Time To Jack

ArtsMusic

Sunday June 3rd (well, Monday afternoon for me) marked the end of another edition of one of the most important electronic music festival in North America. I’ve been attending Mutek for four years now and I can say without hesitating that this year edition was my favorite so far. I mean, every year has had its highlights but this time it was different. Every single night, I’ve found myself discovering or re-discovering incredible musicians! Which was priceless. Here’s a list of my favorite performances day by day.

Wednesday:

Probably my top discovery of this year’s festival is the American duo Blondes. Having heard of them without knowing what they would sound like, I was expecting some minimal intellectual electronic music. How wrong was I! These guys can teach you a thing or two about how to do a proper live techno set just like any other Detroit dude. Apparat live right after was a little bit too Sigur Ros infused to keep the party going.

Thursday:

Having the chance of seeing a legend like Jeff Mills is a once in a lifetime experience… getting to see him twice in less than a week is the best thing I could dreamed of. After catching his Wizard set on Monday in Detroit it was now time to catch the more experimental and sci-fi side of Mills. A Roland 909 up front, five cdj’s in the back and the moon pumping to the beat in the background, the set-up was out of this world; and so was the performance…

Friday:

To kick-off the week-end, Mutek crew provided us with the most “mainstream” line-up of the festival. Everybody in Montreal was waiting to hear how Nicolas Jaar would sound live. I got to see him last March in Toronto and was very disappointed. Although he didn’t deliver the best performance of this year’s festival; let’s just say that it was decent enough to patch things up between the two of us. Jimmy Edgar closed the night and sounded so good that I had to go to this small sweaty after-party where we danced to his mixes until 6am.

Saturday:

I’m magically out of bed early enough to catch my favorite performance of this year’s festival. It’s a rainy day, so Piknik Electronic has been moved to S.A.T. It’s dark and definitely not what one needs to cure a hangover. It doesn’t matter because nothing will stop the talented KiNK! He delivered an energy-driven set expressing how excited he was to be there. He interacted with the crowd, giving them the opportunity to mess with his sequencer and join ion the music making. Some people say he puts on the best live electronic music around and I tend to agree.

Sunday:

For the last day of the festival, despite the possibility of rain, the weather was on our side and we got to go out to Piknik Electronik . The special guest at Piknik Electronik was none other than Nicolas Jaar followed by Benoit & Sergio live and finally Wolf & Lamb. It was the perfect line-up to listen to while spending the afternoon dancing outside. The bravest among us crawled to S.A.T to catch the last Nocturne, which feature a live set by Dave Aju. I won’t lie; at this point I was so beaten up I can’t really say how good it was…

The Mutek crew, this year more than any other, proved that Montreal is an important player in the electronic music scene. Now, we just have to surf the wave and use this inspiring week-end as a model for more electronic music events in our city.

Also for all our original photography from the fest check out ForgetTheBox on FB

ArtsCityMusic

Trus’me didn’t take too long to win the hearts of most electronic music lovers, including trend-setters like Gilles Peterson and Rob da Bank.

Coming from Manchester, a city with a rich history of vibrant electronic music that gave birth to acid house, he pursued the tradition of bringing love to the dancefloor. His sets are always very deep, rich and soulfull.

He started releasing tracks on the Stillove4music label and now he’s now putting out music on his own label Prime Numbers. He often produces tracks in homage to the old-school disco, funk and soul, so one can’t help but notice that Trus’me is a music encyclopedia. When it comes to making people’s ass shake on the dance floor there’s no better type of DJ, trust me.

His last Montreal visit was in March 2010 and you can listen to how good the man was here.

He’ll be playing alongside infamous Montreal DJs Seb Fauteux, Max Reynold and Vincent Lemieux. The event is taking place at Salon Daomé at 10pm on Thursday night.

Matthais Meyer
ArtsCityMusic

Matthais MeyerIt was daylight saving time last Saturday. It’s a good thing overall, at least that it doesn’t get dark at 5pm anymore. But the night we “lose” an hour is generally a shitty night for partying. I mean, getting thrown out of the club at 2am?! We’ll leave that to Toronto! That’s why the only thing that would get me out of my house was a loft party, and not just any type of party…

I found myself across from the Bell Center to enjoy a set by Matthias Meyer. We all know, when it comes to electronic music, German guys do it better. First of all, the venue was perfect. I don’t like to venture downtown often, but being close to the Bell Center has the advantage of not many neighbors around to complain about noise. The loft was a dark small square with a side room to relax in. There were comfy couches, a friendly staff, and a good sound system; that’s all you need to have an all night party. Ok, there was one little problem…there was only one bathroom for everybody. I did end up meeting friendly and generous people in the line-up so in the end all was good.

The event was put on by Revolutions Cap-Chat which is an electronic music event taking place near a wind farm in Gaspesia. To promote the festival in bigger center like Montreal and Quebec, there will be a couple events with the biggest name in the international scene. The first event, last Saturday, featured Matthias Meyer.

Meyer is a DJ but also started producing in 2005 , he’s one of the key member of the Liebe*Detail record label. One of my favourite songs from him is “Tout va bien”. His productions are a good reflection of His DJ style. He can work the crowd for hours with very precise sound, inserting here and there some key tracks that will make dancers go crazy. Last Saturday, I saw a very generous DJ, willing to interact with people and nice enough to text people the name of the best songs he was playing.

