>>PREVIEW
DANDI WIND
Thursday, December 7
Underground
Those who are familiar with, or took part in the glory days of goth and the cold wave should be paying close attention. A relatively new group called Dandi Wind are soon to be recognized as the reformists and possible saviours of a style of music abused by many a metal or Euro dance band. The group puts on a performance and produces a sound the likes of which has not been seen so beautifully and elaborately done since the days of the Blitz, Bat Cave or Temple of Psychic Youth of London’s underground in the early ’80s.
Dandi Wind formed a mere three years ago and has been prolific as hell ever since, boasting five musical releases (soon to be six in early 2007 with the release of Yolk of the Golden Egg), eight video projects and five animated pieces. Their sound is as off-the-wall as it is out of the cupboard, bringing both a stunning originality and a true respect for their predecessors to the stage and disc.
Vocalist and visualist Dandi Wind Opaine admits, "We really have no modern influences. Most of what we draw off is from the early ’80s. I’m a big fan of Lena Lovich, but Nina Hagen, Swans, Einsturzende Neubauten, Bauhaus and Nick Cave have influenced some elements of what we do."
She does, however, give a tip of the hat to artists with whom they have worked.
"I suppose The Knife is something current that we appreciate. Montreal’s Duchess Says and Toronto’s Pony Da Look are excellent, too. We recently played in London (U.K.) with Selfish Cunt and they were absolutely intense. The singer was like Iggy Pop times 10."
In the few years that they have existed Dandi Wind has progressed through a number of dramatic artistic changes. From their first release, Bait the Trap, to the present, the band has become less dance and more goth/industrial-inspired. Slower-paced songs based on more personal themes have become their essence.
"Bait was a slightly more happy record and with ‘Concrete Igloo’ we were much more high energy and wrote more about characters. With the newer releases the songs have become darker and Yolk of the Golden Egg is much slower paced. We took more time to write it and based the songs on personal experiences that happened to us since ‘Concrete Igloo’ was released. It is definitely a more mature album."
Dandi Wind’s recent release, a vinyl 45 entitled Apotemnophilia (named after a mental disorder where one wishes to remove one or more of one’s limbs) does, without a doubt, project an artistic and personal maturity. The production, artwork and writing are all demonstrative of a group hitting its true stride.
Known for elaborate costumes, sets and lighting, Opaine just laughs when asked how the band finances such a seemingly costly production.
"Actually, most of the costumes and materials are free. Sometimes I buy used costumes and create new ones with them, but we don’t really have much of a budget so I have to use whatever I find. It’ll be great if we get a real budget to work with at some point."
When asked what their Calgary concert will look and sound like, Ms. Opaine waxes humourously, "Well… I’ll look amazing. I promise. We won’t be able to have as big of a light show or any wild sets because they are too tough to bring on the plane, but we really know how to work with what we’ve got. Musically it will be a lot stronger as well. We have a steel drummer/percussionist with us so that will add more intensity to the show."
In every aspect of their delivery, be it music, video, costumes or props, Dandi Wind are far too focused and far too adventurous to be dismissed as retro dilettantes. |
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