Black Devil boat ride

The big news is that Black Devil Disco Club, among my very favourite producers, are playing a live set at MEG’s boat party on Aug. 1. If you don’t know them, they’re a dark, bewildering, twisted and virtuosic cross between dub and Italo disco. They’ve been lurking in the shadows for some three decades, but became an underground phenomenon in 2006 with the release of 28 After. Check out “‘h’ friend” then “I Regret the Flower Power” for a representative taste. That party is going to be exquisite.

Half a decade in, the people at Dirty Bird Records are the West Coast U.S. commanders of electronic funk, consistently putting out meticulous yet festive cuts packed with personality and primed for fun and freaky folks, rather than dwelling on dorky doo-doo. Their three-disc anniversary comp, which founders Claude VonStroke and Christian Martin are touring through Stereo this Friday night, is a collection of bygone must-haves and fresh-baked house and techno ear-ticklers. Alongside will be sub-label Mothership signees Voodeux for a live set of strange and stylized paranormal-themed techno. That’s one heck of a booking, and these are decidedly the sorts of dudes who know how to crank a boombox like Stereo’s.

Another sweet sound this weekend is the soulful Detroit throwback style of Berliner Hunee, who has his own take on the timeless analog Motor City groove, but also concocts unique, melodic, layered tracks with almost-ambient breakdown sections and big, spacey effects. He’s at Velvet on Saturday night.

I must also mention the exciting return of the Rialto, with an excellent indie line-up including the Luyas, Avec Pas d’Casque and the Hoof and the Heel on next Wednesday, June 9. And if you’re just coming from out of town and you missed our comprehensive MUTEK coverage, check out the last issue of the Mirror online for the full fill-in: bit.ly/chy8wn.

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