Congotronics Vs Rockers – Barbican Centre, London 12/07/2011

The “versus” in the title of tonight’s event is somewhat misleading, for Congotronics Vs Rockers is a collaboration rather than a competition between the musical practitioners of that particular sub-Saharan Democratic Republic and their Western counterparts.

But if one chose to interpret this coalescing of musicians from Congo, Sweden, the United States, Argentina and Japan as a contest between Anglo-Saxon and African musical traditions; a battle between Western and Congolese conceptions of modern music then the victor is abundantly clear.

The first inkling we get of this is during Stranded Horses’ opening set; the initial delight induced by his magnificent kora playing dispelled the second he reaches for his acoustic guitar. But it’s a trend markedly apparent throughout the night. Wildbirds and Peacedrums’ Mariam Wallentin, typically a commanding, hypnotic presence seems lost, even superfluous; the harshness and slight discordance of her vocals not always sitting comfortably with the warm, polyrhythmic grooves of the Congolese musicians.

Deerhoof, too, seem somewhat redundant, despite an excellent African-tinged rendition of ‘Super Duper Rescue Heads’ and the ever-heartwarming sight of Greg Saunier flailing about like a distressed, jazz-schooled octopus. That’s not to deny that the “Rockers” contingent weren’t trying their hardest, but at the end of the day they were simply outclassed by the likembes, car-part percussion and breathtaking vocal harmonies of Konono No 1 and the Kasai All-Stars.

Indeed, the Congolese even successfully bypass the British concert-hall audience’s stereotypical reserve and reluctance to display enjoyment above a certain socially-acceptable level, with the majority of the Barbican dancing their asses off by the encore. Their passion, stage presence, and unpretentious musical virtuosity is second-to-none, rendering the other artists (no slouches in the live performance department themselves) almost drab and colourless in comparison.

Westerners, take note: this is how you put on a show.