I was pleased to check out Moog for this show, it’s the first time I’ve been along since it reopened under new direction this summer and the new guys have done good. Well placed then for a set from Nottingham home grown fun-k project Secret Stealth.

Dave and the guys behind moog have restyled it a more homely feel, complete with pedestal lamps, paintings and flying ducks gracing the funky wallpaper. The effect is somewhere inbetween a local late night lock in and the softly lit living room of a seventies musician, very cosy. Unsurpisingly the friendly chilled atmosphere, tempting menu and cocktail maestros behind the bar have made it a favourite with the young professionals and students who live nearby.


Secret Stealth have a close connection with Moog as the place is the watering hole where the project kicked off. Over one too many beers one Friday, studio and remix fiends Jim Baron (Crazy P) and Bob Sadler (Fug) decided it was time to dig out their classic keyboard and sampler collections, don some silly hats and get together for some funk based fun.

After collaborating with all manner of keen local artists, and putting together some successful releases, they were finally persuaded it was high time to throw a live gig or two, what better place then than their local then. This also made it convenient for vocalist Holly Backler (Crazy P), who is one of the chefs, downing her dessert wand to reappear for us in slinky attire, armed with mike and chocolatey smooth voice.


Following a few hours of classic records spun by Jim and Bob, their live set kicked off proper with Stealth 2 a rich crescendo of classic keyboard and trombone laden funk. The band were performing at one end of the Moog living room, with their appeciative crowd gathered to their front, and as the five laid in to their set the living room mood cranked up to house party in an instant.

Their sound is very warm and laidback, they don’t mess about when they say it’s ‘fun’, all nicely upbeat. Its difficult to categorise but is essentially a blend of solid danceable disco and downtempo house grooves with a rich range of live sound. The funk and soul influences in the live sound is what makes it really memorable. Holly’s silky soul voice is superb and, combined with the seventies magic coming out of Jim’s classic keyboards, we could suddenly find ourself thirty years back talking about unions and the modern décor.

After Holly seduced the crowd with Drive Me Crazy and Dream of You, a pair of downtempo Soul/Funk sizzlers, they bashed out one which particularly caught my NG2 ear, In The Meadows. This multi layered instrumental was a real showcase of styles, bouncing bass and percussion, featuring the guys humming in harmony to, and not a single mention of chavs or graffiti, you can tell they’ve never hung out down the bridgeway centre then.

The playlist continued for a good hour or so after that, post midnight my booze addled opinion gets a bit jumbled so best listen for yourself, you can find their first album online here. After the band wrapped up and the encores finally winded down, the tunes and late licence bar went on until the wee small hours, with more classic vinyl choices from Bob and Jim to settle us in to the Moog comfort. So my friends assure me. It was good to rediscover the place and I shall be keeping an eye out for Secret Stealth, great stuff.


Check out the full gallery here

Secret Stealth played at Moog on Saturday 25th November.

Secret Stealth - myspace
 
 
All photos courtesy of Al Greer (c)



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