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Not many bands would cope with onstage chaos as well as Flash Fiktion - dealing with a crashed mixer, microphone, and keyboard - whilst remaining unfazed takes nerves of steel from any band, old or new. Flash Fiktion take it all in their stride as the rising electro-indie trio pulsing just below the mainstream, hit Camden Barfly with a lightning-like burst of electricity.
Collected in what could be called the Bermuda triangle of indie rock, Flash Fiktion appeared to be just another indie outfit expecting to indify an already indie event with their erratic button-ups and textured fringes. With the flick of a finger to his Korg however, frontman Matt Bishop and his band mates, guitarist Olie Thomas and percussionist Dan Peranic, electro-fied the venue with the droning synth-bass track 'Capsules of Sun'. Filling the top end with flamboyant melodies reminiscent of MGMT’s 'Time To Pretend', Bishop delivered a chaotic performance of this lyrical testament to social exclusion and alcoholism in strikingly bright progressions. Baring a strange resemblance to the ‘86 cast of Ferris Buellers Day Off, Flash Fiktion make more relevant melodic connections to the kicking electro-folk collection Two Door Cinema Club on a kind of psych-punk binge.
Flash Fiktion’s constant rapture on stage in the form of their debut self-titled LP livened the passive indie-jackets and feathery blouses into scattered foot-stomping and sporadic head banging. The hard kick intro of their sunny grunge anthem 'Mo Ping Pong' saw the South London trio reflect the successful sugar-coated catches of Bombay Bicycle Club while the layered percussion instrumentation of 'Me and Mr. E' draws similarities to indie-folk American band Telekinesis.
After the final credits of Flash Fiktion’s riotous – and not to mention deadly fun – gig rolled off into the night, we asked the laid back front man Matt Bishop where he gets all of his energy leading Flash Fiktion, and with a laugh he responded, “I don’t get much exercise off the stage so it’s easy when I go on.” Spoken like a true self-deprecating musician.
All excuses aside, Flash Fiktion had the audience jumping inside and out with their colorful harmonies and foot tapping feel-goodies all night.
