Ex
The Ex, Sinks, Porcelain Identity, Use Knife
Peel Slowly And See, Leiden, The Netherlands, 1-2 March 2024,
08 March 2024
Photo by Coen Bastiaansen (Main Photo)
Web Exclusive
Leiden is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. a cultural center that houses 13 museums and is famous as the European Capitol of Science. Located just 40km south of Amsterdam and 20km north of The Hague – follow the train line from one destination to another and Leiden is the ideal stop in between. Leiden may be considered a typical Dutch university town, but it also boasts some of the healthiest restaurants and drinks in Europe, as well as being the birthplace of the famous artist Rembrandt van Rijn, whose lasting influence can be seen in various buildings and paths in and around the city.
![Khorshid Dadbeh (Photo by Minja Sarovic)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_KhorsidDadbeh-3_©Minja_Sarovic_KHORSID_DADBEH.jpg)
![Khorshid Dadbeh (Photo by Minja Sarovic)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_KhorsidDadbeh-3_©Minja_Sarovic_KHORSID_DADBEH.jpg)
Leiden also hosts Peel slowly and see, which happens to be one of the most carefully curated, independent music and arts festivals on the planet. Taking place over the weekend of Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd March, Peel Slowly And See can also lay claim to being one of the city's most compact festivals of its kind, with participating venues each day on the same street. Originally launched in 2013, Peel Slowly And See has hosted a musically diverse range of artists from all corners of the globe, with Lewsberg, Shortparis, Pip Blom and Kayla Painter among the festival's previous alumni.
![DJ Flugvel Og Geimskip (Photo by Minja Sarovic)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_DJFlugvelOgGeimskip-5_©Minja_Sarovic_DJ_FLUGVEL_OG_GEIMSKIP.jpg)
![DJ Flugvel Og Geimskip (Photo by Minja Sarovic)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_DJFlugvelOgGeimskip-5_©Minja_Sarovic_DJ_FLUGVEL_OG_GEIMSKIP.jpg)
So it goes without saying that the 2024 edition featured an equally impressive list of names, many of which were previously unknown to Under the Radar prior to this weekend. But they all have their own stories to tell and products to engage and excite us. Take Friday night's Zwardsick for example. Hailing from the coastal town of Katwijk, Zwardsick's origins date back four decades with some of its founding members having played with experimental post-punk outfit MiMiCri. Which probably explains the large turnout for their early evening set at Resistor, the main hub of the first night and a venue that typifies the Leiden DIY spirit. Playing a set that sits somewhere between Captain Beefheart and Pere Ubu for unpredictable blunt compositions, Zwardsick provides a welcome introduction to this year's festivities.
![Zwardsick (Photo by Jaime Korbee)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_Day1_Jaime_Korbee_ZWARDSICK.jpg)
![Zwardsick (Photo by Jaime Korbee)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_Day1_Jaime_Korbee_ZWARDSICK.jpg)
Rwandan born Hubert Tuyishime is perhaps best known by their alter ego, Porcelain ID. Now based in Antwerp, the exquisite blend of traditional African rhythms and soulful pop has been gaining momentum across Europe in recent months and tonight is no different. Backed by a full band, Porcelain ID play soothing, at times mesmerizing melodies that draw the listener in. The calm before the storm, as it were, as best described by Colombian psychedelic collective Romperayo. Serving up a delightful blend of rhythmic bliss influenced by the tribal sounds of West Africa and the Caribbean as well as their own backyard, Romperayo is an insatiable bundle of energy that has the whole room throwing shapes that is as good a first day finale as a he could hope.
![Porcelain ID (Photo by Jaime Korbee)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_Day1_Jaime_Korbee_PORCELAIN_ID.jpg)
![Porcelain ID (Photo by Jaime Korbee)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_Day1_Jaime_Korbee_PORCELAIN_ID.jpg)
Day two finds Peel Slowly And See in the more casual setting of the Marktsteeg, which hosts seven different stages in multiple venues along its narrow street. A series of talks hosted by journalists Richard Foster and Marieke McKenna can be found in the cramped confines of Scheltema Zagerij, one of which includes respected British author, broadcaster and musician John Robb discussing his extraordinary best seller from 2023 , 'The Art Of Darkness: A History Of Goth.'
The main venue is the Nobel, which is divided into three halls (Grote Zaal, Lounge, Kleine Zaal) for the purposes of the festival. It's in the latter of these that the Czech Republic trio sinks the roof off the Kleine Zaal with an explosive performance that puts the prefix 'post' in front of many genres. Recent years Born into it only to overcome it was one of 2023's most dynamic players and with the majority of tonight's set stripped of that record, it's an honor to finally witness the ferocity of these tracks delivered in the flesh.
![sinks (Photo by Coen Bastiaansen)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/20240302_-_Nobel_-_PSAS_-_012_-_byCoenBastiaansen_SINKS.jpg)
![sinks (Photo by Coen Bastiaansen)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/20240302_-_Nobel_-_PSAS_-_012_-_byCoenBastiaansen_SINKS.jpg)
Elsewhere, Iranian musician Khorshid Dadbeh is a joy to watch, her setar mesmerizing and transcendent. Similarly, Icelandic artist Steinunn Hardardottir aka DJ Flugvél Og Geimskip somehow manages to combine all things bright, beautiful, whimsical and scary in her unique electronic version that is only interrupted by a fire alarm in the Lounge area ahead. While the Belgian trio
Use the knife play back as colorful silhouettes behind a large white sheet which only adds to the mystery of their intensely hyperkinetic industrial techno.
![Use the knife (Photo by Coen Bastiaansen)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/20240302_-_Nobel_-_PSAS_-_040_-_byCoenBastiaansen_USE_KNIFE.jpg)
![Use the knife (Photo by Coen Bastiaansen)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/20240302_-_Nobel_-_PSAS_-_040_-_byCoenBastiaansen_USE_KNIFE.jpg)
However, most people are here to celebrate Dutch legends The Ex's 45th anniversary as a band. Indeed, the phrase “legends” is often thrown around too easily, but in this case it was well deserved. It's hard to think of another band that had the same impact as The Ex in a similar time period. Forever moving forward when nostalgia could be the simpler option. Which means tonight's set consists of 10 brand new, previously unheard tracks. Each composition shows a completely different side of the band, whether it's the opening couplet of “African Beef” and “Monday” that turn the angular post-punk standard. Or the simply titled 'Kat Sings' which sees drummer Katherina Bornefeld take center stage, belting out politically charged lyrics that harken back to Crass at their strongest.
Rolling back the years throughout their hour-long set, The Ex provide a timely reminder of why they've been held in such high regard by fans, critics and fellow musicians for decades, while whetting the appetite for what their eighteenth studio album might sound like complex. like.
![The Ex (Photo by Jaime Korbee)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_Day2_TheEX_©Jaime_Korbee_THE_EX.jpg)
![The Ex (Photo by Jaime Korbee)](https://undertheradarmag.com/uploads/review_images/PSAS2024_Day2_TheEX_©Jaime_Korbee_THE_EX.jpg)
As we drift into the night, one thing is certain. Peel Slowly And See have delivered on their promise that no one leaves the festival without discovering something outside their normal musical comfort zone.
from our partners at http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/peel_slowly_and_see_leiden_netherlands_march_1_2._2024