TROUMACA, Yo Yo Eskimo.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Friday 25th October 2013.

The Pad Presents have long established a huge reputation in this town for showcasing emerging bands of various genres. Electronica always features highly. Who remembers The Other Tribe from last year or Discopolis from earlier this year? In a similar vein are Troumaca. A somewhat strange and beautiful name, it is in fact taken from a small West Indian village on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Formed two years ago, they have recently signed to DJ Gilles Peterson's Brownswood record label. Cocking a snook at major labels, this young five piece are sticking rigidly to independent freedom and a chance to steer their own career direction. You have to admire their single-minded spirit. Let's hope that they succeed.

Tonight for TROUMACA , Bedford Esquires represents the penultimate date of their extensive tour of England, tomorrow being a hometown party at their local, Birmingham's Rainbow Warehouse. Although not hugely busy, there are enough people here to create a healthy atmosphere. Troumaca principally feature songs from their exciting debut album "The Grace". They begin with "Trees". As with the rest of their set, it's full of silky danceable vibes. An open woodland of vacant sound before the inevitable woozy repetitive beat kicks in. So many thoughts pulse through my head while watching this band. Ah yes, the word jazz (although there is no brass). It might put some people off, but Troumaca use it in a broad and modern way. "Clouds" is a recent single which NME described as "a luxurious mix of glowing synths". The lads are warm and friendly. Vocalist Sam Bayliss throws out a cheery greeting to Bedford with "How you doing? Ya good yeah?". He seems to make eye contact with every attending individual before the band embark on more of their, almost tribal, rolling rhythmic songs. They have a certain mesmeric power. Their free flowing vibes are the perfect pick me up to ooze away the stresses of a torrid working week. Friends, "let's break bread" with "Layou".

Although Troumaca are carving a niche as a fully fledged recording and touring band, they originally made a name as DJ's, hosting parties and instigating the thriving Birmingham scene, rather in the same way Jazzie B and Soul II Soul did in London back in the eighties. Sometimes electronic bands can sound plastic or synthetic. Manufactured music if you will. What I like about Troumaca is that they contain a live, walking and talking drummer! He, combined with the mechanical gadgetry, adds to the pounding bass lines. Their music constantly offers up luscious thoughts of warm Caribbean sunshine. Coincidentally, "The sun" offers up the appropriate lyrics; "You burn my love, you burn my skin". To end their forty minute set they perform "The grace". It is the title track of their aforementioned album and is to be the next single. It totally encapsulates Troumaca's massive revolving mantra, folks "spread your love". This was a band I really enjoyed, listening and watching. To add, I bought the album and thoroughly recommend it. A real treat.

YO YO ESKIMO open with a hopeful request; "Please make your way to the dancefloor for this evening's entertainment". They are a three piece who incorporate keyboard, guitar, percussion and bass. Very eighties based and influenced. Imagine old house, Depeche Mode with a little sprinkling of Human League and Duran Duran. A few samples, but the beats are kicking. A big surprise has to be the lack of goth interest. They surely would have devoured this band enormously. This reviewer is simply and stoically unmoved. The trio are averagely samey, neither interesting or boring, forgettable or unforgettable! Pretty non-descript then! Sorry.