Proper Music
As Colm mentioned here earlier in the week myself and some In Fact, Ah associates are heading over to London for the weekend. We're not going just to bump up our carbon debt to society and neither are we going simply to check how Colm is settling into big city life. Personally the weekend ahead is one of the most mouth watering and anticipated in a long and sparkling year of live music.
Myself and my esteemed colleague Padraig had made a new year resolution to get a bit more balance in our musical diet this year by getting back to our roots and raising the intake of electronic music. 2005 certainly had been a year of gorging on indie guitar fodder, I suppose the year will always be captioned for me by two amazing summer experiences in tents. Interpol at Oxegen and Arcade Fire at Electric Picnic were experiences bordering on live musical perfection.
So, luckily for us in our 2006 quest to restore the balance in the force, we had a trip penciled in to Germany, on face value to see some sporting event or other, I can't quite remember what it was now that I'm submerged in the blinding white light of the Ryder Cup. Anyways, on my mind on the train to Berlin it was techno and proper clubbing that occupied my thoughts rather than a football match. For three consecutive nights in Berlin I danced past breakfast time.
The final night, which I haven't written about here before saw us rather fortuitously arrive into Berghain/Panorama Bar in the sunny morning light around 5a.m. (we left around 1p.m. lunchtime when the midnight to midnight party was still in full swing). I guess I'm still so gobsmacked by that night I still find it hard to convey how horizon changing it was. You really just have to go. It's not solely about the bleeding edge music, the primordial centre of the electronic music universe feeling, it's not about the overwhelming venue or even the enthralling amazingly diverse and friendly community which are regulars at the place - Panoramabar/Berghain is a place that you'll just have to experience for yourself.
So with a marker stuck in one highlight for 2006 so far, this weekend could be number two after an Electric Picnic which didn't provide anything as memorable as the two festival performances I mentioned above from 2005. Tomorrow night will be my third time to see Mogwai this year and I'm positively salivating at the prospect, partially because of the venue. The Royal Albert Hall has been sold out for quite a long time and the tickets have been burning a whole in my pocket since they went on sale back in the spring. Mogwai began their 2006 tour on the back of the release of their heralded 2006 album Mr. Beast One of the very first dates on the tour was the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin, where as impressive as the set was, it didn't realise the full potential of the new material due to some early tour teething problems.
Since then they've done over 100 live shows across the globe including Japan, Australia, The US and several jaunts around the UK and Europe. After this weekend in London another glut of shows awaits, again around Europe/UK before heading back to Japan again. An ambitious twelve month schedule by any standards I'm sure you'll agree. Their performance at Electric Picnic looked much more consummate and polished than back in January, however for "The Mogwai Experience" (TM) you really need a hermetically sealed indoor acoustic space, something I think the Royal Albert Hall will provide without question. This coupled with the fact this gig has been in the offing for over 6 months now and the fact I believe Mogwai have positioned it as one of the jewels in the crown of their seemingly interminable 2006 tour leads me to expect something special.
Mogwai Fear Satan, live from Coachella this summer
Just to ensure that I don't leave London raving about some indie guitar act, we've lined up a trip to London's legendary club Fabric for Saturday night. A pioneering artist I already crossed paths with at Berghain/Panoramabar this year is bringing his show to town on Saturday night/Sunday morning for a 10p.m. to 9:30a.m. extravaganza. Richie Hawtin will headline the main room while his proteges from his M_Nus stable Magda and Heartthrob will whip things up nicely for him. Although a quite overused label now Minimal Techno is the sound and I can't wait for this minimal mania marathon!
M_Nus label Introduction
Richie Hawtin - The Tunnel
Richie Hawtin - We (All) Search
I'd like to thank Colm for his heads up earlier in the week, and with tongue lodged firmly in cheek return the favour with some words of wisdom for Saturday night. So Colm - 10 steps to become a minimal techno hipster:
1. If you have some money to spend, feel free to bring lots of cocaine and ketamine. Don’t splurge it all on the actual party , as the after party is where your drugs count - expect to be feeding your favourite minimal DJ’s with tons of nose candy until late the next day. Be sure you can hang.
