The modesty squad

>> Ninja Tune labelmates Kid Koala and Amon Tobin dish dirt on each other

by SCOTT C

With the first leg of the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome World Tour nicely out of the way, and the show making its way back to town, I thought I would talk to the Kid about his best buddy and tourmate Amon Tobin. Of course, Amon had some things to say about the Kid, but all the meaningless backbiting in the world couldn't compare to spectacle these guys have in store.

The Kid tells tales on Amon...

Mirror: So how's the big tour so far?

Kid Koala: People are getting in to it. They don't really know what to expect. Most people are there to see DJ Food and Amon though.

M: Ahhh man! I expect you to say something like that...

KK: Well...(laughs)

M: If anybody's going to be like, "Oh, they're only here to see the other guys," it would be you.

KK: Regardless, I think people are pleasantly surprised.

M: Gimme the raging scandal on Amon, seeing as you've been spending all this time together.

KK: Amon lives in this little town called Brighton, a very picturesque, waterside town. His studio is in the basement and has this window that looks out on the most beautiful, tranquil picture you could imagine. There's this little flower garden, a neatly-cut lawn, an apple tree with the branch just so, topped off by this little kitten that runs around the yard. He took us there to play us his new album, and all I could say was "You made this here ?!" [laughs]

M: Darkness from light, my son...

KK: You can find the evil in the most beautiful things. He's great to have on tour, cause he just takes people to this whole other level where they just spaz.

M: Do you play before or after him?

KK: Before, thank God. He cleared the room in Nottingham, though, it was really funny.

M: What do you mean?

KK: They just couldn't deal with it. I went to do some press during his set and came back to him already finished and an empty room. He was like, smoking a cigarette and said, "Sissies..."

Enter the Prince of Darkness...

M: So what's your take on the new Kid Koala?

Amon Tobin: I think it's awesome and definitely one of the best things I've heard on the label. It does what so many people claim to do with turntables, and by that I mean using it like an instrument. Not that many records come out that generally make you laugh out loud.

M: How well does the record translate into a live performance?

AT: It's pretty effective live. I mean, you get a better sense of the whole momentum of what he's doing. For me it's really an experimental record in a lot of ways. It's not about how fast you can move your mitts, it's a creative use of layering.

M: Kid Koala was telling me about your picture-perfect studio...

AT: [laughs] Well, it is nice, but generally it's wet and grey and that's a hard fact. It's a nice view on a rare summer day, but it's usually quite bleak, actually.

M: He also claims that most people are coming to these shows to see you...

AT: I've been riding off the back of Koala's notoriety [laughs]. Nobody comes to see me in England. I'm pretty intimidated most of the time, coming on after him.

M: C'mon!

AT: No really! Have you ever seen him DJ?

M: Yes.

AT: Then you know what I mean [laughs]. :

With Bullfrog at Club Soda on Wednesday, May 3, 9pm, $17.50+taxes