I have to thank him for the highlight of my night: Osunlade (remixed by Dixon). Here’s a mix made by Meyer, so you know what you missed.

On another note, Mutek 2012 revealed their initial line-up for this year’s festival. It’s looking very good!

ArtsMusic

Here’s a new playlist inspired by the season change about to happen. I’m in a contemplative mood these days and you can feel it in my music selection.

The first half of this playlist is made of long and hypnotic songs. It’s beautiful trance sounds to listen to while waiting for better, longer and warmer days. There are more conventional house sound and a little hip-hop gem at the end. Let me introduce the tracks…

Brandt Brauer Frick – Pretend (Soul Clap remix)

You may know that Kraftwerk will have an eight-day residency at MOMA in April. Well, tickets went on sale last week and, like many people, I didn’t score any.

This lead to a period of denial that saw me refreshing Craigslist NYC every two seconds in hopes of finding a scalper willing to empty my bank account in exchange for one ticket. It didn’t happen either.

I then realised that Kraftwerk is so passé and that there’s another German band worth checking out. Brandt Brauer and Frick is an amazing trio using only analog gear. They just released a single, Mr. Machine, with great remixes from Soul Clap, Dollkraut and our local producer Horror Inc (aka Akufen).

Pachanga Boys – Time

Pachanga Boys is the fruit of a collaboration between Superpitcher and Rebolledo. Time is a 15 minute masterpiece and the perfect song to “lose track of time” to while daydreaming. It was released as an EP named Girlcatcher on Kompakt but due to the limited run of only 300 copies, the vinyls are already sold out.

I:cube – Hnt

Part of Versatile Records, Nicolas Chaix has been around since the 90s. Using either his pseudonym I:Cube or Chateau Flight, he’s known to release great down-tempo music. Hnt is part of an edit EP which means that Nicolas Chaix didn’t compose the song, but rather re-worked an already existing track to make it more dancefloor-friendly. The original is from 80s band New Musik. Which version do you prefer?

Storm Queen- It Goes On

Storm Queen is the new project of Morgan Geist featuring Damon C. Scott on vocals. It’s his second release and so far he’s two for two with me, as I’ve included both of his singles on my Forget the Box playlists. It’s perfect pop music to dance to.

Maceo Plex – Ain’t That Love

Oh yes! It is love I feel for Maceo Plex every time I hear one of his songs. He was the guest dj on BBC radio 1 on February 18th. Have a listen to his essential mix; a perfect soundtrack for pre-drink parties.

Omar S & Ob Ignitt – Wayne County Hill Cop’s (Omar S remix)

Omar S is a genius and he knows it. In the past, he released a track called It Can Be Done But Only I Can Do It, made a fabric mix featuring only tracks made by…him. So yeah, he has a big ego, but I’m still a sucker for anything he releases. You like the song? Go check his record label FXHE records and you might find other gems.

M.I.A – Bad Girls

She’s back! After a deceiving second album, I think it’s safe to say she won’t make the same mistake twice for her third release. The beats are perfect, the video even better. Summer song of 2012?

Another month, another playlist. Are these songs fitting in with your March mood? Do you have any suggestions for next month’s playlist? Go ahead and share your song of the moment!


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Last Friday I found myself entering Igloofest for the first time. My friends were surprised to learn it had taken me so long to actually attend this winter gathering. I could never picture myself dancing in the cold but last Friday I found a way to enjoy Igloofest properly and thoroughly. Here are a couple tips for dancing around in the cold and snow!

Bring a good pair of warm, waterproof boots

It’s kind of obvious that you should dress up warm but if you’re planning on spending more than fifteen minutes outside, the key is quality boots. I made the mistake of wearing a $3 pair of vintage boots that were taking on water like the Titanic . I almost decided to turn back after only five minutes of Igloofesting. That’s until I found another way of keeping warm…

Indulge yourself with too much mulled wine and Jagermeister

I know, all the scientific data says that it’s a lure; alcohol will not keep you warmer and will actually lower your body temperature. Bullshit! After two cups of mulled wine and four shots of Jagermeister (in 15 minutes) I’ve never felt warmer in my life. My feet weren’t cold anymore… I didn’t remember I had feet attached to my body! I’m telling you: a few drinks is the only way to survive for more than ten minutes in Antarctic weather.

Become friend with a member of the staff

If you start drinking as much as suggested above you might end up drying your bank account. At 6,50$ for a cup of warm wine the only thing that could possibly save you is a friendly bartender “forgetting” to charge you.

Avoid drugs

While being drunk might enhance your experience, I strongly suggest you avoid taking drugs. Popping MDMA outside in January will have you running inside in search of the warmest furnace. Being cold while on drugs is definitely a party killer.

Try bodysurfing for the first time of your life

Have you ever dreamed of bodysurfing during a music event? Perhaps you’ve been too scared to do it? Igloofest is there for you! We’re all wearing our big fluffy winter attire, three sweaters, five pairs of sweat pants and a giant fur hat. Even if somebody drops you, you’re assured to survive and you’ll probably even bounce a little!


Igloofest is taking place at Quai Jacques-Cartier during the three last week-ends of January. For the complete schedule make sure to visit their website.

