Remi Harris reviews Jamie Woon's Mirrorwriting official album launch gig, 19 April, Corsica Studios, London.
The edgy environment of a packed and sweaty Corsica Studios, under railway arches in South London's Elephant and Castle, is exactly where you would expect dubstep's latest face to launch his debut album Mirrorwriting.
Jamie Woon performed most of album, and despite the hype about the Brit school training and the dubstep credentials, his appeal lies in the songwriting.
Current single Lady Luck, with a rock solid drum beat, sing-along melody and compact, soulful vocals was a highlight. On Spirits, Woon made liberal use of a loop sampler to layer and echo his vocals, creating an ethereal effect.
Live, Woon replicated the electronic lean of the album across a lot of his set. Night Air, for example, was delivered over a sound bed of effects, whilst Jamie and his band of three musicians layered on live instrumentation; bass, keyboards, drums, guitar. Halfway through they switched to playing the song in a funk style, entirely live, which got the crowd rocking.
At other moments the sound was stripped back to an acoustic guitar wielded by Woon himself.
It was an assured performance, based on well crafted songs.
Photo: Leanne Dixon
Read more about Jamie Woon and dubstep in the M feature Brutal Bass.
Watch a rehearsal of Jamie Woon's Echoes here
Jamie Woon UK Tour Dates:
26/05 - O2 ABC - Glasgow
29/05 - Academy - Manchester
30/05 - Leeds Met Student Union - Leeds
31/05 - Leadmill - Sheffield
02/06 - Old Dire Station - Bournemouth
03/06 - Anson Rooms - Bristol
04/06 - HMV Institute - Birmingham
06/06 - The Waterfront - Norwich
07/06 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham
08/06 - Concorde 2 - Brighton
09/06 - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire - London
The edgy environment of a packed and sweaty Corsica Studios, under railway arches in South London's Elephant and Castle, is exactly where you would expect dubstep's latest face to launch his debut album Mirrorwriting.
Jamie Woon performed most of album, and despite the hype about the Brit school training and the dubstep credentials, his appeal lies in the songwriting.
Current single Lady Luck, with a rock solid drum beat, sing-along melody and compact, soulful vocals was a highlight. On Spirits, Woon made liberal use of a loop sampler to layer and echo his vocals, creating an ethereal effect.
Live, Woon replicated the electronic lean of the album across a lot of his set. Night Air, for example, was delivered over a sound bed of effects, whilst Jamie and his band of three musicians layered on live instrumentation; bass, keyboards, drums, guitar. Halfway through they switched to playing the song in a funk style, entirely live, which got the crowd rocking.
At other moments the sound was stripped back to an acoustic guitar wielded by Woon himself.
It was an assured performance, based on well crafted songs.
Photo: Leanne Dixon
Read more about Jamie Woon and dubstep in the M feature Brutal Bass.
Watch a rehearsal of Jamie Woon's Echoes here
Jamie Woon UK Tour Dates:
26/05 - O2 ABC - Glasgow
29/05 - Academy - Manchester
30/05 - Leeds Met Student Union - Leeds
31/05 - Leadmill - Sheffield
02/06 - Old Dire Station - Bournemouth
03/06 - Anson Rooms - Bristol
04/06 - HMV Institute - Birmingham
06/06 - The Waterfront - Norwich
07/06 - Rescue Rooms - Nottingham
08/06 - Concorde 2 - Brighton
09/06 - O2 Shepherds Bush Empire - London
