Thursday, May 30, 2013

Ghost In The Sound (DEMF 2013)


This is really a tough review to write. With the expectation as high as it was, it almost didn't seem like it could be met. And, truth be told, it wasn't. Which turned out to be a very good thing.

For starters, my wife and I spent Saturday night across the river in Windsor, Canada. The entry to the Windsor Tunnel is right at Hart Plaza where the festival was happening so we got to drive by the festival and the music got my blood pumping right away. I really do love this music. That night you could hear the music across the water on the river walk that was walking distance from the hotel where we stayed. A beautiful night and a beautiful morning with lots of downtime.

We moved on to check in to our hotel in Detroit on Sunday morning (couldn't get a reasonably priced room on Saturday night in Detroit).  On re-entry into the U.S. when asked by the INS guy at the gate where we were headed the look on his face was priceless when we told him we were going to DEMF.  He said we sure didn't look like your typical ravers (one guy at the party later that night told me, more than once, that I looked like a cop).  Life is full of surprises, no?

I've spent a lot of time in Detroit because of my job so am no stranger to the city. The Michigan Central Railroad Terminal, Motown, the empty buildings downtown, the wide main arteries in and around the city. I have grown fond of it (reminds me of my hometown on a much larger scale) so we spent the afternoon driving around the city looking at familiar sights, stopping for breakfast and lunch at a great cafe on Woodward and finally locating the party address.  

Anyhow, not knowing what to expect we showed up super early around 7:30 p.m. and stood outside the warehouse. (I'll see if I have better photos, never think to take them until after the fact.)


One of the guys from the production company introduced himself to us and ended up inviting us in. Great group of people all the way around. It was just an empty warehouse with a sound system and a makeshift movie screen. You can see in the photos the warehouse and the basic set-up all the way through a few fuzzy photos of the night in full tilt. We got to watch the entire evening unfold from scratch.

I have a few photos that you can see:

HERE

The photos basically show the warehouse space as we entered. Quick video shot by my wife sets the scene pretty well. No chairs, sitting on the floor. A few people in there working out logistics and sparse decor.  Movie screen, sound system, strobe lights. Pretty basic and to the point.

I recognized Steve and walked up to him and introduced myself.  He took the time to talk to me for a bit in the midst of the madness which was way cool. Super down to earth guy and funny. It was great just to have a chance to thank him in person for the music.

It was a great two hours just walking around inside the warehouse, hanging out, chatting with people from the production company and watching as the other artists and first party attendees strolled in. Had the evening ended there I would probably have been perfectly content.

Slowly the evening unfolded. The first couple of acts were good but it wasn't until JPLS dropped his set around 1:00 a.m. that the mood really elevated. Bare bones minimal techno, raw and pounding, got the crowd moving. Though I haven't been into "the scene" in almost 20 years, it all came flooding back. You could feel the energy building.

Echospace came on around 2:30 a.m. I had been expecting to sit down and watch the film of "Silent World" as Echospace scored it live, much like I saw Koyaanisqatisi a few years back with Philip Glass playing live as the movie played on the big screen or Demdike Stare scoring The Nude Vampire live. But the film, it turns out, was basically a backdrop and not the main event. This was not a sit and watch the movie as "Silent World" played. This was an old school, full on warehouse rave, even the Echospace set. And they brought high energy.

I could certainly feel the energy and the beat of the music but could not make out the finer points of the tracks played because it was overwhelmingly loud (even with earplugs fully engaged). There's a brief video snippet with distorted audio that may give a sense of the volume. I don't know what the set list was though I've read that it was Liumin/Silent World reinterpreted. It was a wall of thumping, rumbling sound that almost moved your body for you. Like my days of old I could feel the vibe in the room elevating and the enthusiasm building as the night rolled on and you could tell these guys have been around and know how to move a crowd.

I think part of the thrill of the night, aside from just being there, was the realization that this was a throwback in many ways, though obviously in a new context. Though it was an empty warehouse the setting was well choreographed through social media; though it was an artist with an evolved style of music, you could feel the warehouse roots buried in the evening coming to full fruition. I was transported back in time to twenty years ago and yet it felt incredibly fresh, a mixture of nostalgia and the thrill of discovery.  

From what I've seen posted on the Echospace FB page and Hitchell's own FB page it seems that this night was quite special for everyone, truly a night to remember. Aside from the performers (The Flashbulb and Terrence Dixon perhaps the most well known), I've seen it mentioned that Luke Hess and Kevin Martin (aka The Bug) were present in the room that night.

We did not make it to the closing acts. With no windows in the room, the cigarette (and other) smoke was eventually suffocating. But I am more than content. It was an astounding weekend and I haven't been so elated from an adventure in quite some time.

P.S. Apparently the show was recorded and may be released in the future.  I can't think of anything else that would make the evening more complete.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Ghost In The Sound (DEMF 2013)


Here are some photos found online. Credit goes to the photographer at the link below. Gives you a pretty good feel for the atmosphere at 2:00 a.m.

I have a few of my own though not very high quality shot from a smart phone (never think to take good pictures until after the fact). Will post them and provide some personal highlights from the night, perhaps this weekend. Keep looking online, hopefully some others will share photos and their own experiences as well.

The rest of the set (and other photos from the weekend) can be found here:

Ghost in the Sound

Photos are tagged well so the JPLS, Flashbulb and Echospace photos are from the evening.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Funkify


New guy just hired in at work and I were talking about music and, truth be told, he is the first person I have actually met in person who knows most every single artist that I have been into for the past twenty years.   That is no small feat. We're not talking classic rock, hair metal, pop radio or any other force fed crap. 