Photos by Chris Zacchia, check out the full set on our Facebook page

ArtsCityMusic

Here at Forget the Box, we made some New Year’s resolutions. One of them is to have our playlists back on a monthly basis. I guess the summer’s festivals were pretty rough on our livers but no worries, dear music lovers, we’re back for good! We’re starting the year with a subjective guide on what not to miss during the three weekends of Igloofest


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Tanner Ross – B-side

For me, Igloofest will kick off on Friday. I know, everybody’s talking about A-track on Thursday but it’s not my cup of tea. The real fun is starting the next day with two not-to-be-missed artists. First: Tanner Ross who’s about to release his first solo full length album on the renowned Wolf + Lamb label.

Tiefschwarz feat Mama – Corporate butcher

Second artist to check out on Friday the 13th (oooh spooky!): Tiefschwarz. Alexander and Sebastian Schwarz are two German brothers passionate about music. They’ve been djs since the early nineties and they’re encyclopaedias when it comes to electronic music. They also run a record label, Souvenir, so you might want to dig into their catalogue.

Buraka Som Sistema – Buffalo Stance

Maybe you’re afraid of the cold just like me? Then you need something more than techno music to get you out of your cozy house. Buraka Som Sistema is here to melt the snow. Kuduro-inspired beats from Portugal? A cover of Neneh Cherry’s hit Buffalo stance? Yup! That’s all we need to make us forget we’re in Montreal on January 14th.

Terence Fixmer – A Journey to Uncharted Destinations

Igloofest’s second week starts with Terence Fixmer alongside our local hero Tiga and a new signer on Turbo records: Bordello. With past releases on International dejay gigolo, Citizen Records, White noise and Turbo, you can be sure the French producer will wake your inner dark side.

Dillon Francis & Diplo – Que Que Feat. Maluca (Torro Torro Remix)

Who doesn’t like a dj set by Diplo? I’m pretty sure the answer is nobody! Are you tired of all your not-so-into electronic music friends asking which night they should go dance in their ugliest winter outfit to win the Igloofest contest ? Thursday January 26th is probably the perfect night. Diplo always puts on a good show that will be sure to please everybody from the rock to the hip-hop to the electro fan. To all the boys out there: make sure your girlfriend is wearing her biggest winter coat or else you might find her “missing” sipping vodka in the dj booth.

Maya Jane Coles – Senseless

My personnal pick: Maya Janes Coles is a young and very talented lady from United Kingdom. She started releasing music in 2008 but her career really kicked off  last year that. She’s been voted Producer of the Year 2011 by DJ Mag, and named Best Breakthrough DJ 2011 by Mixmag. It’s her first visit in Montreal and she’ll be performing alongside Green Velvet on January 27th.

Marcel Dettmann – Duel

The last night will be a cold one. I’m not talking about the weather here but rather about the music. On January 28th two Berghain residents will be visiting: Marcel Dettmann and Ben Klock. These guys are renowned for their uncompromising techno. Be prepared.

That’s about it. Make sure to dress warm and please abuse of the Glühwein if you want to stay alive! Our team of music writers will report from the field so stay tuned.

ArtsCityMusic

When David Lortie began promoting events it was for drum & bass night at the now defunct Angels night club. An eager, fresh faced seventeen year old who was doing it solely because he was passionate about the music, Lortie initial felt felt that not enough information was being filtered down to the masses about Montreal’s electronic music or the events being put together by local artists & promoters. Much has changed since those early days, both in Montreal and for Lortie. By asking his older brother to introduce him to the environment some decade ago Lortie gave birth to a life long enthusiasm for event promotion and music production.

His longevity and heavy personal investment this community has afforded him the trust of DJs (local & international alike), sound engineers, club owners and others in the scene. In recent years, Lortie’s musical tastes have evolved to incorporate genres such as dubstep and break-beat which have found a healthy reception in Montreal and his participation in promotion and contributed to many successful events.

Lortie’s favorite part of promotion? Being able to switch between promoter and fan in order to fully enjoy Montreal’s nightlife alongside the rest of us.


What events do you have planned for the future ?

In the immediate future, we plan on having a night at Gas Bar (3554 Saint-Laurent). The venue is more mainstream but we will be broadcasting dubstep at that night. You can’t put a cage around music, it has to be accessible to everyone.

What ebbs and flows have you witnessed over the last 10 years of your association with this scene?

Well, there were fewer sessions for a while. Turntablism was obviously still there, but lacked a home for a little while. People were still having sessions, but the open table format was less present in the last couple of years. DJ Mana used to host a weekly session at his DJ School a few years back, but since that shut down, there hasn’t really been a definitive home for regular sessions.

Who was DJ Mana?

The godfather of the Montreal scratch scene. DJ Mana had a DJ school that started out in this apartment and eventually branched out to a larger space. Every Sunday there were scratch sessions. Four set-ups with loops playing. DJ Mana was cutting over drum and bass beats, and hearing them blended together was mind blowing. For unspecified reasons and after a relocation to Off The Hook’s downtown store location, the school eventually stopped altogether.

DJ Mana has been a huge influence by introducing me to turntablism and all the ways it can be connected to so many genres. I have never limited myself to a specific type of music, so his creativity and flexibility are huge for me, in terms of seeing the turntable as more of an instrument and a means to bring different genres into a cohesive blend.

