Sylvan Esso, On tour

Never mind different genres, the music made by Nick Sanborn and Amelia Meath seems to come from two different eras. As part of vocal trio Mountain Man, Meath offers a cappella harmony, while sometime Megafaun member Sanborn’s music is a modern mixture of chilly beats, throbbing bass and digital frazzle. And it works. On their debut album as Sylvan Esso, there’s no flab at all, the rawness of the beats and the ethereal, at times Joanna Newsom-like, nature of Meath’s vocal both serving to focus attention on the world of the songs.

Buffalo Bar, Cardiff, Sat; Soup Kitchen, Manchester, Mon; The Workman’s Club, Dublin, Tue; Black Box, Belfast, Wed; Nice’n’Sleazy, Glasgow, Thu

JR

Lethal Bizzle, On tour

A forceful MC a decade into his career, Lethal Bizzle has still generally seemed a little uncertain about what to do from one moment to the next. A chart success at the start of the 2000s as one of More Fire Crew, Bizzle was part of a post-So Solid Crew grime epiphany, before anyone ever suspected that crossing over might be the exception not the rule. Sure enough, the hits have kept on coming, most recently Rari Workout, a gym-ready number which suggests maintaining buffness to look good in a sports car. But whether it’s been his flirtations with indie rock (he has worked with Gallows and the Rakes – remember “grindie”?), his occasional reversion to street topics or, latterly, his appearances on mainstream TV, the man’s movements seem completely without that backbone of the successful career: a plan.

Sound Control, Manchester, Mon; The Institute, Birmingham, Tue; XOYO, EC1, Wed

JR

The Bill Laurance Project, On tour

Snarky Puppy pianist Bill Laurance doesn’t stay still for long. As well as forming part of the celebrated New York collective, he’s also explored electronica and music for movies and ballet. He’s back with his new album, Flint, which is inspired by the formerly industrial Michigan city and features plenty of spacey synth strings and spooky vocoder effects. Joining him is Snarky bassist Michael League, drummer Robert “Sput” Searight and a lot of technology.

Liverpool Hope University, Sat; Ronnie Scott’s, W1, Sun; The Glee Club, Birmingham, Mon; Band On The Wall, Manchester, Tue; The Grand, Clitheroe, Wed; Ropery Hall, Barton-upon-Humber, Thu; Southampton Uni, Fri

JF

London Sinfionetta: An Index Of Metals, London

Fausto Romitelli (pictured) died in 2004 after a long illness, at the age of just 41. He’d been a pupil of Franco Donatoni in Siena, and then worked at IRCAM in Paris with Gérard Grisey. When he died, his international reputation was just starting to grow through a series of works that blurred the distinction between pop and classical music, combining acoustic and electric instruments with video and lighting effects. All of that came together in Romitelli’s final work, the multimedia opera for voice and ensemble, An Index Of Metals. It was an attempt, he said, to see “sound and light become part of a single thought process”. The London Sinfonietta is giving the work its London premiere, conducted by André de Ridder with the mezzo-soprano Hila Plitmann, and projections of the original video art by Paolo Pachini and Leonardo Romoli.

Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1, Wed

AC

Tusk, Newcastle upon Tyne

Underground sounds from across four continents hit Newcastle this weekend via Tusk’s truly eclectic lineup, from Islam Chipsy’s electro shaabi Cairo club tracks, through Irshad Ali’s Rajastani Sufi party music, to Japanese noise stalwarts Hijokaidan’s J-pop collaboration with virtual android singer Hatsune Miku (who will appear on stage via the medium of cosplay). Also unmissable are American power jazz trio Borbetomagus with Jim Sauter and Don Dietrich’s saxophones literally locking horns. Respite from that euphoric racket comes in the form of Newcastle locals :zoviet*france:’s environmental ambient sounds, a church organ recital by Aine O’Dwyer, and disintegrating turntable loops from Philip Jeck, among others, and packed in around the music is a new installation by Mark Fell, plus a film programme and talks.

Star & Shadow Cinema, Fri to 12 Oct

JLA

Off!, On tour

The idea that midlife might be a time to start taking things easy is rather blown apart by OFF! A group comprising luminaries from hardcore and post-hardcore bands such as Redd Kross and Rocket From The Crypt, they’re fronted by Keith Morris (the original, some would say best, singer of Black Flag, and later the Circle Jerks), and are very busy indeed. Each of OFF!’s albums, including their current one, Wasted Years, contains 16 songs, but only lasts about 20 minutes. Within that time frame, the band manage to contain some of hardcore’s original rhythmic swing and sense of fun, but also deliver a strong concept.

The Leadmill, Sheffield, Sat; King Tut’s, Glasgow, Sun; Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, Tue; The Haunt, Brighton, Wed

JR