Caribou, Koko London, gig review: Compelling and unstoppable
Dan Snaith has perfected his ability to humanise dance music
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Your support makes all the difference.A banging wig-out named "Sun", with its title endlessly repeated, demands a spectacular light show and, sure enough, the stage round Dan Snaith fluoresces a tingling yellow, just like the Tate Modern installation that recreated a solar glow.
With its supernova conclusion, "Sun" makes a fitting finale for Snaith's triumphant live return as Caribou. Just as apposite, in 2010 that number marked the solo artist's transition from leftfield auteur to a singular figure carving out a niche half indietronica, half rave euphoria.
On fourth album Our Love, out a couple of days earlier, Snaith has perfected his ability to humanise dance music, something extended into a compelling live set. Partly it is his quavering vocal, especially beguiling on the simple, repetitive refrain that gives the title to "Can't Do Without You", less so handling more impressionistic lyrics.
On the new release's title track, Snaith and three bandmates, gathered in collegiate fashion centre stage, mine dance music history to thrilling effect, supplying an insistent hi-hat and naggingly familiar hook.
Elsewhere, the group balance epic oscillations and waveforms with more subtle touches, whether frangible percussion or a psychedelic flute line. When they abandon themselves to house's blissed-out nirvana, though, Caribou feel unstoppable.
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