Who has been your biggest influence?

“My brother, Simon, has probably been my biggest influence, both musically and in general. He taught me so much about determination, respect, open-mindedness and just being an all around good human being. Growing up, he introduced me to such a wide variety of music, and that has allowed me to better appreciate the plethora of different sounds I enjoy and support today.”

What ebbs and flows have you witnessed over the last 10 years of your association with this scene?

Well, there were fewer sessions for a while. Turntablism was obviously still there, but lacked a home for a little while. People were still having sessions, but the open table format was less present in the last couple of years. DJ Mana used to host a weekly session at his DJ School a few years back, but since that shut down, there hasn’t really been a definitive home for regular sessions.

What are some of the craziest things have you seen happen since you began event planning & promotion?

Seeing a shitload of people getting together under a bridge [Burning Man], even without being involved, it was crazy. Seeing the cops trying to break it up and the resistance of the crowd, it was epic. The biggest crowds I’ve ever seen come out to Igloofest at  -40 with the windchill and snowing, but surrounded by all these people who are sharing a crazy moment, it was like time stopped.

Personally, I have always seen the turntable as an instrument, in its own right, when in the hands of a capable musician. And people like DJ Mana, DJ Brace, Killa Jewel and Jon Rist to name a few, have shown the versatility of the art form and helped to put Montreal on the map internationally.

Many French DJs from overseas have been calling Montreal home recently as well as promoting their styles and techniques in events across the island. Explain your take on the French connection

Some of the best international talent has been immigrating here recently and I think it has a lot to do with the resurgence of the art form. Many French DJs are into glitch, dubstep and drum and base. It has gotten me back into turn table events. The glitch element didn’t catch on here like it did on the west coast.

Sixtoo, Megazoid… all these people and that scene dropped off for a while. I’m very motivated by the efforts of Famelik and the other French DJs, such as Noyl, Mart-One, Start and Tchoupax who have experienced the culture overseas and have sparked a renewal of interest (turntablism) here. And don’t forget DJ Brace, who won a Juno for his scratch album a couple of years ago, and has called Montreal his home ever since.


Lortie will be doing a second installment of Le Bass Factory Scratch Sessions at Blizzarts (3956 Boulevard Saint-Laurent) while continuing to lend his talents to many other projects. Lortie is currently blogging at www.electrokill.info as well as working with Scott Walker & Gabriel Audet, the founders of Beatfreakz, who host monthly scratch meetings & post weekly scratch webisode performances each Thursday at DJWEB.TV.

ArtsMusic

We’re in the middle of November. It’s getting colder and the days are getting shorter. All you want to do is watch French new-wave movies with your new boyfriend while sipping hot chocolate. Let’s face it, it’s the season of cocooning; not the best time for hot dance parties. Nobody could convince me to head to a big club in old-Montreal to see a DJ play some house music. Nobody except the 13% crew!

I’ve been quite busy over   the past few months and haven’t been able to write for ForgetTheBox as much as I would have liked, but every time I felt the urge to telling you, dear readers, about a great party it was because of these guys. They strike again, this time with the up and coming producer, DJ, and label owner Lee Foss.

Born in Chicago, Foss relocated to Los Angeles and London to focuses on his music passion. We can say the man keeps busy and that’s probably why he became one of the most talked about DJ’s in the industry, within a two-year span. He’s doing DJ gigs all over the world, he’s in charge of the label Hot Creations and started the duo Hot Natured with Jamie Jones whom he met in Ibiza back in 2001.

We can say Lee Foss is part of a new trend in house music. Along with people and labels such as Visionquest, Crosstown Rebels, Art Department and Wolf + Lamb they created that chill, soulful house music that fashionistas seem to be craving these days. Let’s just hope that people will be at UN on Friday not only to be seen but also to enjoy a set by a truly inspired and consistent DJ. Want some previews of how good the man is? Listen to these mixes and make sure to send your name to info@13percent.ca to get a reduced price on the tickets.

Lee Foss – Modern Amusement Podcast – June 2011 by R_co

The show is at UN Club (390 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest) @ party ‘o clock!

ArtsCityMusic

The dj world has often been a gentleman’s club; with very few ladies getting membership cards. Is this now a thing of the past? We can at least say that of wind of change is blowing on the scene. Maya Janes Coles, Cassy, Margaret Dygas, Steffi, all of them have released some of the year’s best tracks.

This coming Friday, Montreal will be granted a visit from the lady that made her mark as one of the few lucky Panorama bar residents, Steffi. Holding a residency in what is considered the best club in the world, being the owner of Klakson, (a great music label) and releasing an impressive first LP, Yours and Mine, these are just a few example of the how talented this Dutch girl is.

Steffi first made a name for her self with her dj skills and that’s what you’ll get to hear on Friday night. Expect some soulful house music that doesn’t leave the Detroit techno spirit behind. Expect to be moved and be guided by a dj who knows her music history. It will be a night to forget everything and dance like there’s no tomorrow.

You’re not convinced yet? Here’s an incredible mix Steffi did for Dummy magazine.

