A. G. Cook @ Electric Brixton '24

Documenting the last show on his BRITPOPMANIA tour.

Finally found the time to type of this review and post some videos, so people who couldn’t attend any of the BRITPOPMANIA concerts can get a sense of what it was like. Flew in from Munich to see this show, and it was absolutely worth it. Two friends, Jessie and Tom, tagged along, and the three of us had a blast. (:

Tom, Jessie, and me, shrouded in blue

The concert took place at Electric Brixton, a music venue with a capacity of 1,000, named after Electric Avenue—a long street running through Brixton that, according to Wikipedia, “was the first market street to be lit by electric lights.” The theme of electricity feels fitting, as it ties into synthesizers, which, after all, generate sound via electricity. And synths are, as many of you know, a core component of A. G. Cook’s music.

Opener: Loraine James

Before A. G. took the stage, UK electronic musician Loraine James opened with an expansive ambient live set that moved through wide expanses of distorted sound effects, disembodied vocals, and chopped-up drum samples. It didn’t feel like distinct tracks played one after another, but rather took the shape of a long, gradually evolving, and percussively dense soundscape.

My favorite parts were the sizzling stutter-drum effects, that James likely achieved by creating short loops in the drum track using the APC40 Ableton Live Clip Launching Controller, which was connected to her computer. Overall it was a great performance, and the audience around me unanimously loved it.

Intro: Supersaw Riser + Butterfly Craft

A. G. Cook stepped onto the stage at 9:15 PM, opening with his iconic supersaw riser, a “call to attention” effect he’s been using in DJ sets since the pandemic (I think the first instance is from his 7 by 7 set). Behind him, the star-note emblem, twisting and turning. The riser gradually faded into “Butterfly Craft,” one of the more experimental tracks on Britpop. If you listen closely, you can hear the riser dropping in pitch again at some point, almost becoming a part of the song itself.

Track ID 1

Following “Butterfly Craft” we got a new track, as yet unidentified, that A. G. Cook debuted at Primavera Sound in Barcelona earlier this year. You can hear the ID in full in a BBC Radio 6 live broadcast from that festival. I love the laser-like effect on the kick drums, achieved via a rapidly dropping pitch envelope.

Thanks to Olipra for clarifying that this is a GRRL x A. G. Cook collaboration.

Charli XCX, Von dutch (A. G. Cook Remix feat. Addison Rae)

A. G.’s fanbase has grown substantially this year due to his production work on BRAT and the accompanying promotional events. Charli fans went wild for this one.

Danny L Harle, Me4U (A. G. Cook Remix)

A throwback to early PC Music days, specifically the Month of Mayhem days: A. G.’s remix of Danny L Harle’s “Me4U,” with Morrie on vocals. Read more about this track here. I think this is a slightly re-worked version? Maybe it’s just that the sound system sounds really good. Also interesting how he’s leaning more heavily into the harder, drum-driven sound that emerged in those earlier days.

You Know Me

One of my favorite tracks off Britpop. He played this optimistic track in its original version.

Heartache

Another standout from Britpop. The Vocaloid-driven “Heartache” featured an incredible breakdown in the middle of the song. A. G. gradually brought the tempo back up with a snare roll, leading straight into the drop, with gyrating pixellated patterns in the background.

Mean Girls vs. Britpop (Mashup)

A. G. played an extended version of the “Mean Girls” and “Britpop” mashup he debuted during Charli’s Boiler Room set in New York earlier this year, find the full song here. Union Jack visuals galore.

Silver Thread Golden Needle vs. Show Me What (Mashup)

I loved this mashup that featured Cecile Believe’s iconic chopped vocals from “Show Me What” over a sped-up version of “Silver Thread Golden Needle.” It brought the 7G with the Britpop era, with some breakbeats sprinkled in for good measure.

Track ID 2

Another unidentified track, first heard at Pop Crypt II. It features syncopated, massive kicks synchronized with whirling black-and-red vortices. Can’t wait for the release.

SOPHIE, Love Me Off Earth (feat. Doss) (A. G. Cook Edit)

First heard this track at Pop Crypt II. Vocal chops layered over an offbeat kick pattern. Very satisfying. Also love the volcanic animations. This track brings me back to the listening party I hosted earlier this year to commemorate SOPHIE’s posthumous album.

Track ID 3

A new slow track, over sustained synth pad chords, featuring airy vocals by A. G. Cook himself, who came out in front of the CDJs for a short bit.

Out of Time

A. G. played his 7-minute sonic odyssey, the closing track from Britpop.

Soulbreaker

A. G. walked to the right of the stage, got on a podium and took the mic for four songs. He started off with Soulbreaker, and sprinkled in a couple of “brit brit brits” in there, reminiscent of his Witchfork version from earlier this year.

Nice to Meet You

A slower, guitar-based song from the second disc of Britpop.

Being Harsh vs. Silver (Mashup)

A mashup of “Being Harsh” and “Silver,” two tracks from 7G.

Superstar (New Edit)

This sounded like a new edit of “Superstar,” set against colorful spinning visuals. I think this is a new edit, or at least it sounded like it had been mixed in a new way.

Pobbles, We Wish You

With Christmas fast approaching, A. G. played this Christmas-themed track released around this time last year. Hundreds of colored Pobbles descended from above. I’m not exactly sure where the Pobbles idea comes from but it seems like it was a childhood toy he once owned?

A-Z

The opening track from 7G (Disc 1: Drums) felt as fresh as ever, accompanied by a gazillion snowflakes and star symbols.

SOPHIE, Vyzee (A. G. Cook Edit)

A new edit of SOPHIE’s Vyzee. Makes me wonder if A. G. is planning a tribute EP or album.

Track ID 4

A brand-new track. Hard-hitting, accompanied by pulsating silver and black spiral visuals. Can’t for this one to drop.

So I featuring A. G. Cook

This track had my favorite visuals of the night: rainbow spirals moving against a black background.

Lucifer

Probably the most straight-up pop song on Britpop. Charli and Addison Rae on vocals.

A. G. experimented with DJ effects on this one, especially delay.

Beautiful (2022 Edit)

Next to Superstar and Soulbreaker, one of A. G.’s most iconic tracks, and one he plays at every one of his shows.

Britpop

An updated version of Britpop’s title track, with “brit brit brit” echoes throughout.

Charli XCX, Club Classics (New Edit)

New edit of Club Classics, audibly sped up. Green union jack gyrating in the background. After the song ended, A. G. left the stage.

Encore

Charli XCX, 365 (New Edit)

A. G. re-entered the stage, playing a sped-up, metallic new edit of 365 from BRAT. A nice reprise in terms of visuals to the start of the show.

Yelle, Moteur Action (SOPHIE and A. G. Cook Remix)

A. G. closed the show with playing an updated version of his 2015 remix with SOPHIE titled “Moteur Action.” I highly recommend checking out the original version of that song btw, it’s super-catchy.

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite parts of the show was the visuals, which were dizzying and mesmerizing. As someone who researches and writes about visual music in my academic work, I found this show to be one of the most effective fusions of music and abstract visuals I’ve ever seen presented on stage. I’d love to learn more about their creation and who was behind them—my best guess is that Timothy Luke and Jacob Hulmston were the main designers involved.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to Crisps, where A. G. performed under the moniker Gareth Vinegar alongside Dorian Electra, Iglooghost, Kane West, and others. It was just too late for me. It must have been an incredible show, and I’m sad I missed it, but I had an early flight to catch.

I’m not sure how much new music we’ll hear from A. G. in 2025 after such an eventful year, but I can’t wait for these unreleased tracks to finally be released.