I’ve heard about the Toro Y Moi, or Chazwick Bundick, gig as part of the awkwardly-titled genre of ‘Chillwave’. Still, despite the name, from what Alexis Petridis says about chillwave in a podcast I can’t stop recommdending, Bundick represents the good end of it, and it’s come as a Resident recommendation, which gives me faith. He plays at the Hope in Brighton, a dimly lit sort of root that replaces the original venue of the Freebutt, Brighton’s alternative-led music house.

We arrive for the support, The Enormous Shadow, made up of two chaps taking part in the prominent theme of the evening: doc martins with skinny trousers rolled up. One is eager, wearing doc martins and rolled-up skinny trousers, tapping synthetic noises from a keyboard arrangement, whilst the bassist almost hides on stage, immobile whilst doing some key strumming here and there. He moves twice and we spot him like a zebra in the grass, surprised. Despite this, they’re nice. They play jolly synthetic cloud-like tunes, each fairly similar to its predecessor and very little difference between the overall acts. Excitedly twee enthusiasm shines through and it’s all rather lovely to wobble about to.

The Enormous Shadow

Toro Y Moi

Everyone looks happy, but in true British style we’re all mysteriously standing 15 feet away from the stage. No one has any idea why we’re here, but it began this way and stays this way.

We leapt forward excitedly for Toro Y Moi, the main reason for coming. Described as “more producer than songwriter” by Pitchfork, compared to the similar almost indistinguishable chillwave bands creating ‘summer tunes (despite the genre being little to do with beaches and being released all year round), his songs are more layered. He’s less immediately catchy, but he’s distinctively crafted compared to the likes of Memory Tapes or musical relation Washed Out , groaning at the phrase, he’s a grower.

The tunes are hazy and infectious, and somewhat similar – all tunes from the ‘Causes of This’ EP released in January. For a change, Bundick is playing with support and veteran Toro giggers tell us it’s infinitely better. The bassist is delightfully groovy and the drummer holds it all together with skilled aplomb. The room is made of heat and everyone sweat profusely. He creates wonderfully jiggly tunes and despite the fact T-shirts start going see-through and the gig is wonderful.

Toro y moi

A week or two ago I missed Mr Shirky talk about Cognitive Surplus, because a train was delayed. Inside I sobbed violently, but got over it okay. Essentially it’s “the idea of spare brainpower in the world’s collective mind just sitting there waiting, wanting, to be harnessed.”

He has a similar sort of talk up on Ted, above. (I really have to stop posting TED talks up here.) I like it though, because I can sit happily and reflect on the number of projects like Bored of Brighton taking place around the world to help people. And I like shiny Clay Shirky because a great deal of the second year of my degree focused on his work, and he writes about blogging nicely. All this makes me happy.

Today, the ever-wonderful Information is Beautiful have created a visualisation: US adults watching TV vs. the creation of Wikipedia. “A shocking proportion,” he says, but then.. we do multitask, no?

Saturdays have been spent tidying endlessly and making angel delight.