Killa Kela

For beatboxing neophytes nationwide, Killa Kela is an inspiration. Currently touring with his debut album, Amplified!, Lee Potter is often hailed as a master of his craft, described by one pundit as possessing "more creativity than a Goth during an art degree". Having performed beside artists as diverse as Prince and Lethal Bizzle, Killa Kela is no longer to be considered a marginal oddity, but a mainstream fixture.

Kicking off his UK tour at Edinburgh’s Electric Circus, tonight's gig is a mash up of edgy electro and hardened hip-hop, putting Kela's beatboxing skills to the test. The variety of tricks are admirable and he sustains a level of eclecticism that many other musical genres fail to match.

As talented as Kela may be, however, the crowd seem more in awe of his unique ability, which occasionally obfuscates the fact that the quality of the show itself isn't always what it should be. Thus, the evening becomes a showcase for Kela's rare talent rather than an entertaining experience for the audience.

On occasion, when the atmosphere lags slightly, Kela refreshes the crowd with a variety of choppy house-like rhythms that recall the sort of synth compression more common in French Touch. Drum & bass, hip-hop and beatboxing tumble together seamlessly - even taking in, of all things, a Britney Spears cover.

In Kela, onlookers find a musical innovation, but one that is to be enjoyed sparingly. Artists like Kela are an interesting experience, but one to be enjoyed in moderation. He is undeniably a talented musician bringing new life to an underappreciated genre, and the crowd depart suitably impressed, refreshed and not at all saliva-soaked.