Okay, I admit it! Sometimes I can be a little snobbish. I don’t really like it when a place is too packed–too sweaty, or when I feel I could be the mother of the kids in a nightclub (okay, I’m exaggerating here…I’m not even 30 yet). I normally tend to stay away from hip events like the first visit of the new «dubstep » idol David Kennedy, a.k.a Ramadanman, at Club Lambi. However, last Thursday, I decided to listen to the kid in me since the young producer seemed to have something new to offer to the scene.
The evening started with a bottle of gin and some great storytelling at my place with a friend, who had just arrived from Europe. The mood was set and around 1am we decided to brave the cold weather and headed to Lambi. We, unfortunately, missed Zed Bias set, Ramadanman was already spinning and it felt like the tropics in there. As feared, most of the people were under 20 years old but with the help of my friend’s gin, I didn’t care much, and I was there to dance!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFd63W_bTx4
Kennedy, despite his young age, had impressive music knowledge, and didn’t limit himself to dubstep. We heard a fair amount of house, hip-hop, acid house, breakbeat and, of course, dubstep. This set brought back the memories of a time when Peer Pressure used to host parties at vinyl and where you could hear a blend of hip hop and electro for a diverse crowd. I would have loved to see more interaction with the enthusiastic dancers, but we can’t ask every DJ to act like rockstars.
Talking about the crowd… it was quite annoying to see a couple of groupies wasted on the stage sending text messages. I mean, fine, you want to get closer to the DJ but do you really have to be so addicted to your phone?
Overall, it was a good night and it made me step out of the deep-house bubble I was in since I got back from Europe. Summer is at our doorstep and this party was a great reminder that hip-hop inspired beat is the best to set a crowd on fire. If you’re curious about Ramadanman’s DJ skills you should listen to this mix he made for Sunday Best.
Thursday night in Montreal used to be the holy night of partying. I’ll always remember Frigid and Mini’s infamous night at Parking. Over the past couple of years the scene slowed down a little; finding party goers in lack of great places to go on Thursdays. When promoters are booking an exceptional acts like the one we’ll have to chance to see tomorrow night, you don’t have to think twice before putting your dancing shoes on and running to the venue.
David Kennedy a.k.a Ramadanman and Zed Bias will both be playing at club Lambi on St.Laurent. Ramadanman has an impressive career. He’s still in his early 20’s but he’s already the boss of the great label Hessle Audio, one of the most talked about producer and is behind the 56th Fabriclive compilation, and Carl Craig re-edited one of his track. He’s related to the dubstep genre but his productions go beyond that. Sometimes more jazzy and even tech-house; you can be sure that you will fall for his beats.
Big thanks to Rilly Guilty and Lexis for another great booking. Make sure to arrive early to avoid line-up and see them warm-up the club.
Since we’re talking about things to do to start the weekend I might as well tell you a secret. On Friday night you should attend: This is not a secret (love). It’s the second party hosted at this great venue near Ste.Catherine and St.Laurent; dance studio by day party, space by night. Two reasons to go are: to listen to best local djs, and a party that will make you sweat until the sun comes out. Make sure to wear a bow tie to look sharp and skip the outside line-up.
April has arrived and it’s time to deliver some fresh beats to your ears. I am particularly excited about this playlist, but I guess, these days I am just very happy in general. Some exciting news that I can’t reveal yet, but soon, dear readers, you’ll be in the know. Turn on your speakers and let’s start the listening session…
DJ T Burning (Art Department mix)
Sometimes a song is begging to get to your ears. That’s what happened with DJ T’s latest single. I first heard it on a mix that DJ Deep did for Get the curse. I immediately thought that the opening track was exactly the kind of song I dig. Low voice, almost creepy and a downtempo house beat. Because of the lack of track listing, I thought that my chances of finding out what the song was were pretty slim. Next thing I know, a friend of mine sent me a song recommendation and to my big surprise it was THE song. Now it’s your turn to enjoy it.
