A double bill featuring two contrasting groups from either side of the Channel marked the start of 2010 sessions at the Stoke Newington International Airport venue in London.

Uncompromising electronica, microtonal effects and free improv characterised the opening set from London-based trio Leverton Fox. Alex Bonney on pocket trumpet eased his way into the listener’s attention with soft yet cavernous tones that brought together elements of Toshinori Kondo’s elevated mania and Greg Kelley’s quarter-tone ambience. Warped field recordings, while set against a dragging reggae pulse from Tim Giles on drums and pulverising digital bass thuds by Sam Britton on lap-tops, seemed to suspend the music above any discernable groove. As the sound gave way to a belligerent series of drone effects and a riveting drum and bass thrust, a hypnagogic-pop quality was emphasised by bleeps and alarms that referenced the formerly ubiquitous 1980s Casio digital wrist-watch. These passages of group interplay were the highlights of the set. However, you feel that with this new line-up a greater familiarity would bring yet more force to their music, and with gigs at both Café Oto and the Vortex on the horizon this will surely arrive. Regardless of this Leverton Fox are clearly a group cutting swaths into fresh musical terrain.

For the visiting French trio Q, think John Zorn’s Naked City in heavy grindcore mode minus the humour but with all its rampant and intoxicating presence. Drummer Sylvain Darrifourq brought a depth of beat and vigour of propulsion like that of Jim Black, while electric bassist Fanny Lafargues would have put many heavy metal players to shame with her menacing bass-lines. On guitar Julien Deprez wove into the music John Scofield-esque motifs and a Bill Frisell-nuanced textural palette. A sketched out cover of the 1980’s Miles classic ’You’re Under Arrest’ tied into the evening’s nostalgic undercurrent while a cameo appearance from tenor saxophonist Robin Fincker brought the set into softer yet equally compelling territory. We look forward to Q’s return visit.

– Joseph Kassman-Tod