Steffi – Dummy Mix – January 2011 by R_co

The event is taking place at U.N. club and is brought to you by one of the best promoting team in town, 13 percent. You’re broke and can’t pay too much at the door? Well, you have until Friday 7pm to send your full name to info@13percent.ca and get on the reduced price guestlist.

ArtsMusic

Give me a sunset, a mojito and a beach so I can enjoy my playlist!

We skipped a month for the playlist. I was caught in a music festival storm which is of course very inspiring, but at the same time really hard on the body and the mind. Don’t fear dear readers, the 140 hours of sleep I got in the past week have put me back on track. Here’s some music that is made to accompany you during your sunny summer days of outdoor drinking.


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Joakim Forever young

Joakim has always been one of my favorite artists. Label owner (Tigersushi), musician, iconoclast surfing somewhere between live electronic music and experimental pop, this French producer living in New York will be releasing his fourth full-length in September. In his press release he describes the single:  

“Forever Young’ is my song for all the 30-something-year old people out there.    I used to hate people between 30 and 40 when I was under 30. I thought they gave up on most of their beliefs and lived a dull and fake life. Love cowards pretending to still be cool, contemptuous grown-ups afraid of the young sharks.  But now I’m one of THEM. So I have to cope with that.”  

Maybe the song is dedicated to 30-year-old folks, but I bet it’s going to make people dance, no matter how old they are, all summer long and beyond.

Matias Aguayo- I don’t smoke

Who would have thought you could be funny while producing electronic music? Well, Matias Aguayo is now the master of humorous house music. The Chilean is back with the EP I don’t smoke out on Kompakt.

Round Two feat Andy Caine – New Day

In the summer, the sun always comes up too early. I mean, you’re in a party with a crazy vibe and before you know it, the sun is high in the sky. Not everybody has the chance to be at Berghain and lose track of time. Let’s just say this would be my selection to enjoy a sunset while being slightly tipsy. If you give me a beach or something on top of that, it would be just perfect.

Rex the dog – Prototype

I’ll share a secret with you: I’ve got the attention span of a two-year-old kid and the memory of a 90-year-old grandma. Great mixture for a DJ, I know. In this computer age it’s getting harder and harder to remember what your favorite songs were back in 2004. Thank god I am now into record digging and there’s nothing better to refresh your memory. I recently stumbled upon that record from Rex the Dog and what a shock it was for me to realize I had forgotten even the name of this artist. Maybe it’s your turn now to have your memory refreshed!

Tensnake-Something about you (Jas shaw remix)

I wouldn’t want to be in the shoes of a producer who produced THE track of the year. It must be really hard to come up with something after that. I guess that was the case for Tensnake who surprised us with the hit Coma Cat that was on top of the charts in 2010. I was skeptical when I first heard Something about you, but the remix by Jas Shaw (from Simian Mobile Disco fame) won me over. Thanks for slowing the beat down Mr. Shaw!

Benoit & Sergio Everybody

The duo continues to impress! They’re getting better and better with every song they put out. Definitely the artists to watch!

Valentine Stip- Esquisse

This is just an excerpt that I wasn’t able to include in the main playlist, I couldn’t find the full length version and I was too excited to wait a month until it’s more accessible. Here’s the little story. Valentine Stip is a 19-year-old French boy now living in Montreal after spending time being classically trained on piano in New York. He’s the new recruit of Clown and Sunset  which is Nicolas Jaar’s label. There are a lot of similarities between the two artists which is fascinating. I also can’t believe I’d never heard of this Montreal-based artist!

Maceo-Plex Sleazy E

This last song is taken from Life index released last January on Crosstown Rebels. A friend suggested it to me and that’s what I love about friendship: music sharing. Hopefully this playlist inspired you to go and make a mix tape for your favorite peeps? Ok, now I feel like an Astrology columnist, Ciaooooo.

 

 

ArtsCityMusic

I’m slowly getting back to what’s supposed to be normal life. After spending two weeks blasting my ears out to electronic music in two festivals, it’s now time to give you my impression about this year’s Mutek festival.

Here’s a list of the best and the worst acts this year’s edition had to offer.

The highlights

Plastikman, Amon Tobin and an Echospace mention – Mutek: A music festival for the eyes
Plastikman, along with Amon Tobin, was the most awaited performance of the festival. He didn’t disappoint. Being front row for this visual experience was magical. Had it been for the music itself, his live set wouldn’t have necessarily been anything to remember. (Or to quote a friend, “Mutek:   A music festival for the eyes.”) It was Richie Hawtin’s birthday the next day, and there was a great atmosphere in the crowd, especially when people started to sing Happy Birthday after his set! Honourable mention as well to Echospace, who set the bar high and put us in the mood!

Arp and Organ Mood
The surprise of this festival came on Thursday night during Para_Nocturne at the S.A.T. While trying to escape from the Metropolis, I found exactly what I was needing: experimental yet accessible electronic music. I caught the two last songs of ARP and almost had a tear in my eye. His beautiful music and beautiful visuals made me promise to myself to get his LP as soon as possible. I was also impressed with the Montreal band Organ Mood. Make sure you check out their next concert here!

Mossa
He’s been around for quite a while now in the Montreal electronic music community. I never paid much attention to him…but now know how big of a mistake that has been. His set during Piknik Elektronik on Sunday literally blew my mind, with the perfect blend of house music to make you dance and get sunburns like there was no tomorrow. Check out his next party on June 17th. The party goes until 4am, and that’s another reason to be happy!

