Aliens, androgyny
and maple syrup

By JACK OATMON

Picture this:

Sultry ’80s mom, after just having slipped into a silk housecoat: “Have you ever seen a UFO?”

West German astrophysicist: “Yes, this morning. That’s why I’m here.”

Mom: “Oh, that’s very interesting. Would you like a drink?”

This is just before they use a telescope to watch a lesbian drug dealer brandish a knife at her androgynous fashion-model girlfriend while face-fucking a dead man whose brains got eaten by aliens—the voyeurism an attempt to scientifically study the aliens, who suck out people’s brains while they’re on heroin or having sex.

This is a scene from the 1982 cult classic Liquid Sky. Samples and references to the film appearing on DJ Hell’s exceptional new album Teufelswerk sent me poking around the Internet, exploring the apparent connection between it and the early-millennial electroclash movement, artists of which reportedly derived a great deal of their aesthetic from the flick. To cut to the chase, the movie is absolutely raw, trippy, bizarre and hilarious, and this week I’m recommending everybody download a copy and watch it. Why? Well, with Hell appearing at Cabane à sucre élektronik at Parc Jean-Drapeau on Saturday afternoon, and the Faint and Ladytron appearing in a double bill at Théatre Telus on Tuesday, I figured it would be prescient to have everybody running around town pretending it was either 2002 or 1982, dressing up in tight, colourful, androgynous costumes with gaudy make-up, treating each other like shit and uttering cryptic lines with the word “fuck” three times per sentence. And if you’re still not convinced that this movie fits the moment perfectly, just wait for the scene where the guy has to look at himself in the mirror to get turned on enough to get a blowjob from a female character he hates—played by the very same actor—while a horde of fashion photographers take pictures and chant, “Do it!” Then the aliens vapourize him. Facebook!

For something equally fashionable, tacky and trashy, but far more funky and swaggering on a Tuesday night, check out French synth crooner Sébastien Tellier as he rolls through Cabaret Juste Pour Rire. Also, keep in mind that Chicago house heavyweight Mark Farina hits new spot Karma on Saturday night for some steady four-on-the-floor. That same night, British deep, funky house guy and Pokerflat signee Burnski hits the scene at Daomé with some spacey, progressive bangers. Also that night, you can swing by 10 des Pins W., corner Clark, for Funky MTL’s latest dose of fresh bassline house, U.K. garage and the like. Music by Mr. Bump and MC Plain English. To make things even more stacked and wacky Saturday night, excellent local garage synth-poppers Automelodi launch their new album at Green Room. And don’t forget that the Sunday Cabane à sucre headliner is the inimitable Diplo. Also Sunday night, if you’re still standing and the aliens haven’t sucked out your brains or vapourized you into tinfoil yet, bloopy, bleepy, minimal-techy Berliner Anja Schneider plays the latest edition of the Grindhouse monthly at Cabaret JPR. And, finally, Argentina’s Zizek crew—Fauna, Douster and El G—return to Boomboxx at Zoobizarre for some slammin’ cumbia on Sunday night as well. It’s gonna be a messy weekend.

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jack.oatmon@gmail.com