Album/DVD Review: Eru Dangerspiel Great News For the Modern Man

Eru Dangerspeil <i>Great News For The Modern Man</i> cover. Photo / Supplied

Rating: 4/5
Verdict: Big band put on one big show

It might not be as bonkers, but Eru Dangerspiel is New Zealand's answer to George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Opener Backfoot certainly recalls the beautifully lazy cosmic lope of something like Do Fries Go With That Shake? (minus the cheeky lyrics).

This show, by the 30-or-so strong band of singers, players, and 13-member choir led by drummer and composer Riki Gooch (TrinityRoots), was filmed at the Auckland Town Hall on August 8 last year and gets its release as a DVD/CD package ahead of two more shows in October.

And it's a night of arse-shaking funk, head-down wazz-outs, wild jams, and wailing future soul.

It says something of Gooch's standing that he can gather together some of the country's best players, including the Fat Freddy's brass section, top drummers Julien Dyne and Ross Burge, and vocal giant Laughton Kora (whose surfer-being-eaten-by-a-shark costume is a sight to behold). And when Gooch is not playing drums he's standing up there as conductor - arranging and organising the songs as they are played out.

Initially it might seem as though they needed a few more lights at the Town Hall to brighten things up, but the slightly dingy, dusky mood is part of the show's charm. It's the playing, the singing, and Anna Coddington's bright red and black jumpsuit and heart-shaped glasses (she wears during the staunch and saucy You Would Know), that light this show up.

Elsewhere there are some magical moments: Maia, a minimal yet majestic 14-minute duet between Mara TK and Whirimako Black, is stunning (if a little long); also on that song, Dyne's duelling with Jonathan Crayford's piano conjures up a haunting and sinister ambience; and Fat Freddy's roly-poly funketeer Joe Lindsay - who's dressed like Gopher from The Love Boat - lets it all hang out with a blazing solo on Hold Up. And it all comes to a scorching end on 17-minute finale Sambaskool Dropout, with the choirs soul-meets-choral shrieks a resonant reminder of a great show.

- NZ Herald / TimeOut