Brussels, Live Shows, Music

Crack Cloud & Aga Ujma live in Brussels, 31.10.2022

March 1, 2023
By Salome

The post-punk apocalyptic Canadian collective Crack Cloud performed at Le Botanique in the Belgian Capital.

As their third visit to the city, Crack Cloud performed in The Rotonde Hall this time around previously gracing The Witloof Bar in 2019. The hall worked as the perfect setting for their warm-up act, Aga Ujma and saxophonist Nat Philipps music to ring out.

Playing in the larger Rotonde hall was certainly an upgrade from their previous show in the Witloof Bar in 2019, as frontman Zach Coy noted during their set. The band seemed to revel in the larger space, filling it with their intense, high-energy sound.

The concert started with Crack Cloud’s second album introduction, “Danny’s message”. Danny Choy’s message, “Music is an excellent way to let your anger out,” sets the tone for an album that explores the full range of the human experience through cathartic, sometimes uncomfortable therapy moments. This feeling was definitely reflected in their live performance.

The audience was treated to a high-energy performance, with CrackCloud delivering a set that was both intense and deeply cathartic. The band’s eclectic sound, which blends elements of punk, post-punk, and art rock, was on full display as they powered through tracks from their latest album “Tough Baby” and their earlier EPs.

Highlights of the night included a shortened version of “Virtuous Industry” and the hypnotic “Empty Cell”. The two tracks saw the band showcase their range and versatility. While the band didn’t interact with the crowd much, the audience remained fully engaged throughout the set, with everyone swept up in the powerful energy emanating from the stage.

The show was our first time seeing the band performing. It was the perfect opportunity to listen to their latest project, “Tough Baby”, live. If you want to enjoy incredibly unique post-punk sounds, a Crack Cloud gig is our best recommendation.

Crack Cloud’s first part, the singer Aga Ujma accompanied by talented saxophonist Nat Philipps, was a beautiful surprise. Their performance truly deserved an article of their own.

Polish singer-songwriter Aga Ujma can be described as a mix between Indonesian, Polish and English folk meeting the contemporary artists Björk or Múm. Her show was an intimate performance between the crowd, her beautiful vocals and her hypnotizing playing of the harp. Along with the saxophonist Nat Philipps, they arranged most of her compositions with saxophone, adding a layer to Aga Ujma’s polyphony of sounds.

They joined Crack Cloud on stage to merge as temporary members of the band, as the performance of the duo perfectly melted in Crack Cloud’s post-punk sound. The sound of the saxophone particularly added a Parisian no-wave to the band’s work, reminding us of Lucrate Milk’s melodies.

We loved watching the encounter between these artists with different influences and completely opposed music-style. It beautifully showcased the infinite musical combinations that can co-exist and work together to create a unique show like this.

Explore the work of all the artists mentioned in the article: Crack Cloud, Aga Ujma & Nat Philipps

To read more about independent music, read our other articles.

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