Die Antwoord - Brixton Academy, London 17/01/15

20 January 2015, 10:00 | Written by The Line of Best Fit

(Live)

(Die Antwoord)

They’re the definitive alien by-products of the internet generation; propelled into cult stardom via their viral hit “Enter The Ninja”, Die Antwoord are consistently a parody of pop culture and art. Gaining a hardcore fanbase in part to their truly bizarre music and image, long-term members and short-term couple, Ninja and Yo-Landi have used their devices well as they bring their clever pastiche to the UK’s capital city.

Clouds of fog cling to the stage as the pair stroll out, draped in neon orange sweatsuits, but not before DJ Hi-Tek warms up the crowd with the charming refrain of “DJ Hi-Tek is gonna fuck you in the ass”. God help anyone who brought their parents.

Whilst undisputedly crude, their essence and image puts on an impressive albeit dizzying show. Brixton Academy was almost built for spectacles likes this, not low lit acoustic performances and the crowd are as mis-matched as they are enthusiastic. Brought together by general love, curiosity and a need to be entertained, faces in the crowd verged from middle aged men, graffiti daubed thirteen year olds and metal-heads.

They storm through a twenty song set including the likes of fan favourites “Fok Julle Naaiers”, “I Fink U Freeky” and their latest sinister hit, “Ugly Boy” which samples Aphex Twin’s “Ageispolis” and whose cameo-heavy video features Jack Black, Cara Delevingne and Marilyn Manson. For every hit was a lesser known song however, bringing down the set like a sour joke at times.

Yo-Landi’s shrill vocals are just as fey as on record as she bounces round the stage like a jailbait pixie whilst Ninja prowls the open space. They claim to be conceptual artists but it’s distinctly hard to gaze past the tawdry caricature painted by their native South Africa’s ‘Zef-side’ scene. If giant cocks, gold spandex and songs titled “Fatty Boom Boom” are the root to a deeper level, maybe we are all truly missing out on something here.

However, how can we even really judge Die Antwoord’s schtick? Their material on stage is so seriously precise yet their whole mantra is to not take things too seriously. The audience lap up Ninja’s thrusting and stage diving with aplomb and their fast, vulgar rave rap leaves no time for anyone to catch their breath. It’s hilariously entertaining.

“This is the biggest show we’ve ever done in one fucking place, this is real fucking huge” – Ninja declares before ripping of his pants to show his signature Dark Side Of The Moon boxers – classic.