When Mr. Dan Balis of Escort first showed this to me in the wee A.M. hours, I couldn’t wait for it to hit youtube so I could share. Well, here you go - brilliant! I too, am about to pop, how about you?
Escort’s final 12″ before they take a break to finish their LP and it’s a bona fide club banger. Already getting play from the likes of Ewan Pearson, Trevor Jackson, and Darshan Jesrani, the track comes off like “the bastard child of Prince and Teena Marie, conceived at a swinger’s party hosted by Rick James.” Disco-punk superstars The Rapture offer up a remix that marries Baltimore club syncopation to classic techno sensibilities. It’s a DJ essential and more proof that Escort are firmly on the forefront of modern disco.
A Side: “All Through the Night”
B Side: “All Through The Night” The Rapture Remix
SuperSonic Festival, Friday 13th & Satuday 14th July 2007, Custard Factory, Birmingham, UK
Introduction
I came across SuperSonic Festival by chance, but chance in this case took the form of a series of logical musical steps: a massive consumption of French electro vis a vis the Fluokids made a natural segue into 26-year-old New York City electro grime-techno DJ & producer Drop the Lime (DTL).
When I saw DTL was performing at a then unheard of festival in Birmingham this summer, I picked up a ticket, deciding I would do the festival solo if need be. The line-up information provided me with the impression that the weekend programme was eclectic to say the least, a giant mashup of djs, bands, experimental musical mentalists and it was all taking place under the auspices of a former custard factory. Brilliant.
What I wasn’t expecting was the fact that part of this year’s festival would be a homage and symposium to Metal. As in Heavy. An aspect of the Midlands (West Midlands to be exact) I never considered much was that it was kinda the birthplace of heavy metal and all its beautifully strange progeny. For the past five years, the festival has been curated and produced by Capsule’s Lisa Meyer and Jenny Moore, who are “Birmingham’s most innovative art and music promoters, with the ears of true fans and a DIY commitment providing a regular flow of cutting edge, vital new music + art”.
Friday 13th July Line Up
So here we were, Friday night, and the sun was only just starting to set across the city. My friend Niall and I travelled up together from London Euston. We arrived, dropped off our stuff at our budget hotel and took a taxi to the industrial section of the city not far away. After walking up the cobble-stoned road and heading towards the Custard Factory banner billowing in the wind, we joined the queue. And it is then that we made friends with three Birmingham natives, Dave-Becky-Adam.
“You came all the way from Brighton just to come to this festival?” Becky asked. I nodded. Niall elaborated – “It seemed like a cool thing to come to.” It was. A lovely group of people, Dave-Becky-Adam were our friends for the remainder of the festival, nipping us out to a local pub for cheap pints and shots of Sambuca. Let’s get this party started.
Friday’s line up sprawled across two stage areas – the Medicine Bar and the Kitchen. The Medicine Bar was the live music stage, and the Kitchen featured DJ and live electronic music sets. Friday was, for all intensive purposes, the electro-tinged aperitif. It goes without saying that I spent most of the night in the Kitchen. Fuck Buttons (see below) were a two-man law unto themselves, performing with the aid of a keyboard-filled suitcase and a day-glo toy loudhaler. I wasn’t overly impressed to start and was further perturbed that everyone around me was close-eyed, swaying and looking like they were experiencing a communal holy wank. However, Fuck Buttons ambient music-making did grow on me and I got into the subtle vibe. For a bit.
Towards the end of the Fuck Button set, I wandered off. I was standing in the back of the Kitchen talking to someone when I saw him. Drop The Lime. “Hey look, it’s Drop the Lime,” I said to DTL. Okay, I was a bit drunk by this point (five cans of K cider, 8.4% of total badness, on the train might explain a little of that) and I do have a penchant for making an ass out of myself with DJs, (more…)
PHTHRD Photography Duel is a timed photography competition between teams of photographers, stylists, make-up artists and assistants. Five photography teams will have 2 hours to produce 3 images that address creative briefs assigned to them at the event. For their tools, they will have access to their own photo equipment, a designated area, a female model, select props and
members of the LVHRD audience.
