by RAF KATIGBAK

As Montreal starts to get into full festival gear, electronic music fans are already starting to jump up and down, squealing like little schoolgirls in gleeful anticipation of the musical flood soon to wash over our fair city.

While much ado was made about the Elektra Festival's switch to a spring schedule (mainly concerning infringement on Mutek's turnout), with the recent announcement of both festivals' lineups, it looks like there will be some PLUR in the scene after all. This May, Elektra's focus on the digital arts and video/music interactivity will bring some heavy names - A/V types like UVA, who worked with Massive Attack, and ARS electronica winner Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (the festival is of course headlined by Autechre and Front 242) - while June's Mutek Festival continues its minimal-musical focus with Monolake, Sense Club (Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano), Radian and Biosphere. While both festivals promise bleeding-edge performances and entertainment, they each do so in their own way. I suppose the only clear winner here is Montreal's electronic-music and digital-art fans, so, hooray for us!

This Friday, April 15, get with the down and dirty side of experimental electronic music as one of my favourite new Montreal imprints Le Son 666 put on a label showcase chock-a-block with local talent. On hand that night will be Intercom, Minibloc, Gin Gin Sussex, Ste Sophie, DJ Why, Alex, Why? and VJ Drone. The site is Le Local (7154 St-Urbain) and the cost is a measly $5 at the door.

Anyone who caught the classic sounds of the Underground Legacy House Factory party at the Darling Foundry in March should drop by Stereo this Saturday as DJs Stephan Lippé and Jester present a special club edition of the event. Expect the same classic and contemporary house on a top-notch sound system.

Speaking of house music, it's interesting how quickly Gravity has gone from a house mecca to a rave revival site since Angel Moraes relinquished the reins a while back. This Saturday, Gravity will host the Sunshine party, headlined by happy hardcore DJs D-Minus and Frisky from T.O., accompanied by MCs Kwik and Gobstopper, with plenty of local and out-of-towners dropping Eurodance, hard trance, D&B and breakbeats.

In retaliation for the recent rash of pants-off parties that has left the city's youth in the throes of reckless/slack-less abandon, Chilly Boo Productions will be hosting Put Your Tracks Back On on Friday, April 15, with DJs Buffalo Dave, Insomnia, Nick Pilon, Night Vision, Syncro and Tao. It's an evening of techno, acid, trance and pants awareness where patrons are required to do two things: wear track pants and dance their asses off (Zubaz will be tolerated, but not encouraged). Fifteen dollars, call 575-1660 for details.

Finally, fans of ethereal downtempo (with an edge) should definitely head over to the M83 show at Cabaret on Monday for some epic electronic rockscapes - think Tangerine Dream vs. Air. If Blade Runner was set in Iceland, these guys would do the soundtrack. You know I'm-a be there.

ANYONE ELSE SHOCKED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT VANGELIS WAS NOT PART OF THE FEMALE ANATOMY? Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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