Hitmakers and electro-acoustic music pioneers Clean Bandit gave fans some free lockdown entertainment yesterday when they performed a live set called ‘House Party No.7,’ which streamed live on YouTube yesterday. The set featured anarchic DJ antics mixed with some virtuoso instrumental moments. The ebb and flow of the music was managed so well that the performance would not seem out of place in a club and gave fans a taste of the nightlife they so missed.
The trio were not short of original material to drop into the set with hit tunes like ‘I Miss You,’ featuring vocals from Julia Michaels making an appearance amongst a blend of dance beats and classic samples. As well as their own hits, the trio laced together a gripping setlist of club classics to get their fans dancing. The set was streamed from Clean Bandit’s studio in North London and featured an expensive looking selection of musical equipment from synths, to drum pads, to sampling machines.
Towards the end of the set the trio performed a live cover of a song by SOPHIE in tribute to the Scottish pop idol who sadly died last week in a terrible accident. This was unusual for a Clean Bandit house party set, which usually attempts to recreate the vibe and atmosphere of a real house party by blending to gather a stream of classic tunes to get everybody dancing. However, it was fitting that the trio did pay tribute to SOPHIE whose death last week as a totally unexpected shock to the music industry and a very sad way to begin 2021.
The visuals throughout the livestream were also very impressive, with psychedelic patterns and video footage swirling projected on the walls around the band as they performed their set. The trio also had an impressive range of camera equipment and a hi-tech screen which allowed them to show the audience a variety of angles blended with the projected images and added camera effects for a truly immersive experience. It has to be handed to Clean Bandit that they have certainly managed to raise the spirits of their fans during this difficult third lockdown in Britain especially and have made great use of technology to recreate the vibe and excitement of a real life live experience.
It is of course never going to be possible to completely recreate the experience of real life using digital technology and its place is better serving as a supplement to real world events where people can socialise in the most natural way possible. That being said, considering the difficult circumstances it must be admitted that people have adapted well to using technology to overcome their external difficulties. With the possibility of health passports signalling a return to live music, there is some optimism about the possibility of being about to get out and party with our friends once more at some point this year, until then we must be content with livestreams.