Tom Trago feat. Tyree Cooper What you do
Trago released his debut full length album on Rush Hour recording. So far, I’ve only listened to the three songs that came out on the teaser a month ago. They’re all exceptional and I really had a tough time choosing which one would appear on the playlist. I am a big Tyree Cooper’s fan so the featuring won my heart. I can’t wait to hear the whole album!
Solomun Love recycled
Remember the sample in Bran Van 3000’sAstounded? Yeah, that great Curtis Mayfield sample! Well, this time it’s a house producer who decided to use it. It could have been tacky and too easy but Solomun really made something great and not too easy out of it. It’s all about slowing down the tempo and producing a sexy deep-house groove. I am sure this song will be responsible for some one night loving session this summer.
Fritz & Lang Crash (Maya Janes Coles remix)
Don’t be fooled by their name, Fritz & Lang are not another German producer duo. One is French and the other guy comes from Argentina. Their first EP came out on Airdrops Records. Maya Janes Coles is helping the song, by making it more dance floor friendly. She’s relatively new in the game but expect to hear a lot from her in the future.
Peter Power Take it slow
I am kind of losing my words on this one. It’s a soulful gem. The first release of the new Berlin label CrimeCity Disco is actually a split vinyl with Josef Jaktmark, available only in a limited 300 copy edition. Power is involved in the Berlin nightlife as the booker and resident DJ of Kleine Reise.
Maceo Plex Vibe your love Vibe your love is the first single of the new Maceo Plex’s CD, released on Crosstown Rebels. Some people are already betting on this one as the 2011 summer anthem. Maceo Plex has been producing for over ten years now. If you want to have a listen at his other stuff you might want to check his pseudonym Maetrik.
Trujillo Looking up through you
Chill out downtempo beat perfect to enjoy a mojito on a late afternoon. Maybe it’s the Venezuelan origins of the producer that are reflecting in his song but I picture myself listening to it in never ending 5 Ã 7 this summer. It was released on the new Spanish label Apersonal Music.
Metronomy The look
I kept my favourite for the end. It doesn’t really fit in an electronic music column but who said I couldn’t cheat from time to time? This track comes from Metronomy’s third album, The English Riviera. They now have a girl drummer who’s also doing some vocals. I guess we can say this album is more mature; I’m not sure if it’s a good thing for a band like Metronomy, but I still enjoy it. The best track by far is their single that is closing this month’s playlist. So catchy, one listen is just not enough.
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[at]hotmail[dot]com.
I recently spent four months in Berlin and I’ve wanted to write about the nightlife over there for a while. Berlin became THE place to be in the last couple of years, so everybody and their mother are talking about it. I’ll try to be a bit different and show you the night in my perceptive. I’ll stay away from the obvious like Watergate and show you some less known venues. I am not better than anyone and I don’t pretend to give you the ULTIMATE Berlin party experience, but believe me, living in an attic kind of obliged me to go out every night.
Let’s start the tour with my first night out in the German capital. It was my first Friday in town and after having attended a vernissage and triumphantly retrieved my wallet from a pickpocket’s hand in the u-bahn, I got introduce to an original venue located in Wedding, the Statdbad. The program is varied and goes from vernissage to rock shows. It’s an old public bath converted, and you can still smell chlorine. Dancing in the tilted pool is tricky but who never dreamed of making the split in front of a large crowd?
An awesome venue for house and techno lover is Farbfernseher in Kreuzberg. I went there to see Tyree Cooper on a the following Wednesday. You’d never be able to tell that this small house on Skalitzer Strasse is actually a nightclub. There’s generally no cover except a charge of one euro on your first drink. The dance floor is tiny so it would be hard to show your flashdance steps to other people, but your consolation prize will be an awesome sound system and you’ll be so close to your favorite dj, that you’ll be able to tell by the smell of his breath what he had for lunch before the gig.
