At his sold-out London show, Fakear asks the audience just one question: “Are there any French people in the room tonight?”
Homegrown fans have been waiting for the prodigious electronic producer to travel over and play Koko in London for months now – and here he is, finally touring his brand new album All Glows.
On stage, Fakear (whose name is Théo Le Vigoureux) is the sole performer and multi-talented maestro of his unique sound. Two launchpads, a laptop, a guitar and a drum – these are the various tools that punctuate the performance and emphasise his creativity.
When you listen to his music at home there’s a rich assortment of textures and melodic hooks to latch onto. Live, this becomes even more impressive as Fakear confidently throws himself into each new track. There’s an unpredictable dexterity to his performance, which is fascinating to watch. His equipment catches various moments playfully – tumbling drums, spiritual vocals or gorgeous ambient noises, each track feels fresh as his fingers flirt with the possibilities of live mixing.
He picks up the electric guitar to add in a solo that oozes with class, while later on with his track “Consciousness” he proves his worth as an artist capable of speed and endurance. It looks like a game of electronic hopscotch, as he delivers intricate beats that make the whole room shudder with pleasure.
His audience is loyal, already familiar with the one-week-old material from All Glows. But nothing is louder than the reaction of grateful fans waiting for the sublime track “La Lune Rousse”. It’s the combination of delicate, piercing vocals with guttural bass that sets his music apart and generates such a cathartic response. There’s less material from the Vegetal era, but this show vibrates with the glittering lights of All Glows, creating a dreamlike atmosphere reflecting a more mature record.
Since 2016 and now on his new album, Fakear has spoken about beginning to understand notions of karma and spiritualism, which has fed the direction of his music. His fingers twirl in the air and his shoulders wince with every drop on “Karmaprana”, anticipating the same climax as his fans. It’s invigorating to experience a DJ set that feels like more than a playback session. No one is just going through the motions here.
Fakear knows his shows are different in France, with a bigger crew and a more familiar audience. He’s not so chatty at Koko, but he doesn’t need to be. It’s a huge success for his first solo show in London, the positive reaction is unanimous and encouraging for his 10 upcoming dates touring the US.
He leaves the stage by ceremoniously closing his laptop and gesturing a vigorous peace sign to the crowd. He seems happy. And with a well-received debut in London and such a promising future, it’s not hard to see why.
★★★★☆
Originally published on the Independent
