by RAF KATIGBAK

It’s the Pop Montreal weekend and of course there are plenty of amazing bands from all over the world to check out. But wait a second—what if you’re not into all this crazy “rock” music that the kids are “jiving” to these days? What if you’d rather see people make music the old-fashioned way—with computers and synthesizers and drum machines and stuff? Well, you’re in luck. After all, what would a festival in Canada’s electronic capital be without a few nights of bleeps, bloops and bumps? Nothing, I tells ya!

Tonight, Sept. 29, is a triple threat of technoid twosomes at Zoobizarre. Montreal duo Minibloc will be taking a break from their usual electroacoustic improv steez to drop some beat-heavy house sounds, while Mutek Rec artist Luci (aka Egg’s Guillaume Coutu Dumont and nAnalog’s David Fafard) try to recreate the magic from this year’s Mutek fest, when their twisting, funky, jazzy techno raised the roof. Special guest for the evening will be Sarnia, Ontario, duo Tractile (20-year-old Joel Boychuk and 22-year-old Adam Young) bringing some youthful, DIY vigour to the mix.

Of course, if you’re looking to take it back to some serious old-school DIY, then make your way on down to the second floor of 3674 St-Laurent at 9 p.m. for an evening of intimate, experimental and decidedly “old media” art. Bostonians Howard Stelzer and Jay Sullivan rock cassette tapes and a prepared turntable, respectively. L.A.’s Joseph Hammer (no relation to Jan) rocks tape loops while Sayo Mitsuishi handles visuals. Later on, Joda Clement brings along his analog synth, field recordings, and kettle (!) for a short performance while Olivier Borzeix & Christopher Strickland handle a prepared banjo/acoustic-guitar duet Rounding out the bill, Eric Sexton rocks some makeshift electronics. All this for only five dollars!

For more weird-instrument madness, Saturday night at the Academy Club, it’s like, Holy Fuck! (the band, that is). Boasting no laptops, no samplers and no synths, Holy Fuck! is an electronic toy orchestra with live bass and drum backup. These guys were the backing band for Beans at a recent NYC gig and blew everybody’s socks off. Imagine a primal dance-rock freakfest at an ’80s Mattel toy factory, then add a 35mm film synchronizer that band member Brian Borcherdt uses to DJ-scratch old film loops (no shit!) and you’re halfway there. Fans of LCD Soundsystem must check these dudes out!

WITH MY BANJO ON MY KNEE… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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