We're talking underground, under the radar (at the time) sounds, much of which you find here on this blog. Goa, acid, deep house, dub, techno; Underworld, Moby, Sasha & Digweed; Buckethead, DXT, DJ Shadow; you name it. While I'm pumped about all the folks I've met online and through doing this blog, it's like having a twin. Freaky.

Anyhow, I thought I knew a little something about funk but imagine my surprise when he names a group I've never even heard of and realize that what I thought I knew about funk has just been taken to a new level. 

I have a lot to learn...gonna be fun...


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

David Lynch - Mashed In Plastic



Quite a bit of interest in the Twin Peaks Soundtrack Design post below and I was reminded of this one sitting in draft status.

1086 Productions has done Mashed In Plastic, a series of mash-ups of the music of David Lynch.  Here's a teaser:

Not a big fan of most mash-ups but somehow these songs mashed up with songs by AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails, The Beatles, Dead Can Dance and others don't seem out of place in the David Lynch universe.  In fact, they seem to make more sense.

Skip on over to the Mashed In Plastic website for a free download of the soundtrack and/or video.  

Monday, May 20, 2013

Vytis - Mind Voyage (2012)


Easily one of the best dub techno releases of recent memory. Contains remixes by John Ov3rblast and Giriu Dvasios (as well as a track named for him). 

Dvasios' album Esu also comes with a high, high recommendation. While it is slated to be released in June for free I can't encourage everyone enough to show some genuine support. Be selective but be intentional.

For those who don't know Dvasios is the founder and head of Cold Tear Records, hands down one of the best netlabels out there.

Info and download for the Vytis is available:

Friday, May 17, 2013

Twin Peaks Soundtrack Design


For those who remember the show Twin Peaks there is no need to describe the music. Though it played a vital part, even the vital part, in creating the atmosphere of the show this music stands on its own.  Independent of the show, this is powerful music.

I stumbled across the blog originally through a series of mixes posted on Mixcloud and found my way back to the blog. To call this blog a labor of love is an understatement. Simply incredible, an archaeological dig through the sounds that made the show what it was.

Highest recommendation.  Check out the blog:

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Causes



Interesting compilations from an interesting label supporting various organizations seeking to make a difference in the world.

Info 1

Info 2

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

kropp - Ornament und Bezier (2013)


Just dropped in my email today:

"It’s that weird timestretch post-dubstep kind of sound that you will totally love if you ever liked anything between Creep and oOoOO. Unconventional and edgy, yet harmonic and beautiful."
Love it when that happens.

Show some support and check it out:

HERE

Sunday, May 12, 2013

14 Tracks


If it's new music you're looking for there is no finer avenue than 14 tracks.


Guaranteed you'll find something you've never heard before.

Dub Chronicles


Some killer dub techno.  Taking off from the "white label" idea of the Knowone label the Dub Chronicles label carries the torch forward.

Check out the bass drop about 2:25 in on track 1 of the first release and you'll get a sense of what awaits.

Highly recommended.

Info

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Verve Remixed


Jazz and an assemblage of some skilled "downtempo" remixers is a win.  

My recommendation, however, is to dig into the vaults and find the originals. Consider this set a primer for the real thing.



Thursday, May 9, 2013

Shackleton


I've read lots of reviews on this one and they all end up being a lot of words and my eyes begin to cross as I read.

My recommendation?  Just listen to it.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Unplugged


I was driving down I-5 from Seattle to L.A. late at night when I first heard the news. Watching this at a friend's house after that had a surreal quality to it. I was not a huge fan but I was fan enough to recognize the impact their music had so knew the loss was huge.

The mourning rituals went on in Seattle but for me this was the death knell of grunge. Grunge had already achieved its apex with "SLTS" becoming such a huge hit and the imitators were on the ascendant. For those who haven't seen it the documentary "Hype" sums it up well.

By the time I made it back to Seattle I was already moving toward the electronic music scene so the sense of mourning I get when listening to this is not so much for him but as representative of closure for that period of my life.  The album is powerful and cemented their significance.

And underneath the volume these guys not only lay out the deeper history of grunge here but also reveal a warmer, more vulnerable, side of the band.

Essential on every level.

Sourced from 24bit/96khz vinyl.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Nichts


Just picked up Drones For St. Cecilia on the Nichts label bandcamp page:


It's free if you want it but I chipped in some cash. These guys can't keep doing this without suupport. If everyone chips in a small amount that adds up to a larger sum for the artists.

I was drawn to the concept - 30 minutes of pure, deep drones inspired by Christian mysticism. Besides, it's some really great meditative drone work. You can see the original artwork from which the cover detail was taken here

Label page and all album releases from Docetism, Atum and Contempus Mundi can be found:

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Burial


That trademark sound and yet it never gets old.  

Casts a magic spell on the listener...


Saturday, May 4, 2013

Ov3rblast – Stargazer Lp (2011)


Great long playing dubbed out space music from the deepindub label, easily one of the best netlabels out there for dub techno sounds.

Info and free download:

HERE


Riverrun


In case you don't have it.  Even if you do, I think you'll like this version.

Info

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Giorgio Gigli & Obtane

Techno in the truest sense - industrial, dark, edgy, pulsating.  Limited run vinyl that sells out quickly for a reason.


Try

Info