During Giraffage’s show with Slow Magic and Lindsay Lowend this last Sunday at the HiFi Music Hall (44 E 7th Ave), two staff members separately referred to the night’s entertainment as “chill textural music” and “whomping and teeth-grinding.”
It’s a contrast at the core of a certain sector of electronic music that might be labeled “ambient” in newspaper show listings but can also incite entire crowds to bump and grind. It’s a bit chillwave, a bit EDM, a bit R&B, a bit pop. It doesn’t have a name yet, and it’s woefully underrepresented in critical circles. But it really is gorgeous music, and its best artists find a skillful way to temper that beauty with immediate, physical thrills.
Giraffage is certainly one of the most skilled producers working in this genre. An affable Bay Area native in his mid-twenties, the producer born Charlie Yin is perhaps best-known for his R&B remixes (he’s remixed The-Dream’s Love Hate in its entirety) but also boasts a solid catalogue of original work, including last year’s wonderful No Reason EP. His set featured both, in addition to cuts from other beatmakers like Clams Casino and even Top 40 hits like “Trap Queen” and “Hotline Bling” (accompanied by a looping video of a crying Drake).
Yin has a media-savvy sense of humor, and he’s as aware of the inherent ridiculousness of these pop hits as their potential to drive crowds wild. But he never approaches these songs with a sense of superiority. Rather, he uses them to foster a communal experience. Dancing with strangers to an unfamiliar instrumental is one thing. Uniting with them in belting the chorus to “Trap Queen” is another. Giraffage trades in pure joy, and it’s for that reason – as well as his effortless charisma – that he’s one of the most enjoyable live electronic acts touring today.
Opener Slow Magic’s set was a bit more alienating, if only because it’s hard to really feel a personal connection with a dude in a giant LED wolf mask. His music also wasn’t quite as beautiful or musically interesting as Giraffage’s.
But it was still fun to see this odd gremlin in action. He exerted himself physically more than most electronic performers I’ve seen, dancing around and even climbing to the top of his equipment table. Throughout, he banged on a set of toms, which often serve as superfluous props in live music but actually helped his music by allowing him to build on his already-complex electronic drum patterns.
Lindsay Lowend was nowhere near as charismatic as either of these two, mostly staring into space and absent-mindedly queuing both original compositions and highly recognizable dance hits like Todd Terje’s “Inspector Norse.” But he was the opener the show needed. Had anyone as devoted to sensory and pleasure-center overload as Giraffage and Slow Magic kicked off the show, it might have been overwhelming. When you’re going to a Giraffage show, don’t expect ambient. Expect a party.
Watch Giraffage’s video for “Tell Me” below.