Next suggestion is not for everybody. It’s a hate it or love it kind of spot. Imagine fluffy pink walls, multicolor lightings, an overweight transgender bartender and trancy pop music. No, I wasn’t on LSD but it felt a bit like it. The place is called Roses, and it’s also located Kreuzberg. It’s the kind of place where everything can happen. Good or bad. Like a guy trying to rub his dick on your arm or a Turkish guy selling you fake drugs or somebody stealing your purse. Sounds a bit negative, but honestly all these incident can be quite funny and the positive aspects make up for everything, and by positive I mean: a tranny giving you every left over drink in the bar while kissing you, über gay steward paying for your shots, everybody dancing and being friendly. Oh, and of course a feel good place open until 8 am. You got the image; this place wasn’t my favorite hangout spot for no reason!
Let’s say its 8 am, Wednesday morning. You’ve been kicked out of Roses because they were closing, you’re still thirsty and Berghain is not an option since it’s not the weekend. Well it’s time to walk out of Roses and discover Rote Rose, a few meters away, on Adalberstrasse. The place is a dive bar where you meet both party animals and old German customers. It’s been open nonstop since for 25 years. Yeah, you heard me…24 hours a day, 7 days a week for over half a century. Walking out of the bar at 3 pm is something you should experience once in your life. Not something to make your mama proud of course.
The last one is my favorite place in Berlin. It’s a bit further, in Treptow, but it’s worth the walk. Welcome to Wilden zu Renate. Based in an abandoned two-story house, Wilden zu Renate is open every weekend until very, very late. You get all types of people but it’s mostly locals, who are reluctant to give information about the place. There are rooms with beds where people are washing their chemical experimentation away, two rooms with djs, and a front yard with a trailer decorated like a cabane à sucre where djs keep pumping house music. The booking is always different, sometimes there’s a thematic and you need to dress up, but mostly you go there to dance your night/day away and be part of the wasted Berlin youth.
That was just a glance of Berlin’s wildness. Anything can happen in that city and like anything in life the best is to go with the flow, talk to the locals and immerse yourself by the freedom of the places and people. If you’re running to the closest travel agency to book your trip already, check out Ex-Berliner and Berlin.There’s also, Unlike which is a guide created for the mobile, English generation. It’s sure to help you discover the German capital.
Now back in Montreal where I suggest you to go see Mount Kimbie at Le Belmont tonight and just before that, at 9pm, tune in to CISM 89,3 fm for another edition of my radio show Ce soir on danse.
Like it? Check out all the wildness via our Facebook page.
The moment many have been waiting for is here. This Friday the 18th, DJs Heidy (We Heart Music – Time To Jack), ReneRene and Fang (aka The Midnight City Triangle) will be playing at CFC a new spot that just opened up on St. Hubert (6388 St-Hubert) The 3 Dj’s have been busy appeasing the gods and getting ready to bring their child called Friction into our troubled little world.
Every 3rd Friday of the month they’ll be bringing you the very best in current, and classic disco, house and tech-house at CFC (formerly Zoobizarre) with a mixed crowd (straight, gay, bi, alien, robot, etc.) Let’s not forget for this first edition it’s Heidy’s birthday too! You’re never born twice in one body, so be part of it and make this first one a memorable one.
I have a love/hate relationship with the month of March. It’s almost the end of winter, so that’s sweet, but at the same time you always have a last week of Antarctic cold that makes you dream of moving to Cuba. It’s my birthday so I get free drinks for a week, but that also means I am aging! Anyways, long story short, I guess March = mood swings for me and that’s a bit what this playlist is about – it goes from synth-wave to deep house. Enjoy catching spring fever!
Shit Robot Take em up
As the snow will start melting, my love for pop music will return. Shit Robot made the perfect song to match my spring fever mood. With Nancy Whang from LCD soundsystem and Juan Mclean fame on vocals, this single from Shit Robot’s debut LP From The Cradle To The Rave will stay in your head.
Omar-S Here’s your trance now dance!
The latest release from Detroit producer Omar-S came out on his own label FXHE records. When I first heard it I unconsciously started to smile. Since then I’ve listened to it every day. It’s a feel good song that will undoubtedly become a great dj tool to make the crowd go crazy at seven am.
Laurent Garnier The man with the red face
This track is not new at all. It came out eleven years ago. Why am I putting it on this month playlist? Because Garnier will perform at Théâtre Telus on March 24th. It will be a five hour performance including both a live and dj set. Don’t miss the chance to see this French dj who started his career over 20 years ago at the mythic Hacienda.