As photographers and their teams create each image, attendees will walk through the space observing the creative process at work. At the conclusion of the evening, photographers will have 1 day to edit their images before online voting begins.
All photos from the evening will be displayed on the LVHRD or event partner sites. Event attendees and an online audience will then vote on their favorite images.
Attendees will have the ability to enjoy complimentary beverages provided by Dewar’s the LVHRD annual supporting partner, musical stylings from Turntable lab deejays, along with additional support from our Veer, the visual elements company.
LVHRD is an organization that seeks to unite creative individuals that have a passion for change, a willingness to succeed and the determination to overcome conventions.
LVHRD events are unique social gatherings that support the interaction between diverse creative disciplines. Each month, LVHRD produces 1 to 2 weekday events for its membership and their guests. Event locations are undisclosed to the general public, and only released to the membership on the day of the gathering.
Don’t believe the hype–not all French and Americans hate each other. If they did, why would they be celebrating each other’s Independence Days?
The Institubes crew ushered in the USA’s 231st birthday at its Paris Terror Club July 4th celebration at the Concord Atlantique. Teki Latex acted as host and master of ceremonies inside this boat club on the Seine. American banners hung along the walls and above the DJ booth, while girls wore American flags in their hair. Featured among an all-star Parisian lineup (which Para One, Surkin, Orgasmic, Jean Nippon) was New York-based Institubes signee Curses! aka Drop the Lime. This one night was responsible for me burning off a month’s worth of unpasteurized cheese, croissants and baguettes.
A week and a half later, I was witness to a couple events thrown in the spririt of Bastille Day.
Saturday July 14, theDanger gathered what I estimated to be about 3,000 people on the Brooklyn Bridge. It was the last in a series of street/subway events called “One Night of Fire.” Despite months of planning, the idea is to give party-goers the feeling of spontaneity. According to the email sent just a couple weeks before, the theme was to be: ” Fire. Liberation. Paris, July 14th 1789, but this time it’s the battle for Brooklyn.” The meeting location was announced the day before, with an undisclosed parade route. From there, we were led to City Hall Park, danced in the park and splashed in the fountain, and then headed down into the Subway and took over a few trains as we raged our way to Coney Island. The only downside? No one was dressed as Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI.
The next day, I decompressed at a Bastille Day celebration in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens. Frenching it up every year, Ricard and the restaurants of New York’s unofficial French Quarter turn Smith Street into the site for a petanque tournament and the place for lots of drinking outdoors. I shied away from downing Ricard (I don’t do licorice-flavored liquor, unless there’s wormwood in it) but scored francophile points by chomping down on a merguez sandwich. Untouched by New York’s street fair mafia, it was most certainly in the top tier of great NYC block parties. The only downside? No one was dressed as Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI…but at least this party had a guillotine!
Okay, so it isn’t just the Frenchies that are making noise in the music scene today. Things have certainly been kicking off on the northern parts of North America! Former Vancouverites, now Montreal based DANDI WIND, have recently finished up a successful few months of touring overseas with The Horrors. They are now stateside making the rounds on their ‘Do and Die’ tour. There is much to say about Dandi Wind – I came to know of them through SLUM - Summer Lovers Unlimited Music, a superb label and home to many impressive musicians that I absolutely love – The Teenagers, Duchess Says, Crystal Castles, My! Gay! Husband! Stop Die Resuscitate, and more.
It has been months that I’ve wanted to explore this intriguing group, get to the heart of their matter per-say, but time was limited and my brain was perplexed and overloaded – Reason being is that Dandi Wind is not your typical artist(s), rather avant-garde in their approach to all things – a web of intricacy. So typical just won’t do!
Prior to the birth of Dandi Wind in 2003, high school friends, Dandilion Wind Opaine and Szam Findlay, explored their passion for the arts combining sculpture, design, video, animation, and music. They adored their projects and hoped to gain notoriety for their unique and complex work. Deluded by little recognition, they set forth to create what many are coming to know as one of the most innovative, extravagant and captivating performance acts at this very moment in time!
Dandi is a petite, adorable looking thing – yet larger than life and venomous, with an extraordinary stage presence – unveiling a whirlwind of movements that are spastic, fearless, jarring, inexhaustible – Refined chaos. A pianist since childhood, Szam creates a mixture of beautifully layered, unpredictable, punk, synth heavy, dark, industrial music and beats. Together, a powerful pairing!