Danuel Tate and Radiq
It was a great way to end the festival. Even with the little energy I had left, I was still able to get in a dancing mood. Danuel Tate from Colbblestone Jazz with a world premiere, and the Japanese Radiq doing his North American debut, both proved that house music can be intelligent and sensible.

Last night a local DJ saved my life
Honourable mention to Jacque Greene, though I missed his first ever live set. Every person I know told me how solid it was. He’s now escaping to Detroit for two weeks to make music with Jimmy Edgar.   Billy Dallessandro also rocked the Savoy room when I darted from the main show at Metropolis because I couldn’t stand Modeselektor.

 

The lows

Modeselektor and Anstam
Don’t get me wrong. Moderat’s performance blew my mind a couple of years ago, but as much as Mutek sometimes gets too intellectual for me, I think Modeselektor was too easy. During a festival with a mission like Mutek’s, I’d rather not be bouncing around to hip-hop-inspired beats with a thousand   underage kids.

Rocketnumbernine and Four Tet
It was not bad; it was just not what was needed on a Saturday night. After a day spent at Piknik Electronik and three nights of the festival already, these downtempo acts were not the recipe to encourage people to keep going. We all regretted not having napped longer, and I even have a friend who decided to go back to his hotel until the party got started   – which didn’t happen until at least 3am!

Photo from MUTEK Montreal Flickr.

ArtsCityMusic

After one night of good sleep, it’s time to cover another electronic music festival this time it takes place in Montreal! Mutek Festival in Montreal is a bit easier to attend then Movement in Detroit so I’ll make a short list of artists you might be interested in discovering. Don’t get me wrong, Mutek always covers a more intellectual side of electronic music which I love, but I am far from being an expert. Friday the legendary Richie Hawtin will once again be seen as Plastikman (pictured above) on the stage of The Metropolis and it’s by far the most awaited performance of the festival but here’s what else should be good.

Saturday

Your day starts at 16:45 with Floating Point at Piknik Elektronik.

Dreamy atmosphere yet danceable, his music is the perfect soundtrack to a sunny day next to St-Lawrence river. Since I love to associate alcohol and music, I’d say that a fruity white wine will go perfectly with his music. Don’t forget to bring something to eat or get your party flavor on the site with sausages and other BBQ’d delights. Stay until the end since Terry Lee Brown Jr. will set the sun down!

I would then head to S.A.T to catch Pole and Chancha via Circuito

Their name is a good hint about the music they make. Latin inspired dance music but not the cheesy type!

It’s 3am and you still have energy (and money…let’s not hide it, you need to have a few bones stashed away to attend all the Mutek events), it’s time to head to Metropolis to catch James Holden in the main room and the Canadians Michael Red, Daega Soundsystem and Max Ulys in the Savoy. The party goes until late but don’t get to wasted, there’s still another day ahead!

Sunday

Bring your brunch, orange juice and champagne. We’re going mimosa style for a day that will be full of surprise at Piknik Elektronik. If you’re too tired and not sure if you can still dance a whole day just check the website when you wake up. It’s going to be an open mic for dj’s. All artists performing (or not, which could lead to great surprises…) at the festival are invited to bring their records. We could be granted with crazy talented and famous djs.

It’s time for a last Nocturne at the venue I like the most, S.A.T. All four artists are worth seeing but I’d point out two of them. Marc Leclair will be testing his new project Horror Inc at the beginning of the night and Danuel Tate who’s also a member of the collective Cobblestone Jazz will end this year’s festival in beauty. See you on the dance floor!

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We’re back in Montreal trying to communicate what we experienced in Detroit. No words can describe it. It was like a religious ritual, and I’ve already started the countdown until next year’s festival. The whole experience was magical, and I have to say that for such a big event, the crowd was really communicative, and there was a peaceful, friendly vibe. The free massage station in the V.I.P. area was appreciated, since I’ve never danced so much in my entire life!

Whether it was Kerri Chandler, Soul Clap, Marc Houle, Ambivalent, every stage had something good to bring to the festival, but since we were in Detroit, the Made in Detroit stage was the way to go. It was the loudest stage, and housed artists like Delano Smith, who played killer remixes of Depeche Mode and Claude Young, which made everybody there cry of joy while he was mixing with his mouth. I think that’s where I really understood the meaning of Detroit Techno!

The last day started early at Old Miami. Seth Troxler was organizing an event outdoors with many artists more wasted than the crowd behind the desk. They still managed to mix, so a big shout out at them! Our local DJ Vincent Lemieux made us all proud and was quite impressive, especially when he dropped a vinyl that had been melted by the sun and still managed to mix it!!!

Don’t forget that it was Memorial Day…they had to stop the music in order to let the disco regiment of Windsor fire their guns! My friend actually received a projectile on her, and it was hilarious to hear people starting to have bad trips after that!

We finished our journey in a loft in a ghetto area with Theo Parrish’s friend Marcellus Pittman spinning for a crowd of locals and true Detroit techno lovers. It was a way to say thank you and goodbye. I’m holding my breath until next year’s festival. Being back in Montreal is a bit sad because, like a friend said: “I’ll take a candy raver instead of a hipster anytime. At least candy ravers dance!”

