Playing it hyper with Playdoe

17 Nov 2008

Shoo who needs to go to gym when they're groups like Playdoe around, what a work out. The super energy packed duo performed their second SA show (they were in Jozi's the night before) at the Assembly last Saturday night. After much success internationally the boys have finally released some of their funkylicious, trippy hip hop energy and EP in their home country and made it quite apparent why they were so successful overseas. If music were to travel in time, hang out in 2020, come back and start jamming, I'm thinking it would sound something like this.

Playdoe consist of Spoek Mathambo of electro hip hop group Sweat X and Sibot (Simon) who has been involved in groups, Max Normal and The Real Estate Agents. Together the two make a powerful force to be reckoned with. Playdoe's latest music video “Pop Like This” was shown before their performance on Saturday; it's a really fun cheeky little pop art number showing much card board cut-out's bright colours and silly costumes. A nice piece of work altogether, showcasing how a low-budget or a low budget aesthetic music video should look.

Playdoe's sound has been described as Neoelectro -afrobotic and afro-futuristic seen in the context of their performance (and it was definitely more of a performance rather than straightforward gig) these terms kinda make sense. Their sound and look is unashamedly electro and futuristic but at the same time keeps an African flavour and aesthetic. The two were joined on stage at different points by a cardboard cut out robot and an MC kitted out in a Venda hat, tinsel and neon glasses.

The energy from the stage was intense from the get go and never let up. Enjoyable as it was, what with the frenetic strobe lighting, manic dancing not to mention the sick beats and lyrics from Spoek and Sibot it was as if someone was repeatedly shaking and shouting at me while flashing a light in my eyes (sort of like being interrogated I would imagine, but in a good way); a technique that would be enough to tire the hardest party goers out.

I hope these guys stick around in SA a little while longer before they head back overseas for world domination.