The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Rebeltronics
As a try-out for their show at this year’s edition of the Eurosonic/Noorderslag festival last weekend, the Bong-Ra project The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble played at the Rebeltronics evening at Tivoli de Helling. Having witnessed this bizarre outfit once before, it was mandatory for me to go see them. Here’s the review.
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble has (as the name might imply) nothing to do with metal whatsoever. It is a project ran by the renowned Dutch breakcore artist Bong-Ra together with his friend Gideon Kiers, who is seated by an electronic drum kit. The band works with five Apple laptops, vocals, guitar, trombone, oscillators, bass, electric violin and some more electronics. The average sound they aim at is very spacey. It has a lot of elements of jazz, but also the electronic side of the music world is very well represented. But most of all their music is very minimal, with the occasional outbursts of course.
Because this music is mostly very quiet and reserved, it was very annoying to hear people talking through it. That’s why this music is enjoyed better at home I think, although seeing them perform this delicate yet complex music superbly is a treat for both the eyes and ears. All in all it was a great performance by one of the better but more unknown bands here in Holland. If you enjoy music like Earth, Sunn 0))), Portishead, Bohren & der Club of Gore and such you should really check this project out.