We’re always on the hunt for music that’s a little out of the ordinary.
Be it ridiculous stage shows, weird vocoder solos or downright hilarious lyrics – if it’s unique, we’re all ears. So when the opportunity arose to catch Caravan Palace at London’s Brixton Academy, our schedule automatically became clear.
Oozing Parisian charm, this is one French electro-swing band that know how to put on a show. Launching into their 2015 track Comics, the seven-piece opened to a packed venue, crammed to the rafters with one of the most diverse crowds we’ve seen in a long time. 60-something swing fans could be seen shimmying next to 20-something electro enthusiasts – talk about music’s unifying abilities.
From trumpets, violins and saxophones to a vibraphone, endless amounts of electronics and a double bass – if there was prize for the number of weird and wonderful instruments you could fit on the Academy’s stage, Caravan Palace would be outright winners. Latest single “Midnight” was always set to be a crowd pleaser, a surefire way of taking the crowd’s exuberance levels up a notch. Despite the nature of their sound making transitions more or less seamless, there were lulls during less prominent tracks like “Aftermarth” + “Tattoos” (although nothing resembling a dull moment). It was the intro to Black Betty that really sent the crowd into a frenzy, a height the remainder of the set couldn’t quite reach.
Caravan Palace have nailed a quirky, left-field sound with the ability to bridge both genres and age gaps – an experience that is best served live. Ultimately, if Steampunk had an upmarket soundtrack, this would be it.
Catch their latest track “Midnight” below, alongside a host of European tour dates.