2. If you have a nice big flat and don’t mind it being temporarily used as a crack house, be sure to offer it to your favourite minimal DJ before he or she leaves their respected party - be aware that you will most likely have no say on who actually attends the after party, but rest assure you are on your way to becoming a minimal hypster.
3. The haircut is very important, although it is very important - you must not let this be the DEFINING aspect. For tips on hypster haircuts, check on the internet for the latest pictures of Magda - be sure the photo is hot and up to date, as this commandment rotates about every 2 weeks - by that time there is thousands with the same haircut.
4. Underrated but very serious in your quest to minimal hyperstardom is the minimal scarf. Normally used by French artists say to the world "hey I am an artist, shuchameblah" this is now a sure-fire way to let everyone else know - hey I am down with the minimal sound. Current minimal hypsters who sport the minimal scarf include Luciano, Ricardo, Richie, Magda, Troy and Marc Houle.
5. If you ever have the chance to meet Rich Hawtin, when talking with him - make sure you agree with everything he says and most importantly REPEAT. If you do not have the pleasure of meeting him personally, but have a friend who has - just repeat to everyone what your friend has told you he said. If they are a true minimal hypster they will surely repeat their whole conversation anyway. With people such as Troy Pierce, Magda, Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, this same rule applies to a lesser degree, but still enough to get you on your way.
6. This one is very important, forget about your health and live for the moment. You must be willing to take as many drugs as your favourite minimal superstar DJ. As long as your are willing to party until the last moment on a broad combination of drugs all at the same time, such as Ketamine, Mdma, lots and lots of cocaine, speed, LSD and the occasional mushrooms you will surely be accepted and furthermore run the possibility of being admired. You can never imagine the power of totally ruining your body and mind in the conquest to being a minimal hype star.
7. This one is simple! Keep it superficial. Under no circumstances should you have a conversation with some depth or meaning. Recommended topics of discussion are haircuts, the newest minus record, how cool magda is, how much drugs Ricardo took the night before, how cool the current party is, and how amazing of a musician Luciano is. Just tell yourself over and over, this is not actually being superficial - it’s just being minimal.
8. Sex, Sex, Sex - in the minimal hypster world you should never expect to get laid before 48 hours of straight partying. Even if you have a special liking for that certain someone, keep in mind that if they too are an aspiring minimal hypster like yourself they will most definitely be at that after-hours, and where better place to get down to sexual business. (This is the time when taste, memory and morals are all flushed down the toilet) if you are a female, this is the time where you chances are highest of scoring with your favourite minimal superstar DJ, therefore immediately catapulting yourself into minimal stardom.(most of the time you will just settle for someone who knows Rich Hawtin).
9. Be sure to constantly read the writing of PHILIP SHERBURNE - he is the man who will always keep you informed on the newest and best hype on the internet. DO NOT EVER QUESTION HIS INTENTIONS OR MENTION THE FACT THAT ALL HE WRITES ABOUT IS HOW COOL RICARDO, RICH HAWTIN, MAGDA, LUCIANO, ROBAG WRUHME AND MUTEK CREW IS. He is literally the man to go to if you want to be fed with the minimal hype. Although it seems as if he is desperately trying to fit in and be accepted, everyone should realize HE HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCPETED. He just loves his role as minimal hypster so much that he wants to spread the love. As with Rich Hawtin the same rule applies to Mr. Sherburne, everything he writes or says AKNOWLEDGE, AGREE AND REPEAT.
10. THE MINIMAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BERLIN! If you wish to be a minimal hypestar, one of the easiest ways is to come to Berlin with no plan and frequent places such as the famous drug spots like bar25, club de visionarie and panoramabar. It is these locations in which your minimal fantasies become realities - expect to see people like Rich Hawtin, Matt John, Konrad Black, Troy Pierce and Magda totally out of their minds and much more easy to approach. It is here that you can forge those life long, superficial - I mean minimal relationships.
tags:london
tags:richie hawtin
tags:mogwai
Published by Paul.
