Lemon Jelly

“Not dead, but sleeping.” That’s the message from Lemon Jelly’s website as of August 2014, and you have to at least give them credit for being upfront with us - theirs is apparently a proper hiatus, rather than just a short break with an already pre-planned return on the cards in a bid to boost flagging popularity. Not that Lemon Jelly’s popularity ever did really dip, though; their intriguing blend of electronica and trip hop brought them critical plaudits for all three of their records to date - Lemonjelly.ky, Lost Horizons and ’64-’95 - as well as carving out for them a significant cult following, a major part of the appeal for which is their well-renowned live shows. The duo - comprised of London natives Fred Deakin and Nick Franglen - underwent serious evolution in terms of the way they presented themselves live down the years, experimenting with loop pedals and some live instrumentation. They were one of those acts who never quite played two shows precisely the same; one night, they might veer off into explorations of their more downtempo-driven side, whilst another gig might have them - as was often the case during their most recent outings - playing beat-heavy tracks, accompanied by furious visuals. Their defining characteristic, though, was the way in which they connected with their fans, creating a communal atmosphere at their shows that will continue to set them apart should they ever reform.