MUTEK 16 – my picks — Noah Cebuliak
While our other man Colin has zeroed in on specific artist picks for Mutek ’15, I’ve taken a more wholesale approach. This being my first Mutek, I figured I’d go all in on certain venues for each night.
………………………………………………………………………………………Weds 27
MAC (Musée d’art contemporain)
Nocturne 1 – Arpeggiated Anthems
9pm – 3am
1. Cabaal
2. Mini & Nelly-eve Rajotte present NIX
3. James Holden
4. Boundary
5. Ten Walls
Opening night at Mutek promises to be deep, dark and dusky – one only need peruse the formidable lineup to get a sense of the euphoric, ritualistic sounds and visuals sure to be on regal display.
Riding the waves of a giant BBC1 Essential Mix, Lithuanian producer Ten Walls is my/our/everyone’s pinpoint of stoke for the night, but lets not club veteran James Holden, whose machinations have warped us through the age of trance toward whatever post-genre ideal we dance to these days. The latter will bring the hype with a live synth/drum/saxophone séance.
Alongside the international heavyweights, the menu is nicely balanced with Montréal locals – Boundary, self-described as “electronic chamber music,” will provide contrast with the ambient and sublime that he’s become known for around here. I’m pretty stoked for this Cabaal dangler as well – just browse through his hurricane-breeze soundcloud for a taste of out-of-the-box exactness. DJ Mini will round it out with a collab with a/v artist Nelly-Eve Rajotte, who together “explore man’s ephemeral, ever complex relationship with nature,” through their project NIX.
The night is going to be LARGE.
………………………………………………………………………………………Thurs 28
MAC
Nocturne 2 – Gleamings & Beamings
9PM – 3 AM
1. Fake_Electronics
2. Dasha Rush presents Antarctic Takt
3. Takami Nakamoto & Sebastien Benoits present Reflections
4. Atom™ & Robin Fox present Double Vision
5. Lumisokea
I choose Gleamings & Beamings simply for the number of “weird” a/v project premieres on the program (4 of 5), but you could just as easily run over to Salle BWR to catch the more dancey acts – and I just may if I want a change of scene. The double program is included in the price for Thursday night.
That’s the beauty of Mutek’s double programming at La Musée d’art Contemporain, and on Friday and Saturday there’s a whole 10 – 3 night for free (more on that later).
For Thursday however. Last off to blast off, Lumisokea seem basically nuts, from their soundcloud at least – walls of textural fuzz and soundscapes reminiscent of abandoned radar stations. Will I be able to make it through post 1 AM? We’ll see. I’m down to try anything once. Before, there’s ambient queen Dasha Rush, plus more a/v delights – Double Vision from veterans Atom™ and Robin Fox will bathe us in lasers and digital contemplations. The rest of the lineup offers more of the same same, but different, if you will.
I’m looking forward to a night of less dance and more “what the hell is this.” Bring it.
………………………………………………………………………………………Fri 29
MAC
Nocturne 3 – Orchestrate to Elevate
9:30 PM – 3 AM
1. Wiklow presents Skeletal Wires
2. Karen Gwyer
3. Rival Consoles
4. Kiasmos
5. John Tejada
As strong a pull as Métropolis’ Friday night program is (Andy Stott, Lucy, etc), I can’t resist Kiasmos or John Tejada – both techno kings who haven’t thrown out a sense of the human in their electronic prayers. After Thursday’s cerebral intensity, I’ll be ready for melody, depth and rhythmic girth.
Make sure to get there early, as these sets are bound to be slammed. Besides, Wiklow’s rounded, mythical transportations will be an opener not to miss. Rival Consoles should be fairly bloody relaxing as well, having dumped a fair bit of polish, warmth and ooze onto Erased Tapes over the past bit. Think Nils Frahm, Jon Hopkins…etc. Bound to be a gentle giant of a set. Actually, the whole night looks refreshing and uplifting. Boom.
………………………………………………………………………………………Sat 30
Métropolis
Métropolis 2 – Dynamic Dualities
10 PM – 6 AM
1. Seekersinternational
2. Sherwood & Pinch
3. Millie & Andrea
4. Atom™ & Tobias
5. DBX featuring John Tejada
6. Fumiya Tanaka
It’s the night of duos at Métropolis, and the only soirée at Mutek that will run 10 – 6. Big acts and a whole pile of esteemed local VJ’s will make it hard to leave early. I’m personally jacked for Sherwood & Pinch’s tabla/dub/harshness, whose african rhythmic switch will be welcome to my ears after the four-to-the-floor of previous nights. I’m almost anticipating BC festival vibes from these cats.
The Daniel Bell (DBX) collab with Tejada should deliver the goods as well. Bell is a Detroit veteran and seeing him paired in a live setup will be exciting. But then there’s Mille & Andrea, one-half of which is Andy Stott, whose crunk I will be missing on Friday, so boom, here I will get to make up for it. This combo is very harsh, starchy, jungle. It’s going to get…so deep.
………………………………………………………………………………………Sun 31
MAC
9PM – 3AM
Nocturne 5 – Deep Ease
1. Réservoir
2. Pole & MFO
3. Strategy
4. Session Victim
5. Cobblestone Jazz
Nocturne 5 – All’s Fair In Love & Synths
1. Jonathan Scherk
2. Drew Gragg
3. Perfume Advert
4. Stefan Jós
5. Solpara
I’m definitely going to be ping-ponging between both rooms at MAC on Mutek’s last night. There’s good stuff happening everywhere. I definitely want to catch UK duo Perfume Advert’s Danny Tenaglia-esque chicago house – Sunday night vibes.
Last on the whole festival bill in the same room, Solpara will be a razor-edge finish to the madness – introspective, who-the-fuck-am-i-anymore darkhouse. Looking forward to moving my hands slowly in pyramid shapes.
In the other room prior, Pole & MFO will lay down some swashbuckling swamp minimalism. Think of a badass German dude smoking a cigar and fucking around with Analog circuits. Guten Morgen.