Myself and my esteemed colleague Padraig had made a new year resolution to get a bit more balance in our musical diet this year by getting back to our roots and raising the intake of electronic music. 2005 certainly had been a year of gorging on indie guitar fodder, I suppose the year will always be captioned for me by two amazing summer experiences in tents. Interpol at Oxegen and Arcade Fire at Electric Picnic were experiences bordering on live musical perfection.
So, luckily for us in our 2006 quest to restore the balance in the force, we had a trip penciled in to Germany, on face value to see some sporting event or other, I can't quite remember what it was now that I'm submerged in the blinding white light of the Ryder Cup. Anyways, on my mind on the train to Berlin it was techno and proper clubbing that occupied my thoughts rather than a football match. For three consecutive nights in Berlin I danced past breakfast time.
The final night, which I haven't written about here before saw us rather fortuitously arrive into Berghain/Panorama Bar in the sunny morning light around 5a.m. (we left around 1p.m. lunchtime when the midnight to midnight party was still in full swing). I guess I'm still so gobsmacked by that night I still find it hard to convey how horizon changing it was. You really just have to go. It's not solely about the bleeding edge music, the primordial centre of the electronic music universe feeling, it's not about the overwhelming venue or even the enthralling amazingly diverse and friendly community which are regulars at the place - Panoramabar/Berghain is a place that you'll just have to experience for yourself.
So with a marker stuck in one highlight for 2006 so far, this weekend could be number two after an Electric Picnic which didn't provide anything as memorable as the two festival performances I mentioned above from 2005. Tomorrow night will be my third time to see Mogwai this year and I'm positively salivating at the prospect, partially because of the venue. The Royal Albert Hall has been sold out for quite a long time and the tickets have been burning a whole in my pocket since they went on sale back in the spring. Mogwai began their 2006 tour on the back of the release of their heralded 2006 album Mr. Beast One of the very first dates on the tour was the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin, where as impressive as the set was, it didn't realise the full potential of the new material due to some early tour teething problems.
Since then they've done over 100 live shows across the globe including Japan, Australia, The US and several jaunts around the UK and Europe. After this weekend in London another glut of shows awaits, again around Europe/UK before heading back to Japan again. An ambitious twelve month schedule by any standards I'm sure you'll agree. Their performance at Electric Picnic looked much more consummate and polished than back in January, however for "The Mogwai Experience" (TM) you really need a hermetically sealed indoor acoustic space, something I think the Royal Albert Hall will provide without question. This coupled with the fact this gig has been in the offing for over 6 months now and the fact I believe Mogwai have positioned it as one of the jewels in the crown of their seemingly interminable 2006 tour leads me to expect something special.
Mogwai Fear Satan, live from Coachella this summer
Just to ensure that I don't leave London raving about some indie guitar act, we've lined up a trip to London's legendary club Fabric for Saturday night. A pioneering artist I already crossed paths with at Berghain/Panoramabar this year is bringing his show to town on Saturday night/Sunday morning for a 10p.m. to 9:30a.m. extravaganza. Richie Hawtin will headline the main room while his proteges from his M_Nus stable Magda and Heartthrob will whip things up nicely for him. Although a quite overused label now Minimal Techno is the sound and I can't wait for this minimal mania marathon!
M_Nus label Introduction
Richie Hawtin - The Tunnel
Richie Hawtin - We (All) Search
I'd like to thank Colm for his heads up earlier in the week, and with tongue lodged firmly in cheek return the favour with some words of wisdom for Saturday night. So Colm - 10 steps to become a minimal techno hipster:
1. If you have some money to spend, feel free to bring lots of cocaine and ketamine. Don’t splurge it all on the actual party , as the after party is where your drugs count - expect to be feeding your favourite minimal DJ’s with tons of nose candy until late the next day. Be sure you can hang.