Inspired by the likes of Skinny Puppy (known for their theatrics), Kate Bush (with her ever changing characters), Bowie and Prince – Dandi Wind is all over the map. For those unfamiliar, I felt the need for the cliché question, “How would you describe what you guys do?” be asked. Like most musicians that do not want to be defined, Dandi replied with, “Ah, the dreaded question every musician hates. We do dramatic electronic music which we call DEATHWAVE sometimes, as on our first album things are more high energy and angry and on our 2nd album things are darker, slower and more lyrical. Also we’ve always had a big pop/glam influence and so there are shades of early 70s uk glam in there too.”
Apotemnophilia – The overwhelming desire to amputate one or more healthy limbs or other parts of the body. Image created by Brian – an amazing photographer with true talent!! Thx for letting me use this Brian!
Their lyrics run deep – taken from personal experiences and the world around them –sometimes political, staying clear of the barrens of electronic music. This needs to be sung to the number one jackass, el presidente ‘Bush,’ as it’s dead on.
Slumlord
“The spoils of war. A goal of a fool.
Unsure if you’re wrong so you try and stay cool.
Cuz you’re a cowboy study and studied Marlboro ads.
Lassoing contracts for friends of your dad.
You do what’s whispered in your ear piece.
Hide the facts you can’t grasp with a clear blank face.
But don’t forget to talk in a monotone.
So you resolute like a kidney stone.”
To date, Dandi Wind has put out 4 unique EP’s and singles, (which include their interesting videos) as well as their debut full-length, Concrete Igloo in 2006 – a lavish 14 song/10 video EP. I am eagerly anticipating their second album, ‘Yolk of the Golden Egg,’ due any moment now, on Alt:Delete/Because/SLUM, as well as their Chicago visit at Funky Buddha on July 31 for Outdanced! – Can’t wait!!!!
Read on as Dandi reveals a bit more about their influences, touring, roid rage, functional clothing, and ‘Yolk of the Golden Egg. Lastly, have a listen to their track ‘Adolescent,’ remixed by Stop Die Resuscitate (another Toronto favorite!) and ‘Apotemnophilia’ (see above description + bloody image of Dandi), which we are extremely grateful for, and make sure to catch them as they thrash around the states on tour!!!!! Dandi tour dates // Dandi Wind My Space
Lovestar: What has been a major influence or inspired you in the performance art world, if anything, to have created the sort of stage presence that goes into a Dandi Wind show?
Dandi: Japanese Butoh, African tribal dancing, Native American dancing, bullfighting and Prince/Kate Bush.
Lovestar: Your performances seem to be a mad rush of energy. Where does this all come from? Is it any of it choreographed?
Dandi: Nothing is choreographed – it’s just a response to the tempo and sound of the music. Also interaction with the audience. Due to roid rage I have more energy than the average human.
Lovestar: You recently finished up a few months of touring overseas. What were the highlights of your time away?
Dandi: I had one of the best times I’ve ever had touring with The Horrors in Europe – there were lots of highlights – seeing lots of European countries I could never afford to see and also getting treated like mini rockstars as the horrors are quite huge. And we’re good friends now so that’s nice.
Lovestar: Fashion seems to be an important part of your performance. How would you describe your style?
Dandi: Onstage I always wear suits designed for movement/dancing. The reason why I always wear leotards/spandex is just for safety, comfort and flexibility. So basically functional.
Lovestar: I read somewhere that you covet boots? Are there any brands that you seek out? (interesting tidbit for those in awe of her wardrobe – Dandi sells items for auction on e-bay!)
Dandi: I don’t care about brands just the style of clothing/boots. But yeah I like looking for vintage clothing and taxidermy when we tour through the bowels of America.
Lovestar: If Dandi wind had carte blanche and didn’t have to worry about gaining appeal or making money, would your performances be the same?
Dandi: No – it would be completely different. If we had the funds to support it we would greatly expand the visual element of the show with multiple video screens, elaborate sets and lighting. Thus far we’ve been so bereft of funds doing something elaborate hasn’t been possible to tour with.