Steffi Yours (ft.Virginia)
Last February, the Panorama bar dj released her first album Yours & Mineon Ostgut Ton. The result is a soulful deep-house record. The Berlin artist is more known for her dj set, but this release places her high in the producer hierarchy.
Femme Télégraphe
Addictive lo-fi and 80’s inspired French songs. That’s what Femme is about. I first got to know the band during my recent Europe trip. They were playing in an 18th century castle two hours from Paris. I immediately fell in love with them. They just did a mini tour in the USA, so hopefully we’ll be hearing more from Femme on this side of the ocean soon. If you’re into that kind of sound I recommend this great synth-wave compilation.
Automelodi Schéma corporel
Might as well continue with the French music suggestions. For having tested it on Berlin’s dance floor, I guarantee that you don’t have to understand the lyrics to appreciate this song. Automelodi‘s the latest project of Xavier Paradis. Oh! I forgot to mention that they’re from Montreal and you absolutely need to see them live.
Bicep Darwin
Andrew Ferguson and Matthew McBriar are not only behind one of the most interesting music blogs right now, but they also know how to make you dance. Darwin came out on Throne of blood last December. Check out this interesting edit by Retro/grade.
Recondite Robur
Let’s finish that playlist with a hypnotic beat. Not a dancefloor banger but a beautiful melody that will keep you dreaming until spring is really among us.
If you’re craving more new music tune in Cism 89.3 fm where I’ll be hosting my radio show Ce soir on danse. The fun starts at 21h30 every Saturdays.
In Montreal life can be hard if you’re a promoter. You can book the best act in the world but you’re always playing Russian roulette. One snowstorm and it’s over. Your venue will be half packed. This is kind of the same scenario that happened for Daniel Bell’s dj set last Saturday but instead of fighting against a snowstorm the 13% crew was fighting against a way bigger monster: La Nuit Blanche. I had a lot of friends interested in seeing the legendary techno dj but when you can choose between hundreds of free activities all night long or a dj set costing $35 most people will pick the first option.
While walking to the venue I was quite impressed by the industrial surrounding. It was a bit spooky but exactly the kind of playground you want for some techno music. The staff was friendly, not the usual aggressive afterhours bouncers. Daniel Bell was already on and a few people were dancing. It remained like that most of the night. The venue could have hosted a hundred or more people, but the vibe was good.
I wasn’t too impressed with the music and I was expecting way more from Bell. I thought he was playing very linear music and wasn’t taking very many risks. But still it wasn’t a bad night. The dozens of different shooters I tried at the fairly priced bar were quite enjoyable. I guess at that point I decided that kissing my neighbors and leaving the club without my winter coat was a great idea! Sometimes going crazy is the way to go. Especially when the dj’s most famous song is called Losing control.
The 13% crew is bringing amazing acts to town. Keep an eye open on their bookings. Next one will be Masomenos on March 18th at U.N.
This weekend you had to make a tough decision between two electronic music gods or to pop wake-up pills and hope not to get
a heart-attack on the dance floor. As I’m almost a quarter of a century and my body can’t deal with sleep deprivation anymore,
I decided to pass on Chez Damier at Stereo and rest on Friday
night to be top shape for tonight’s set by the legendary techno producer Daniel Bell a.k.a DBX at Espace Réunion.
Bell has been around since the early 90’s. He’s lived in many cities including, Detroit where he formed Cybersonik with Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva. Under the name DBX, he’s responsible for
one of the biggest underground techno hits Losing control, which was released on Peacefrog Records in 1994. The international
popularity of the song lead Daniel to create his own company, Seven city distribution, which he used to help smaller labels get distribution in overseas markets. Like this wasn’t enough, he also created three labels: 7th city, Elevate and Harmonie Park. The busy man had to put his music on hold for a couple of years to concentrate on his new music businesses, but he came back strongly with his first mix cd in 2000. The cd entitled The button mind of Daniel Bell was released on Tresor Records and was voted the second best mix of the decade by resident advisor’s readers.