2. If you have a nice big flat and don’t mind it being temporarily used as a crack house, be sure to offer it to your favourite minimal DJ before he or she leaves their respected party - be aware that you will most likely have no say on who actually attends the after party, but rest assure you are on your way to becoming a minimal hypster.
3. The haircut is very important, although it is very important - you must not let this be the DEFINING aspect. For tips on hypster haircuts, check on the internet for the latest pictures of Magda - be sure the photo is hot and up to date, as this commandment rotates about every 2 weeks - by that time there is thousands with the same haircut.
4. Underrated but very serious in your quest to minimal hyperstardom is the minimal scarf. Normally used by French artists say to the world "hey I am an artist, shuchameblah" this is now a sure-fire way to let everyone else know - hey I am down with the minimal sound. Current minimal hypsters who sport the minimal scarf include Luciano, Ricardo, Richie, Magda, Troy and Marc Houle.
5. If you ever have the chance to meet Rich Hawtin, when talking with him - make sure you agree with everything he says and most importantly REPEAT. If you do not have the pleasure of meeting him personally, but have a friend who has - just repeat to everyone what your friend has told you he said. If they are a true minimal hypster they will surely repeat their whole conversation anyway. With people such as Troy Pierce, Magda, Ricardo Villalobos, Luciano, this same rule applies to a lesser degree, but still enough to get you on your way.
6. This one is very important, forget about your health and live for the moment. You must be willing to take as many drugs as your favourite minimal superstar DJ. As long as your are willing to party until the last moment on a broad combination of drugs all at the same time, such as Ketamine, Mdma, lots and lots of cocaine, speed, LSD and the occasional mushrooms you will surely be accepted and furthermore run the possibility of being admired. You can never imagine the power of totally ruining your body and mind in the conquest to being a minimal hype star.
7. This one is simple! Keep it superficial. Under no circumstances should you have a conversation with some depth or meaning. Recommended topics of discussion are haircuts, the newest minus record, how cool magda is, how much drugs Ricardo took the night before, how cool the current party is, and how amazing of a musician Luciano is. Just tell yourself over and over, this is not actually being superficial - it’s just being minimal.
8. Sex, Sex, Sex - in the minimal hypster world you should never expect to get laid before 48 hours of straight partying. Even if you have a special liking for that certain someone, keep in mind that if they too are an aspiring minimal hypster like yourself they will most definitely be at that after-hours, and where better place to get down to sexual business. (This is the time when taste, memory and morals are all flushed down the toilet) if you are a female, this is the time where you chances are highest of scoring with your favourite minimal superstar DJ, therefore immediately catapulting yourself into minimal stardom.(most of the time you will just settle for someone who knows Rich Hawtin).
9. Be sure to constantly read the writing of PHILIP SHERBURNE - he is the man who will always keep you informed on the newest and best hype on the internet. DO NOT EVER QUESTION HIS INTENTIONS OR MENTION THE FACT THAT ALL HE WRITES ABOUT IS HOW COOL RICARDO, RICH HAWTIN, MAGDA, LUCIANO, ROBAG WRUHME AND MUTEK CREW IS. He is literally the man to go to if you want to be fed with the minimal hype. Although it seems as if he is desperately trying to fit in and be accepted, everyone should realize HE HAS ALREADY BEEN ACCPETED. He just loves his role as minimal hypster so much that he wants to spread the love. As with Rich Hawtin the same rule applies to Mr. Sherburne, everything he writes or says AKNOWLEDGE, AGREE AND REPEAT.
10. THE MINIMAL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD BERLIN! If you wish to be a minimal hypestar, one of the easiest ways is to come to Berlin with no plan and frequent places such as the famous drug spots like bar25, club de visionarie and panoramabar. It is these locations in which your minimal fantasies become realities - expect to see people like Rich Hawtin, Matt John, Konrad Black, Troy Pierce and Magda totally out of their minds and much more easy to approach. It is here that you can forge those life long, superficial - I mean minimal relationships.
tags:london
tags:richie hawtin
tags:mogwai
Published by Paul.
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