Aim

By Mike Richards

It was a long time coming, but the tour of Aim’s new LP, Flight 602, saw the trip-hop guru’s first Cardiff date in four years and surley one of the City’s finest shows in 2007.

The crisp acoustics of The Point are ideal for housing a band the size Andy Turner brought along to bring his music to life. But before Aim’s nine musical warriors take to the stage, it’s up to MC Quazi to get the point bopping, as he lays fun-filled impromptu rhymes over a funky DJ set. His high energy and cheeky attitude fills the venue and soon the anticipation is bouncing off the walls like Robbie Williams in a pharmacy.

And before the excitement becomes too much to bear, Aim and his band filter onstage. As the kick drum connects to open the set, my reflex reaction is to check my ears and nose for blood. Just as I give myself the all clear, the rich tones of the band slide among the frankly phenomenal drum sound.

The talented songstress Niko steps to the edge of the stage and establishes herself as the band’s front. Those familiar with the new record will know Niko as the female vocal that weaves in and out of most of the tracks. The second song of the night is one of her own from her forthcoming album, which will be released on Aim’s own label Atic later in the year. Although having more of a Rock vibe than the rest of the set, Aim’s influence is still laced all the way through.

In fact, it’s this kind of eclecticism that separates this show from almost any other I’ve been to. The style of each song is twisted depending on whether the two making up the wind section are playing alto sax, baritone sax, trumpet or flute. The wind instruments come into their element on the new songs, which dominate the set. Northwest and Walking Home Through the Park are the two new songs that seem to particularly catch the audience’s imagination with their feel-good summer groove. But it is undoubtedly the classic Cold Water Music that pulls the audience to the stage like ants around a lollipop. The set reaches a monstrous climax with Aim’s resident keys expert slamming out a solo on the blacks and whites.

Although it’s not long until the band is back on the stage to kick out the encore as promised. Quazi joins to share the vocals with Niko before Aim leave the stage for a final time to a frantic applause.

But they could have played all night and don’t think a soul would have left the venue. An hour after the set and the floor was still chock with ecstatic fans moving like they were on hot plates. Aim’s “True Northern Soul”, as Niko puts it, has be my favourite way to sing in the summer.