- Berlin has a reputation for being the minimal Mecca of 24-36 hour parties and non-stop hedonism. But if you look down the side streets, you will find there’s even more on offer - small-scale events that can be easily overlooked in the multitude.
And so it was with Triosk, the electronic-jazz trio from Australia, playing on a Thursday with Jan Jelinek (aka Farben). If not for a well-timed email I would have missed it.
Triosk had an epiphany while listening to Jelinek’s 2001 classic ‘Loop-Finding-Jazz-Records’ that led to the 1+3+1 project, a collaboration released on ~scape in 2003. Two acclaimed releases on the UK’s Leaf label followed, and the jazz group have since garnered an international reputation for their jazz–electronic hybrid sound.
Jelinek presented his new project, Groupshow. A loose arrangement of people and sounds that seemed to be making their debut performance – Jelinek with his unmistakeable electronics, Hanno Leichtmann on drums (also the drummer for the new Pole band), and Pekkler playing guitar with a heavy emphasis on the effects.
The venue was an old, run down ballroom in Kreuzberg. A beautiful building with paint peeling from its gilded walls. Not a huge space; the 100 or so people fitted comfortably, seated on chairs, stools, and the floor for the performance. Groupshow began with a loopy-grooved track that had people starting to dance, Becks in hand. What followed got progressively noisier, more guitar centred and less danceable.
There was an intermission. Berliners of all stripes chatted together, drinking beer, eating giant pretzels. ~scape boss Betke and Thomas Fehlmann were spotted, among others, kicking back.
Then Triosk were up and playing material from their last album with a freshness that had the crowd cheering. And they played new stuff, Lawrence Pike absolutely stealing the show with his effortless virtuosity underpinning and melding with the processed electronics. Waples played bass guitar instead of contrabass in a nice lateral slide.
After a couple of new pieces, and another from their last album, Pike bid us farewell. His words elicited shouts of ‘You’re fucking amazing!!!’ Their departure from the stage brought more shouts, whistles and other encore demanding activity. They acquiesced, and we were treated to ‘Theme From Trioskinek’ from their first album. The perfect finish to a perfect evening that had, as a refreshing change from clubland-Berlin, an end.