Picnic Preview: Luciano presents Æther

Before I launch in the musical side of things it may be of interest to you that Aether originally was the personification of the "upper sky", space and heaven, in Greek mythology. Now you know.

“CAN YOU SEE SOUND”
“DO YOU HEAR COLOUR”
“CAN YOU TASTE THE BASS”

So what can we expect from Luciano's Æther Live project? A little research reveals that the Chilean DJ/producer will be taking on the role of conductor leading Cadenza musicians Reboot, Lee Van Dowski, Mirko Loko, the Digitaline duo and Swiss drummer, Omri Hason, into a multi-media performance which eventually ends in one big live jam. The visual effects have been created by the London live video designers and performers Microchunk. Described as a complex mixture of music, video and light intended to thoroughly disturb our idea of music, Luciano explains: "Æther is a live concert based on technology and the senses. The idea is to finally make people understand what it is to make electronic music".

More on the project from the Cadenza site:

"The show is both conceptual and ground breaking. The evolving narrative of the visuals will represent colour theories in 4 movements. Visual content will span diverse subjects to accentuate the way light is used to interpret the sounds. This is a rehearsed disciplined show to exacting technical standards and pushes the limits of software and hardware for both the audio and visual elements."

Æther world premier at Monegros Desert Festival, Spain 18 July 2009

Luciano presents Æther close the Crawdaddy Tent on Friday night (11:00-12:00).

BSITWT #72

Cabo San Roque - Calypso 08 (Luciano Remix)

Luciano waved his magical wand over the Catalan collective's gypsy-esque track to beautiful effect. Cabo San Roque create their sound using improvised instruments such as a re-designed washing machine and a cello made from a suitcase. Cadenza head Luciano is known for being responsible for some of the most raucous parties on the globe. Put the two together and you have a track that cannot but impress.

http://www.myspace.com/cabosanroque

Picnic Preview: Moderat

Headlining the Little Big Tent on Saturday night (12.45am-2.00am) we have the collaboration between Modeselektor and Apparat affectionately known as Moderat. Following on from the release of their debut album in May this year, this will be the Belgian/German combo's first live appearance here. It is another undoubtable highlight: Marbles will be misplaced at this one!

Moderat - 'A New Error'

www.myspace.com/moderat

BSITWT #70, #71

Two contemporary giants do the sensible thing and come together for this deeeeeeeep foray into experimental dub-step. Beautiful.

Burial & Four Tet - Moth (mp3)




From the more phychadelic side of the spectrum comes this slowburning tour of bright and breezy electronica courtesy of Subway. Their self-styled krautrock-influenced debut, Subway II, is out now on the wildly eclectic Soul Jazz Records

Subway - Xam (mp3)

Electric Picnic - Stage Times

FRIDAY

Main Stage
10:30-12:00 Orbital
8.45-9.45 MGMT
7.15-8:15 Zero 7
5.30-6.30 Michael Nyman Orchestra
4:00-4:45 Smash Hits

Electric Arena
11:00-12:00 Rodrigo y Gabriela
9.15-10.30 Seasick Steve
7.30-8.30 Magazine
5:45-6:45 David Kitt
4:00-5:00 8 Ball

Crawdaddy Stage
11:00-12:00 Luciano presents AEther
9:30 - 10:20 Duckworth Lewis Method
8:00 - 9:00 ABC
6:45 - 7:30 Lykke Li
5:30 - 6:15 The Temper Trap
4:30 - 5:00 Peter Broderick

Cosby Stage
9:30-10:30 Dinosaur Jr
7:45 - 8:45 Efterklang
6:30 - 7:15 Richmond Fontaine
5:30 - 6:00 Jeffrey Lewis
4:30 - 5:00 Wave Machine

Little Big Tent
01:00-02:00 Japanese Popstars DJ set
12:00-12:45 Potbelleez
10:30-12:00 Diplo
9:30-10:30 Buraka som Sistema
8:15-9:30 Fake Blood
7:15-8:15 Major Lazer
6:00-7:15 Boy 8 Bit
4:00-6:00 Tu-Ki

SATURDAY

Main Stage
12.30-2.00 2ManyDJs
10.30-11.45 Madness
8.15-9.45 Brian Wilson
6.30-7.30 Lisa Hannigan
4.45-5.45 Kid Creole & the Coconuts
3.00-4.00 Baaba Maal
1.30-2.15 Tunng
12.30-1.00 Stee Downes

Electric Arena
10.30-12.00 Chic
8.45-9.45 Klaxons
7.00-8.00 Bat for Lashes
5.15-6:15 Jape
4:00-4.45 Roots Manuva
2:45-3:30 The XX
1.30-2.00 Heartbreak [CANCELLED]
12.30-1.00 Cap Pas Cap

Crawdaddy Stage
01:00-02:00 Chris Cunningham
11:45-12:40 Four Tet
10:15-11.15 Explosions in the Sky
8.30-9.30 Imelda May
7.00-8.00 Mundy
5:30-6:30 Billy Bragg
4:00-4:45 A Flock of Seagulls
2.30-3.15 Just Jack
1.30-2.00 Dave Geraghty
12:30-1:00 One Day International