We’ll slowly go back to our routine, but let’s not stop the music yet. Mutek has just started and I’ll be covering it.

So keep reading!

 

 

See more photos by Mathieu Grondin from Movement 2011 via facebook.

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Today we’re launching the series of Detroit interviews, which will preview the Movement Festival, with Justin Martin of the Dirtybird family.

The San Franciso producer has been around for almost a decade now. He has been booked at Panoramabar, Exit Festival and our own beloved Piknik Electronik. He has been mentored by Claude Vonstroke and was in the first four releases of Dirtybird records. I asked him a couple of questions concerning his background and the DJ lifestyle.

How did your love for music start? Do you come from a musical family?
I come from a very musical family. My parents used to blast everything from classic rock to classical music and my dad’s vinyl collection was pretty insane.

Did you study any instruments?
Both I and my brother Christian took piano lessons from a very young age and I eventually moved on to play the saxophone in quite a few jazz bands growing up.

What was the first concert or DJ set that blew your mind?
One of the first concerts I can remember blowing my mind was going to see A Tribe Called Quest perform with The Roots when I was in high school.  I was a huge Tribe Called Quest fan growing up so I’m glad I got to see them in their prime.

What do you like the most about being part of the Dirtybird family?
It’s just really nice having a group of real friends that are all on the same page musically. Everyone in the crew is very down to earth and I look up to each one of them for different reasons. We truly are a family when it comes down to it and I always find inspiration from them. I feel very lucky to be one of the Dirtybirds.

Can you tell us about a magic moment you had while deejaying?
I played at the Exit Festival in Belgrade for the first time about 5 years ago… it was by far the biggest gig of my career. I was really nervous because I was playing a sunrise set for over 10,000 people right after Roger Sanchez. I remember shortly after I started playing looking up and seeing even the police officers on duty dancing all around the stage, and all my nervous energy just turned to joy. That was probably one of the best gigs of my life.

What was the weirdest thing somebody ever told you while you were mixing?
Someone once asked me if I would have sex with their mother.

What is your favourite track at the moment?
Oh gosh… so many favourites…I really like this track called Sexual by Tanner Ross and Soul Clap. Those guys are making beautiful music!

Mr. Spock by Justin Martin & Ardalan by dirtybird

Justin will have a crazy weekend! He’ll be playing at the I Love You But I’ve Chosen Techno party on Saturday, then in Las Vegas on Sunday and back to the Movement festival on Monday, where he’ll be playing on the Beatport stage at 7:30 pm. Make sure to catch his set!

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In a couple of days I’ll be heading to Detroit to attend one of the most exciting electronic music festivals in North America: Movement. Not only is the line-up incredible, but it’s also taking place in a city steeped in music history. This will be my first pilgrimage to the city that gave birth to techno music and I’ll be there from May 27th to May 30th,   keeping you posted on the great stuff happening there. I’ll also be doing some interviews with the artists I respect the most.

The festival only lasts three days, but with all the artists booked I’m really not sure if I’ll have time to sleep. The festival goes from noon to midnight every day, and I’m not even going to get into the topic of after-parties today! Dj Harvey, Sven Väth, Carl Craig, Paul Kalkbrenner, Justin Martin (an interview I did with him will be up soon),  Ben Klock, Richie Hawtin and many, many more will keep festival goers dancing all week-end. Not to mention the legendary Ricardo Villalobos, who was confirmed last week to perform at both the festival and an after-party on a boat!!!

Here’s an interview I did with Jason Huvaere, Director of Operations for Movement Electronic Music Festival.

When did the festival start? What gave you the idea to start a festival like this?
The festival, now in its 12th year, has taken many twists and turns prior to our organization, Paxahau, becoming the producer in 2006 but the essence of it has not changed.  It is still an event that is all about the music and the people who love it so much.  Since 2006 we have worked to improve upon each year’s production, and put together a line-up that is representative of where the music is today.  As the music evolves so will our festival.  Movement today, unlike when it first started, is an international music festival, and we intend to maintain that status for years to come.

Is there any incident that made you regret being a festival promoter?
I don’t really get to dance anymore, and we are exposed to challenges that remind us of the magnitude of the responsibilities we have accepted.

Which booking are you the proudest of this year?
Each artist who performs at Movement is important to the overall experience of the event for fans.  We are proud to have them all at Movement Electronic Music Festival.  Dr. Atmo and Sven Vath are the two I think of first.  They have been with us in heart since the beginning of the Detroit scene but these are their first performances at the festival.

What is the spirit of the festival? What should you expect if it’s your first time attending Movement?
It is a very friendly, community oriented environment.  If you are a person who truly appreciates electronic music you will find that there are many people like you who are in attendance.  Expect to dance.  There are five stages and each one has something going on and the performances will have you moving your feet and body all day long.  You should dress for the weather.  Be sure to have comfortable shoes on.

For anyone who want to experience the city outside the Hart Plaza, what are the must-sees in Detroit?
We have many great venues and restaurants.  We encourage people to explore while they are in Detroit.  We have partnered with a bike rental shop in the city called Wheelhouse Detroit and they are giving tours of the city.  We think people should take advantage of that … it will give you a sense of history and a great tour of the city and its Techno landmarks.  The website www.digdowntown.com has a lot of great listings.

