Das Contras

"blend folk, rock, latin, punk, reggae, shake them around a bit and take
yourself off to a distant place and you've found their sound.

And what a sound it is- they really are making some great music."
- Music News Scotland - Music News Scotland

tras @ Cafe Royal - 18/11/06

A cold and wet November evening in Edinburgh was rapidly replaced with
the welcoming warmth and soul of Das Contras in Café Royal.

Initial impressions of the ensemble on stage were of lounge music. But
only if your lounge is painted a deep terracotta, you have a nightly
group of Latino beauties dressed in tight black dresses tossing back
large glasses of red wine until four in the morning threatening to
steal your soul and replace it with a never ending madness of
melancholy and passion.

From beginning to end there was no defining lead person, all of them
extremely adept at their relative instruments with attention shifting
from sax to keyboard to bass to guitar to the singing. The band had
left any egos at the front door to concentrate on the music. Dave
Webster’s head was lost in the sound created by his keyboard nodding in
time to the audience’s reciprocating appreciation, so smoothly and
timely executed. This was complemented by Sherman Watson on acoustic
and lead vocals, a charismatic presence despite his shambolic
appearance. The drums and bass provided the backbone of timeless soul
shaking grooves and the funk needed, holding back to add a more subtle
flavour to the slower numbers. The bass guitarist was all over his
instrument, especially when the strap fell off his shoulder appearing
to propose to the drummer on one knee for the rest of the song. The
horn section added that final harmony. The sax was (I can’t believe I’m
writing this) a tranquil yet also a powerful force driving the band,
while at other times entirely uplifting.

A refreshing change to guitar bands, their maturity and obviously
studied dedication to their craft created layers of warmth of sometimes
up beat jazz and reggae to despairing sadness. Think Ruben Wilson, gypsy
violins, Miles Davies, filterless French cigarettes, The Bosstones, bull
fighting and Ray Manzerick and you’ll probably wonder what the hell I’m
talking about.

There appeared to be a fairly large fan base with them and rightly so.
It was not just a gig but a celebration and a chance to party.

A joy to watch and even better to listen to.

Chris Catley - Live Music Direct - Chris Catley - LMD

Das Contras - Hiding

Need a circuit break from the current electric? Emo getting you down? Then whisk yourself off to a variety of locations via Das Contras and their expert ability to stand astride over vast musical landscapes whilst maintaining a firm purpose, whether that landscape be folk, jazz, classical or pop.

In Hiding we are rapt in a downfall of hopeful pensiveness, mainly conveyed by means of acoustic folk/pop whilst expertly endorsed by some transcendent string and piano arrangements. Strings in particular carry much of the feeling of longing, and coupled with a simple melody, Hiding offers warmth and familiarity that should connect with everyone. The intimacy is further consummated through lingering yet lax lyrics that offer a tongue-in-cheek stance on the emotions being raised, leaving it free for the listener to choose their own outcome.

Hiding is a flood of intrinsic composition, expert instrumentation and sublime structuring, smartly shrouded in a seemingly simple song. This is only one of the reasons why it is so wonderful. It is a striking display which still only exposes a fraction of what Das Contras are all about.

The Glasgow Reviewer 03/07/06 - Glasgow Reviewer

Das Contras are a band of musicians from Fife in Scotland playing Folk-Funk-Jazz-Punk or something. Elegant and unusual Das Contras display venerable creative ability in their music, with distinctive composition and craftsmanship. They are rare carpenters with a distinct musical vision and spirit, at once eclectic and refined, brisling with improvised energy, a fusion of classical, jazz, reggae influences Das Contras are a rarity and a prize. Give these guys a listen, you won't be disappointed.

Scotcampus - Scotcampus

" Das Contras- one of the most talented bands in Scotland.

Three-fifths of the band were there, and as stripped-down versions of their own songs with an emphasis on trumpet and saxophone, they treated the Edinburgh audience to two John Martyn covers. " - The Herald - The Herald

"Tonight's proceedings take a surreal twist when, about half way through Das Contras' set, a group of drunken cheerleaders crash into the venue and start chanting.

To their credit, Das Contras don’t even flinch and continue about their unenviable task of making danceable, catchy jazz without borrowing heavily from ska and reggae. They manage it with gusto.

Occasional Latin rhythms, the odd free form breakdown and a little piano weirdness mixed with probably the most impeccable musicianship The Loft has ever seen. " - The Skinny
- The Skinny

Like an acoustic Groove Armada, Das Contras like their brass and breezy good times tunes. While Groove Armada stick on some beats to modernise the sound Das Contras keep it plugged out and use instruments like violins, piano and bongos. From the chirpy Reckless Phase to the mournful Hiding with its deliciously sad cello, to the the torch song Deadline, which Nick Cave would be happy to have written, the Contraverse EP is a thought provoking delight- part funtime Frankie, part mournful Minnie. An absolute joy and one of Scotland's hidden pleasures. - Rick Fulton

The limits of the English language are reached when trying to describe Das Contras, so fortunately they are more about the music than the words anyway.

With eight members the band barely fit on stage, yet produce a vibrant, eclectic sound that moves from Latino to string-led musings with ease.

Managing to create the experience of an indie band surrounded by an orchestra, their entire twenty minutes sounds refreshingly different and the crowd responded by indulging in a bizarre, polite mosh-pit. - T-Break