RIO 3: Guapo, Mats-Morgan, Present, Magma

Guapo were the opening act on the third and final day of the festival. The core duo of Dave Smith (drums/percussion) and Daniel O'Sullivan (keyboards) is currently augmented by Kavus Torabi, the Cardiacs' guitarist who has been part of the touring line up for a couple of years now, and newish boy James Sedwards on bass (he also plays with Miasma and the Carousel of Headless Horses). The band appeared in matching black outfits, with O'Sullivan and Sedwards sporting wide brimmed hats. Sedwards looked like the Witchfinder General in a 1970s horror film, and the presentation was influenced by horror movie director Dario Argento. They opened the set with a 25 minute version of Black Oni, Kavus throwing outrageous axe-hero shapes stage left, O'Sullivan looming over his keyboards stage right and Sedwards more or less immobile in between them. Dave Smith as ever lead the proceedings from his drumkit - he's one of that breed of drummers who know when to drive things forward, when to hold things together and, crucially, when not to play at all. The first part of the set saw a minor glitch with the Fender Rhodes (according to Smith they had requested a mark 2 but were provided with a mark 1; not the first time that this has happened) but this was quickly resolved and the band proceeded to turn in the best performance I have seen from them to date. Sedwards plays bass more melodically and with greater fluidity than either of his predecessors, while Kavus has made the guitar parts in Black Oni and especially 5 Suns his own. Black Oni was followed by a new piece from the forthcoming Elixirs album and was similar to the recent Twisted Stems ep - more subtle and nuanced than the previous 2 albums, but a logical progression from them. As the new piece drew to a close, Dave Smith emerged from his kit with a hand held gong and moved slowly off the stage into the audience, while Kavus and O'Sullivan produced melodicas and started playing a ghostly refrain, while Sedwards set up a bass loop and remained in place on stage. As Smith made his way through the audience, playing a slow but very precise beat on his gong, Kavus and O'Sullivan advanced up the aisles, assuming positions either side of the mixing desk, still playing. All three then made a gradual return to the stage and launched into a powerhouse rendition of 5 Suns. This is a piece that keeps improving as part of their live set - Black Oni and the newer material may be more sophosticated, but the 25 minute live version of 5 Suns is a spectacular, all-out showstopper that combines elements of RIO and Zeuhl and also rocks like a great big box full of rocks with some extra rocks piled up on top for good measure. The band were clearly in their element by this stage, launching into the piece like a pack of hungry wolves tearing into raw meat and maintaining health threatening levels of intensity throughout. The false ending took some of the audience by surprise, but at the end they received a standing ovation which, having just torn the roof off the place, they had more than earned.

Present made their second appearance of the weekend, here as an electric band. In addition to Roger Trigaux (who sat stage right as previously, this time with an electric keyboard and a guitar) the line up consisted of Reginald Trigaux on guitar, Pierre Chevalier on keyboards, Matthieu Saffatly on cello, Pierre Dessasis on saxes and an American rhythm section with Keith Macksoud on bass and Dave Kerman on drums, most of whom have appeared on Presents' recent albums. Roger Trigaux's role was much the same as for the acoustic set, for the most part conducting the other musicians and contributing the occasional keyboard or guitar embellishment. The set seemed to concentrate on more recent material, with a particular highlight in 'Limping Little Girl' from No 6, complete with Dave Kerman's interjections of 'Didn't you hear what your mother said?'. The cello and sax parts were thoughtfully arranged and really brought out the best in Trigaux's compositions, while Reginald Trigaux played some finely judged lead guitar and Pierre Chevalier turned in another sterling performance at the keyboards. Apparently the band hadn't rehearsed that much, but they sounded extremely tight and confident and delivered a set that was one of the festival's many highlights. The final number was enlivened by 2 events. First, a rather intimidating looking bloke in a kilt and hard hat wandered onto the stage and picked up a piece of scaffolding, on which he he beat out a rhythm with a hammer. Then, as the number drew to a close, Trigaux reached for his guitar and had a Pete Townsend moment when he smashed it to pieces over his keyboard. Anger? Frustration? Rock and roll showmanship? After the piece finished he retired briefly into the wings and stood there with his head in his hands before coming forward to receive a well deserved standing ovation from an ecstatic audience - Present had more than risen to the occasion and turned in a spirited performance, and whatever my reservations about the acoustic set they were magnificent on this occasion. Sound man Udi Koorman should also be mentioned here; he was at the controls for about half the performances and they all benefited from his skills, but none more so than this one.