Cosby Stage
11.00-12.00 Neko Case
9.15-10.15 ESG
7.45-8.45 Whitest Boy Alive
6.30-7.15 The Walkmen
5.15-6.00 Magnolia Electric Co.
4.00-4.45 Marina and the Diamonds
3.00-3.30 Low Anthem
2.00-2.30 Julie Feeney
1.00-1.30 Lost Brothers

Little Big Tent
12:45-02:00 Moderat
11:00-12:30 [TBC]
9:45-10:45 The Proxy
7:30-9:30 James Murphy and Pat Mahoney
6:30-7:30 The Field
5:00-6:15 Jazzanova (live)
3:30-4:30 Noze
2:30-3:30 Jon Averil
1:30-2:30 LRB and Conor G
12:30-1:30 Transmission DJs

SUNDAY

Main Stage
10.30-12.00 Basement Jaxx
8.30-9.45 Bell X1
6:30-7:45 Alabama 3
4.45-5.45 The Wailers
3:00-4.00 Quantic and his Combo Barbaro
1.45-2.30 Introducing (DJ Shadow tribute)
12.30-1.15 Dublin Gospel Choir

Electric Arena
10.15-11.45 Flaming Lips
8.30-9.30 Royksopp
6.45-7.45 Fleet Foxes
5:30-6.15 Florence and the Machine
4:15-5.00 Simian Mobile Disco
2:45-3:45 Nightmares on Wax Soundsystem
1:30-2.15 The Sugarhill Gang
12:30-1:00 Two Door Cinema Club

Crawdaddy Stage
10.45-11.45 Damien Dempsey
9.00-10.00 Amadou and Mariam
7.15-8.15 Fionn Regan
5.45-6.45 Echo and the Bunnymen
4.30-5:15 Laura Izibor
3:15-4:00 Okkervil River
2.15-2:45 Mick Flannery
1.15-1.45 Villagers
12.15-12.45 Halfset

Cosby Stage
10.45-11.45 Skream and Benga
9.00-10.00 [TBC]
7.45-8.30 Dan Deacon Ensemble
6.15-7.15 Bell Orchestre
4.45-5.30 The Big Pink
3.30-4.15 The Acorn
2.30-3.00 Micachu
1.30-2.00 Blitzen Trapper
12:30-1:00 Our Fold

Little Big Tent
10:00-12:00 Erol Alkan
8:30-10:00 Zombie Nation
7:00-8:30 Duke Dumont
5:30-7:00 Aeroplane
4:30-5:30 [TBC]
3:30-4:30 Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
2:30-3:15 Ebony Bones
1:30-2:15 Arveene and Misk (live)
12:30-1:30 Barry Redsetta


Download in PDF format here.

Still a few acts to be added but overall looks to be the real deal.

Full line Up

Picnic Preview - The Whitest Boy Alive

We're going back to basics for the uninitiated. This will be a highlight - guaranteed.

Picnic Preview - The xx

It only takes one listen to the intro to the self-titled album from The xx to realise there is something very special coming your way. The slow moving almost hypnotic tones soothed a tender techno assaulted Sunday morning head here. The Londoners were among the recent exciting names added to an already strong line up for this year's EP. Word is that the live show is still a work in progress but the stir they have already caused is likely to make their Stradbally appearance one of the more anticipated outings of the weekend. Get your hands on this, their debut album, and let early lead single 'Crystallised' ease you gently into the rest of the offerings.

The xx - Crystallised

Yapacc @ Lowerstate

Rory D and the lads continue the raucous Lowerstate series with a return for Berliner Yapacc at Galway's Deeper this Saturday. Bring a towel.

Exciting. Here's the blurb:

Paintings by Mick Turner and photographs by Donal Dineen
Opening Thursday 20th August, runs until August 25th (Daily from 12 – 6pm)

Mick Turner is best known as a musician with Australian instrumental combo the Dirty Three, but he also has a longstanding practice as a painter. Collected by people around the world, his art is recognisable from Dirty Three album cover art and from his own solo releases. His work deals with the embedded psychology and emotion of Australian and European landscapes. His paintings include an array of human and animal characters and a lyrical use of colour and gesture.

A musical pioneer since his early days as the presenter of No Disco (RTE) in the nineties, through to his current late night radio show The Small Hours on Today FM, Donal Dineen has used his discerning ear to seek out, listen to and encourage experimental music in all genres. Throughout this period Dineen has also displayed an equally discerning and experimental eye when it comes to his own photographic and visual work. This visual work, be it through still photography or super8 film, charts a personal journey to the present day, a continuous journey that is influenced by music, people, landscape and a sense of place. A selection of this work will be presented as part of this exhibition.

Launch event and gig at The Joinery Gallery, Arbour Hill, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7
On Thursday, August 20th

Opening starts 6.30pm,
Gig starts 8pm
Tickets for the gig - €10 a/v at door (byob)

Music and visuals provided by Mick Turner, Donal Dineen and special guests.

