Electric Picnic: Tune-Yards - Hearing is believing

A fine test for any piece of music is whether you can imagine it as an accompaniment to a Ghanaian tribal celebration or something that kids will chant while turning a skipping rope. Merrill Garbus has a knack of channelling all spirits, from electro to afrobeat to the playground, and her set with tUnE-yArDs in the alternative community of Body and Soul fits nicely into the venue’s own deep grooves.

The only hindrance is that half the fun is to see her songs constructed – through a deft command of guitar pedals, loop stations and percussion. The theatricality of their performance is an unusual pleasure to behold, shimmering and ebullient, but sometimes hearing is believing. No one else could make a ukulele sound like a weapon, and Gangster, Sink-O, Powa and Water Fountain are as infectious as Ebola.

“We’re here to help you on your way.” she tells us, under sequins and dayglo warpaint. From this launch pad, you reach orbit very quickly.

In three words: Small world music.
Like this? See this: Kelis, Rankin Woods