Lovestar: Talk about something that no one has ever discussed with you before
Dandi: Well – I guess I can describe the theme of our 2nd album YOLK OF THE GOLDEN EGG which is coming out sometime in the future. Basically, since nobody ever asks me about my lyrics (or very rarely) I’ll say that our 2nd album has the lyrics I’m most proud of; the album is a document of all the horrible business shaftings we’ve received after our first ep and first album. It’s far darker and slower than than Concrete Igloo as it was recorded in the Siberian conditions of Verdun, Quebec as opposed to Vancouver. Essentially it’s a series of stories about all the corrupt and evil people we’ve encountered in Toronto (partially from those peoples perspectives)and it’s also about the nightmares that have plagued me since this dark time.
Here is a bit of ‘end of the weekend–dread the start of a new week,’ goodness given to us by our dear friends over at la decadanse. Mixed by the dansevillains, Jess Jubilee and Jon(s) of Proper Villains. “We both are known for having severe ADD and it shows in each of our DJ sets so we figured why not put a mix together,” says Mz Jubilee, “It jumps all over the place but so do we.” Right! So get on it now – Shake that ass!! Strut yo stuff!! Just don’t let the Bossman peep you! thx kids.
Tracklisting:
1. DJ Medhi - Lucky Girl/Amanda Blank - Get it Now
2. Bonde do Role - Gasolina (Radioclit remix)
3. Sinden - Beeper
4. Passions - Emergency
5. Anquette - Shake it (Do the 6lst)
6. Luke feat. DJ Uncle Al - Get Rowdy
7. BuckWheat - Peanut Butter Jelly Time (claude vonstroke and julio
ingles miami doodoo bootleg)
8. Dances With White Girls - Girlsbug
9. Rich Boy - Throw Some D’s(Joe Medium Remix)
10. 2 Hype Brothers & A Dog - Doo Doo Brown (Club Mix)
11. Steed Lord - Dirty Mutherfucker (Crookers Remix)
12. Afro Rican - Give it All You Got (Remix)
13. The Dogs - Your Momma’s on Crack Rock
14. Modeselektor feat. TTC - Dancing Box
15. Buraka Som Sistema feat. Petty - Yah!
16. Kid Sister - Pro Nails
17. Busy P. - Chop Suey
18. Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches (Trentemoeller Remix)
19. Mathhead - Do Damage (Passions Remix)
20. Black Ghosts - Any Way (Fake Blood mix)
21. The Beat Club - Security
22. Pitbull - She’s Freaky
23. 95 South - Wet n’ Wild
What a blow. Tonights show has been slashed! Yes, Mr. Oizo is stuck in L.A. and has cancelled his Chicago appearance. Maybe it is best, as my mood is quite sour. To the people that undermine the value of graphic designers, FUCK YOU!! Carry on.
Yes I am sure that the mustache faced Frenchies will continue to invade and destabilize us. I don’t mind, please bring the brie. I am quite thrilled about French music producer, ‘Quentin Dupieux,’ known to most as Mr. Oizo, (pronounced “wah-zoh,” not “oy-zoh”) making his Chicago debut – playing a 2 hour set, Friday, July 13 at Metro!!!!
I’m going to make this brief, as “Wah-zo” needs no intro! An integral part of the French music scene, Mr. Oizo is best known for his minimal electro loopy track, ‘Flatbeat.’ He has released several albums – Analog Worms (1999), Moustache (Half a Scissor) (2005), and a recent short album, Transexual (2007). He has done remixes for the likes of Kavinsky, Jamelia, Cassius, Scissor Sisters, production for Uffie, and his first feature film, Steak, which is about milk and plastic surgery. Mr. Oizo remains trashy, bassy and twisted, just like we like him.
I leave you with a tasty little treat given to us from Dj Zebo, who will open up for Mr. Oizo, and kindly give his Grown Mix CD’s away! It’s a combination of older music, pre-house era, splashed with a couple of new tunes, and he tells me that no one has it, not even his friends. So I guess that makes us pretty fucking special! (Or we’re just 2 days ahead) Enjoy!
