice sounded even more resonant than it does on her recordings, backed with echoing electric guitar and framed by warm interactions with the audience.

It was a really enjoyable evening, a great showcase for two fine singer songwriters.

Lande Hekt

Music | Emma Kupa (bandcamp.com)

First on were felicity perpetua, with effects-drenched guitar and vocals the duo were augmented by extra bass. Their style varied from full-on wall of sound to ethereal and experimental but always hypnotic. Celebrating ten years since their album ‘Healing Centre’ was released, Cambridge institution Model Village delivered an energetic set of their more uptempo tracks, laced with acerbic lyrics and instrumental twists.

Sassyhiya play compact sharp pop, mostly drawn from their excellent debut album. The quartet extract the lyrical goodness and spiky tunes from opener ‘Boat Called Predator’ and the surprises of ‘Puppet Museum’. There were new songs, as well as highlights like ‘I Had A Thought’ and the delicious ode to ‘Kristen Stewart’. The idiosyncrasies of their cat ‘Crayon Potato’ is a memorable singalong with a dexterous lyric and full-on rocker ‘You Can Give It (But You Can’t Take It)’ brought the show to a raucous end.

https://sassyhiya.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/modelvillagers/

https://nosoapworld.bandcamp.com/album/tape