Paul Banks has been busy

Interpol front man Paul Banks, the coolest, most modest (modestest??), understated star in modern music, has just released a solo album under the pseudonym Julian Plenti. The album, entitled Julian Plenti is.... Skyscraper is in keeping with Banks' Interpol heritage, a blend of his iconic vocals, spiky guitar riffs and beautifully subtle touches. "Games For Days" has that dramatic rolling sound that Interpol have made their own while "Only if you Run" has a slightly more personal touch perhaps. The standout track for me so far is "Fun that we have", see below.


Julian Plenti is.... Skyscraper was released last week on Matador Records

Limehouse Gig Previews - Aug/Sept 09

Forthcoming in issue#3 of Limehouse magazine; available where the cool kids dish out shlaps.

Kila // Button Factory // 19 August
The ensemble relight the big bang ahead of what is guaranteed to be a stormer at Electric Picnic.

DEAF Fundraiser // Meeting House Square // 21 August
DEAF gives us a taster of things to come with a stellar line-up featuring The Jimmy Cake, Dark Room Notes, Spilly Walker, Boxcutter, Channel One, Thread Pulls, Sarsparilla, Patrick Kelleher & his Cold Dead Hands. Tickets are only a tenner and The DEAF folks promise a temporary roof and a full bar for the night. The festival proper takes place in October, and will feature among its 70 events the mighty Modeselektor (yessssssss), Surgeon, Dam Funk and Cristian Vogel. See http://deafireland.com/2009/ for more.

Wilco // Vicar St // 27-28 August
Stalwarts of alternative Americana play to their biblically devout middle-aged and male following for two nights in Vicar St. It must be nice when your fan-base can still afford a €40 asking price.

August Car Boot Sale // The Bernard Shaw // 28 August
The greatest Saturday / Saturnight in Dublin? Very possibly. Expect an afternoon of cakes, cookies and silly sunglasses soundtracked by the finest in soul, funk, techno, house and hip-hop. The fun begins at 13h00. We’ll be enjoying a quiet buckie in the corner.

dlr Festival of World Cultures // Dun Laoghaire // 28-29 August
The annual Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Festival of World Cultures returns with a plethora of gigs, markets, fairs, exhibitions, workshops, performances and all the rest. Check www.festivalofworldcultures.com for all the info.

Electric Picnic // Stradbally, Co. Laois // 4-6 September
At last! The finest weekend of the calendar is upon us. Irrespective of whether you spend your time receiving holistic massages or waking up bemused under a peripheral stage, the picnic will always guarantee something special. We’re particularly excited about Moderat, The Field, The Whitest Boy Alive, Four Tet and, of course, Brian Wilson. Full line-up available at www.electricpicnic.com.

Spiegeltent @ Dublin Fringe Festival 2009 // George’s Dock // 5-20 September
Six years of ‘Weimar era decadence’ come to an end as the Spiegeltent bids farewell to George’s Dock this September. Amongst the musical events accompanying the regular madness will be the astonishingly gifted Nico Mulhy – a modern day prodigy who has already worked with the likes of Phillip Glass, Antony and the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright, Bjork and Grizzly Bear. See www.fringefest.com for more.

Fleet Foxes // Vicar St // 7 September
The Sub-Pop quintet continues to tour their eponymous 2008 classic; useful for those who can’t catch them at Electric Picnic a day earlier.

Silver Apples // Whelan’s // 12 September
Much lauded 1960s avant-garde electronica outfit returns to Ireland following their already-legendary Electric Picnic show last year.

Dirty Projectors // Whelan’s // 16 September
Grizzly Bear // Vicar St // 1 November
Yes, yes, yes – we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here, but if there’s any justice in this world these gigs will sell out long before they take place. Considering they’ve each hovered over album-of-the-year territory at some stage in the past 6 months, you could do worse then immersing yourself in these two different takes on modern American indie this autumn. Can’t afford both? Go Grizzly.

Ben Klock // Twisted Pepper // 19 September
Another gig that, once upon a time, would be a contender for sell-out status. Nevertheless, an early take-up is recommended to anyone serious about techno, house and/or electronica – the Berghain resident was arguably the highlight at this summer’s Airbound festival.

Richie Hawtin Documentary

Check out this series of youtube videos comprising the documentary: Pioneers of Electronic Music: Richie Hawtin.
Link here

Gives a great insight into the early Detroit scene and the trips to Europe in the late 80's early 90's that gave Hawtin the inspiration to launch the Plastikman project and move on to global superstardom.

Happy Birthday Kompakt

The biblically important Kompakt record label releases it's 10th annual Total compilation today. The Cologne-based label has been wildly influential over the past decade, nurturing the fundamental concept of techno and leading it to a more varied, more ethereal and ultimately more humanist paradigm. If ever you have found yourself lost in a thrall to The Field, Michael Mayer, Superpitcher, Jurgen Paape, Thomas Fehlmann, Wolfgang Voigt, DJ Koze, Gui Boratto or any other microhouse wizard, you'll enjoy this - a Pitchfork interview with co-founder Michael Mayer on the label's eccentric approach to electronic music. Don't miss the free mix: Michael Mayer: Kompakt - The Early Years (1998-2004). Huge.