Drumcell will also be part of this night. It will be your chance to see the Los Angeles rising star make his Canadian debut. Local djs Ostrich and Milton Clark will make sure to warm the night up! Check out these Soundcloud mixes if you’re not convinced yet:
Montreal is getting more and more exciting electronic music booking these days. It’s mostly because of the increasing amount of promoters in the city. I strongly suggest checking out 13% crew. They’re the one to thanks for tonight’s booking and they will keep you dancing in the future with acts like Masomenos coming to town next month.
If you’re craving more music recommendations have a listen to my weekly radio show Ce soir on danse live every Saturday night on Cism 89,3 fm from 21h30 until 23h.
There are some artists that have contributed to electronic music for over a decade. They are truly passionate, and having the chance to see them play is often as instructive as watching a music documentary. Michel Baumann is one of them. Whether it is under the name Jackmate or Soulphiction, the German producer has been releasing music since 1996. Not only is he putting out music of his own but he also helps other artists release their beats through his label Philpot.
He made a rare appearance in Montreal last Sunday at Salon Daomé. His second visit in his fifteen year old career. I was very excited for multiple reasons. First of all, it was a Sunday night and from having hosted a weekly on that supposedly quiet night for a couple of years, I know that the craziest people come out on Sundays. I never really enjoyed going out Friday & Saturday anyway. I mean EVERYBODY’S out! People will go out to get shitfaced without caring much about the music on Saturdays, but you need to be a trooper to celebrate on a Sunday or a Monday. Another reason to be excited was the venue. I have to admit that I don’t go to Salon Daomé often enough but I’ve never been disappointed by the loft-style bar.
I got to the Beat Boutique night a little bit past midnight in time to catch the three local djs Lexis, Guilty and Phil Larochelle. They did a great job setting the mood for Soulphiction. The place was slowly getting busier when Soulphiction finally hit the decks. I was a bit surprise to see him use cds since he preaches the virtues of vinyl in so many interviews but I guess when you’re traveling you have to make practical choices.
Even though he played an all night long loft party the night before in New York, Baumann was top shape and provided us with a long, well built up DJ set including: a mix of deep-house, tech-house, latin house and some jazz hints. The mixed crowed of professional dancers, bar workers, local DJs and usual Sunday’s freaks was responsive and in a festive mode. He won my heart with the 2010 hit Shake your body down by Discreet Unit as well as other older classics like Sunshine people by Cheek, and I called youby Lil Louis.
If you missed your chance of seeing him last week-end, there are some rumors that he might be back in town this summer. Keep your ears open!
Prepare yourself for sleepless week-end next week, since two legends are visiting us. Chez Damier will be at Stereo on February 25th and the next day it’s Daniel Bell‘s turn to make you dance this time at Espace Réunion. Enjoy!
Soulphiction played Sunday February 13th at Salon Daome.
Photos by Chris Zacchia for more shots visit our FB page
It’s time to jack. FTB and We Heart Music introduces, Time to Jack, the latest column to join the Arts section. Written by local Montreal DJ and host of CISM‘s 89.3 FM, Ce Soir on Danse,Heidy Pinet, Time to Jack is an electronic music edition. Get ready to dance because Heidy’s gonna bring you the best of the best on local, national and international scenes. She’s got reviews, interviews, news and playlists all coming your way. Stay in tune kids, it’s gonna be an online party – playlist included.
More playlists to come from FTB and We Heart Music.
Well, seems like ForgetTheBox is expanding and it’s good news for the electronic music lovers. From now on I will feed you with some reviews, interviews and portraits of various beat oriented music styles on a weekly basis. We’re starting this collaboration with a playlist to help you get through the cold month of February.
Let’s face it. If I wasn’t containing myself I’d put ten songs from the NYC label Wolf & Lamb and maybe even crazier…ten songs from Nicolas Jaar. I confess, for the last six months my feeling for the 19 years old producer and his music are comparable to how I was feeling in grade five, when I was listening to the Spice girls! But eh! I’ll try to leave behind my obsession and be as eclectic as possible in this February selection. Song choice descriptions below.
