Experimenting to the max

Nicosia and Limassol, you are the lucky ones this week – at least in musical terms, as both cities will get the chance to enjoy the band Trio Tekke, the Anglo-Italian drummer Dave De Rose and the London-based band Flying Ibex.

The Neo-Rebetiko group Trio Tekke have been missing from the local music scene for a year, but now they are back with their experimental approach to Rebetiko (Greek blues) and their own very unique compositions.

But it is not all jazzed up, the band members keep old-style musical elements safely packed within their music, merely fusing these traditional components with their modern-day experiences and different styles to capture our musical ear.

Their first release Ta Reggetika (2009) earned them underground cult status, with its grainy sound and infectious groove. Their second album, Samas (2011), got them a Battle of the Bands award on World Music Network and a nomination for Best Newcomer Act for the 2012 Songlines Awards.

Drummer Dave De Rose – who is also a producer, composer and sound engineer – has eight self-released albums to his name. He has been the headline act for a number of big names over the years, including Mark Ronson, Mulatu Astatke, Jamie Cullum and Moloko.

Rose formed Flying Ibex in 2011 when he met songwriter Barnaby Keen.

The three-member band started off as the church house band, improvising along to silent film projections, trapeze shows and offbeat theatre pieces. A common love of analogue sounds and incessant grooves convinced them to start writing their own material.

They listened to old African pop cassettes and Brazilian Maracatu, messed around with delay pedals, and went down any musical avenue, however weird and unusual.

These are stand-up shows so you don’t have to make any reservations, just be ready to explore some out-of-this-world sounds.

Trio Tekke and Flying Ibex
Live performance by the local and London-based bands. October 22. Enallax, Nicosia. 9pm. €10. Tel: 22-430121
October 23. Sousami, Limassol. 7pm. €10. Tel: 99-494579

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