A night at the gardens

Went down to the Botanique last night for a triple-header as part of the annual 'les nuits Botanique' festival.
First up was the happy clappy discord of Barbara Morgenstern - truly awful. A voice as flat as a witch's tit, songs that meander like a lost coach driver stuck in city traffic, pointless live drumming, cringeworthy between song banter: Babs has got it all. It speaks volumes when the best thing about her show was the cool red and white stripey skirt she was wearing.
After a slow start Mouse on Mars were infinitely better musically. Their visuals were weak, however: a single back projected film that had to be regularly restarted. Looking at a JVC logo for 20 seconds every 20 minutes is hardly conducive to getting lost in music. You may ask,'are the visuals important?' If the alternative is staring at two men in their late 30s standing behind a desk, then yes, they are very important indeed.
You certainly couldn't accuse Planningtorock (aka Janine Rostron) of forgetting about the visual side. PTR has developed a kind of weird cabaret act juxtaposed with oddly catchy electronica. Something like an arthouse Goldfrapp. Not quite sure what it's all about, but there's definitely something to be said for a six-foot tall woman dressed in white wearing a strange hat/mask and singing 'I'm a Bolton Wanderer'. Sammy Lee eat your heart out!