Duel Shaman – Ocean Breeze
Heading out from Romania these two guys first released the song Ocean Breeze digitally on the Canadian label Wide Angle. In September, they finally released a proper vinyl with this great remix by Tj Kong & Nuno dos Santos. The result is some tech-house almost trance hypnotic groove. The kind of beat that makes you wants to watch the sun set and hug your neighbour.
KZA – Le troublant acid
Don’t get fooled by the French title. We owe this beautiful track to KZA, a Japanese producer. What’s surprising here is to find where he got the sample from. It’s originally a 1977 track made by Paul Martin which turns out to be the pseudonym of the French actor Jean-Pierre Castaldi. Make your own comparison.
ZZT – Zzafrica
I’ve always been a fan of Tiga. Even though in the past couple of years I was sometimes deceived, I still have an unconditional love for him. He’s the reason why I decided to give a chance to music made out of computer. Believe me, if it wasn’t for him and his Dj Kicks, I’d still be head banging at Foufounes Electriques! Last fall, he teamed up a second time with Zombie Nation and released this techno masterpiece on the Montreal label Turbo records.
The bees – Winter love (Nicolas Jaar remix)
Nicolas Jaar spent his youth between New York and Santiago de Chile. What is striking about his music is the degree of maturity and consistency. At 19 years old, we can say that Jaar found his own particular sound. He tends to be on the slow BPM side and adds jazzy, and South American rhythm to his compositions. I selected this remix he did for the band The Bees but I highly suggest you to grab his debut album Space is only noise and offer it to your lover when it comes out on February 14th.
Storm Queen – Looks right through
Whether it’s under the name Metro Area, Magic Tim or Baby Oliver, Morgan Geist is always on top of his game. It’s no exception here with his project Storm Queen where he teamed up with the vocalist Damon C. Scott to create a catchy retro house hit.
Lauer – H.R. Boss
Another busy man here! You can enjoy his music skills with his projects Arto Mwanbe and Tuff city kids, He also finds the time to run the label Brontosaurus records. His newest solo effort got released on one of the most exciting labels at the moment: Live at Robert Johnson. If you like electro with a touch of melancholy you will LOVE this release.
Robag Wruhme – Thora Vukk
Usually during the winter season I tend to listen to depressing folk music or cold minimal techno. So far, in my suggestions you didn’t really see any of my dark side, but you won’t be spared. Robag Wruhme just released Thora Vukk on Pampa Records last month. The German producer offers a beautiful album with elements of house, tech-house and minimal techno. You should also listen to the mix he recently did for Kompakt. It’s called Wuppdeckmischmampflow. I dare you to shout it out loud 10 times.
John Roberts – Glass eight
Released on the German label Dial Records (who also released Efdemin masterpiece Chicago), Glass Eight came out last October. It was hard to pick up one song from this record since it’s the kind of album that you want to listen to entirely. I guess it’s the piano line that won my heart. Yes, you’ll find out soon enough that I am a sucker for piano in any house music release. That or handclaps of course. Have a listen to John Roberts performing live on Tim Sweeney’s radio show Beats In Space.
Paul Frick feat. Emika – I Mean (Dollkraut’s Band Reinterpretation)
I discovered Paul Frick at Mutek festival last year. He did a stunning performance with his trio Brandt Brauer Frick. What was memorable was their musician vision of the techno music. They were using only analog instruments, and their performance reminded me of Kraftwerk. Frick is back as a solo artist combining the coldness of electronic music with the warmth of Emika’s voice.
Superpitcher – Country Boy
Aksel Schaufler a.k.a Superpitcher is able to produce haunting pop melody. If you’re not too familiar with electronic music his new release Kilimanjaro could be a good start. Six years after his debut album Here comes love, Schaufker comes back with a beautiful pop sensibility mixed with electronic music elements. The dandy of electronic strikes again!
Love it? Tune in to hear what special musical treats Heidy’s got for you every Saturday night @ 9:30pm on CISM 89.3 FM. Make sure to bookmark us to help you stay on top of what’s up.
This weekend you had to make a tough decision between two electronic music gods or to pop wake-up pills and hope not to get
