by RAF KATIGBAK

First it was Spin and now the New York Times. While it may be news to some, it's no secret to most of you that the music scene here is rife with amazing talent. While anglo rock seems to be the flavour of the month in the mainstream press (and what's this shit in the Times about québécois music being "accordions accompanied by crooning chanteuses," anyway), underground dance-music mags have long held Montreal as a haven for amazing DJs and producers. Akufen, Tiga, Deadbeat, Fred Everything and Robert de la Gauthier (whose recent return to the 514 area code is rejoiced by many a clubgoer) have all accumulated their fair share of international press clippings. And with new talent coming up all the time, dance music fans should have no shortage of new material with which to shake their asses. In fact, this week there's a whole whack of stuff to get down to. Of course, this being the week of Valentine's Day and all, there is no shortage of smoocherific events to get freaky with.

If you ever dreamed of having a robot lover, but your attempts to create one have resulted in a six-foot inanimate hunk of metal and wires with vacuum hoses for arms and a calculator for a face, then check out the excellent electro of Lowfish at Parking's Overdose soiree tonight, Thursday, Feb. 10.

Tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 11, Salon Daomé continue their tribute to Black History Month with a special Back to My Roots evening of soul, funk, disco and Paradise Garage classics with DJ Angel Moraes. Nice.

Saturday, over at O Patro Vys, it's another monthly improvisational jam as the LABproject crew presents the LoveProject. With talents like ELE K., Patrick Watson, DJ Luv and members of Kalmunity on hand to bring the noise, it's easy to forget the musical wankery that usually passes for improv in this town. These guys rule!

Sunday, over at Blue Dog, catch DJs Sarcastic, Mr. Vain and special guests Sir Loin (aka the Gooch, aka Sase One) for Some Old Valentine's Bullshit. Expect a blend of rock, '90s dance and drunkenness, with a strong leaning towards pathetic '70s, '80s and '90s cheese ballads.

For the masochistic, the twisted minds of John School Dropouts will deliver the folk-rock equivalent to a double fisting on Sunday at Club One.

Of course, what Valentine's Day would be complete without a slow dance? Well, Monday night, Blizzarts will be teeming with hot couples, power ballads and maybe even some heavy petting in the back as DJ Fighters and congenial host Murad present another Slowdance ($3).

Next Wednesday, Feb. 16, DJ Lexis welcomes guest Stéphane Cocke (of Café Meliés compilation fame) for his weekly All You Can Hear night at Mhotel. It's classic house, funk, disco, old-school hip hop and R&B all night, so get ready to groove.

Whitesnake, White Lion, Great White... y'know, the classics. Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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