Review: Egyptian Hip Hop, Stereo, York, Tuesday (From York Press)

Review: Egyptian Hip Hop, Stereo, York, Tuesday

4:18pm Wednesday 20th October 2010 in Music news and reviews By Aimee Taylor

Dubbed “the most baffling band in Britain” in NME, post-punk popsters Egyptian Hip Hop gathered a healthy-sized crowd at the infinitely intimate Stereo in Gillygate.

However, it was not the synth-pop teens’ best night and both their crowd and the band themselves knew it. Their awkward presence both on and off stage, and declaring their need for sleep, could be misinterpreted as the Mancunian four-piece being cool and quirky but it begs the question: are such a young band ready to be caught up in such a gruelling tour?

Support act Missing Kids also gave off a lethargic vibe that made the night lack a sense of enthusiasm and that all-important excitement of seeing brand spanking new bands. Full of dreary riffs and muffled vocals, their miserable set was short of interest, which was reflected in the crowd’s reaction with a few visible yawns.

Looking like they had just rolled out of bed, the unsigned headliners stumbled on stage to play the not-so Heavenly and Moon Crooner, their most popular single but a song they don’t like. Laden with feedback, it was too reliant on technology and full of arrogant demands for more volume.

Yet with their amazing new 4 track EP Some Reptiles Grew Wings released only recently, expectations had been sky high but the band that were once so exciting didn’t seem to emerge once on stage. It is just a shame that Egyptian Hip Hop sound so much better on record.