The festival will also promote visual art. Paxahau have teamed up with Creative Corridor Center (DC3) and Community Arts Moving Projects (CAMP Detroit).  DC3 and CAMP Detroit reached out to their artist networks to seek applicants from Detroit’s creative community to submit a proposal for their installation idea.  More than fifty artists showed interest in the project, and in the end six installations were selected.   The installations represent a wide range of mediums. Most will be interactive. Some will be technically complex and involve electronics. Each is sure to inspire. The artists who developed the installations include recent art school graduates, community arts leaders, architects, graphic designers, and electronic and mechanical engineers.

Time to get ready…well to sleep as much as possible so I can go on a 3-days no sleep diet!

If you’re not able to make it to Detroit this year no worries! You’ll be able to catch the event online!
On May 28, 29, and 30 from noon until midnight fans of electronic music will be able to visit www.ResidentAdvisor.net to access five media players being powered by the folks at www.Awdio.com to hear live performances from six of the festival’s stages.

For those interested in seeing the creative side of Detroit, there’s a great documentary made by Johnny Knoxville who shows us the positive aspects of the city. Watch it here: http://www.vbs.tv/en-ca/watch/uneven-terrain/palladium-detroit-full-new-credits–3

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Computer problems, rain every day, cold weather and the Torries getting a majority; the beginning of May was not good for the spirit. I didn’t let myself get too depressed because at the end of the month something amazing will happen. After years of lacking either money, friends to go with or time, I will finally step a foot in Detroit for their 2011 electronic music festival (DEMF), Movement. I won’t tell you too much today, but keep reading my column for more details, and interviews with the artists as the festival approaches. As an appetizer, I propose you a playlist that reflects the line-up of this year’s festival.


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Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Ambivalent Zoo Trip
Let’s start the playlist with something on the minimal side. Ambivalent is part of the M-nus crew, and he recently teamed up with Alexi Delano to deliver Brooklyn Weekdays, an EP with a minimal sound (you can’t escape that if it’s released on M-nus records) but with a touch of house and some great groove.

Aril Brikha Forever Frost (Original Mix)
A Swedish producer inspired by the Detroit sound, Aril Brikha first got noticed by Derrick May, who released his first EP in 1998. Over ten years later, Brikha has now released a new EP, Forever frost on his own label The art of vengeance. It’s not the first time he’s played at DEMF, and every time he visits the festival he leaves an amazing impression on music lovers.

Sammy dee Lirum Larim
You can’t have an electronic music festival without a Berlin artist. Here’s Sammy Dee who’s been working with Guido Schneider to produce some great music. Blessed with great DJ skills has residency a lot of famous clubs such as, E-Werk, Robert Johnson, Ostgut and Tresor.

Kerri Chandler Moon Bounce
Kerri Chandler is a legend. Coming from a musical family (his father was also a DJ), he brought truly innovative sound to electronic music. He’s known as the creator of deep house and has been deejaying since he was 13. Having such a strong background, he’s one of the Detroit Electronic Festival artists that I can’t wait to see.

Art Department Living The Life (feat. Seth Troxler)
This is the second time that Art Department is featured in this column. They’re an up-and-coming duo that recently released a full length album, The board game on the label Crosstown Rebels. It seems that every song Seth Troxler puts his vocal on is meant to be a success. This one is no exception.

Soul Clap Lonely C (feat Charles Levine)
When DJ’s are asked to get involved in a music foursome for the need of a compilation it can be a disaster. I mean, they can have quite an ego, and it can sometimes sound like there’s a lack of homogeneity. This is definitely not the case in the most recent DJ kicks compilation. Duo, Soul Clap and two guys from Wolf Lamb, got together to deliver a mix that represents their collaboration over the five years at the Marcy Hotel in Brooklyn. If you can’t do the trip to Detroit you’ll be happy to know that both Soul Clap and Wolf Lamb will be performing in an all-nighter on May 21st in Montreal.

Space Dimension Controller The Love Quadrant
Coming from Ireland, this twenty year old kid is getting a lot of notice in the electronic music scene. Will he be able to pass the stage test? In the meantime, he’s putting freshness into the music world.

Portable Inside Your Mind
This last song has nothing to do with the festival but it’s so good that I couldn’t wait until next month to deliver it to your ears. Born in South Africa and now living in Berlin, Alan Abrahams released has most of his tracks on Perlon records, but this release marks a return to the label Karat records.

This playlist was mostly influenced by the Detroit Electronic music festival which takes place from May 28th to 30th at the Hart Plaza. It’s not too far from Montreal, the lineup is insane and tickets for the three days are only 60$. Plus, you get to see the most important electronic artists from the past, as well as the new most talked about? I am in!

Want tickets? More info? More facebook pages to like? …it’s all right here on the Movement page.

 

You liked it and now you want more? Tune in to CISM 89.3 FM every Saturday from 9:30 to 11pm (or anytime since you can listen to past shows on internet).

If you stumble into an incredible song and want to share it send me a shout at Cesoirondanse@hotmail.com.

Lindsay Djin’ photo from djfameorshame.com and Movement photo from residentadvisor.net.