Non- Konformism

Sunday night in Stockport at The Red Bull, an end of tour gig for Nuremberg's Konformer and a Before I Die party. Jason Boardman's Before I Die has become a must- purchase label, every release guaranteed to be first rate outsider and outlier music, the label capturing the stuff that happens in the margins and away from the bright lights. Putting on a label party in a Stockport pub on a Sunday night, just because, and filling the pub is testament to what he's put into BID over the last few years. 

There were DJs from 4 pm and by the time I arrived at around 6 pm J-Walk was on the decks spinning Sunday evening tunes. J-Walk released a 7" single on Before I Die earlier this year called Never Go Home- blissed out Spacemen 3 style indie on the A, King Tubby style dub on the B. It's one of the singles of the year- you can listen to it here and grab one of the four remaining copies of the vinyl if you're quick.

Before that in 2024 there was an album, Broken Beauty, made in Stockport. Tonight J-Walk steps out from behind the decks and plays a set of four songs so new no one has heard them yet, Martin on synth and guitar, FX pedals and vocals, finding a sweet spot where early 80s New Order met King Tubby. The four songs will fingers crossed end upon the next J-Walk release on Before I Die. 

Konformer are a three piece group from Nuremberg who have been in the UK for a tour playing grassroots venues with open minded bookers and crowds. Margate's Music Hall, The Golden Lion in Todmorden and Manchester Psyche Fest plus Bristol, Barrow in Furness, Deptford and Liverpool. By the time they open up at The Red Bull they are a well oiled machine, their heavy motorik grooves, layers of droning krauty keys and synths and Hooky- esque basslines rocking the pub's wood panelled walls,

Konformer's second album, Konformer II, came out in the summer and the band motor through the tracks from it, Mont Ventoux, Marseillel, Todmorden and the album's opening pair Konfectio Suite I and II. All instrumentals, no vocals to distract from the sound, the bass guitar leading with Kristian Krauss' synth/ keys adding the drones and cosmische textures. Mont Ventoux shimmers and pulses, drummer Andreas Berg absolutely on the beat and Rainer Ruder's bass climbing and looping round and round. At the end of the gig it's smiles all round and then trying to find a way home by public transport from Stockport on a Sunday night.