The def leading the Mutek

>> Some sound advice on Montreal’s premier nu-skool electronic music fest

by RAF KATIGBAK

Yes, it’s that time of year again, folks. Montreal’s cutting-edge electronic music festival, Mutek, returns for a third year, ready to kick off another five days of twisted bleep-bleep and bloop-bloop that promises more noodling than a Chinese soup kitchen. It’s a well-known fact that Mutek is one of North America’s premier advanced electronic music hoe-downs, and this year the line-up is further proof, so here are the Mirror’s essential picks.

Wednesday, May 29

If you’re looking for funky, minimal madness, U.K. act SND has no rival. Blending microscopic sounds and ambiences with click rhythms, the British duo of Mark Fell and Matt Steel prefer to draw inspiration from the rhythmic universe of funk and R&B breakbeats as opposed to house or techno. They’re at Ex-Centris at 8:30 p.m., $20.
For sheer and unabashed entertainment value, you can’t go wrong with Germany’s Felix Kubin, who returns to Montreal after last year’s excellent performance at the FCMM. If you ever wondered what it would be like if Burt Bacharach were a member of the Star Wars cantina band, here’s your answer. Combining quirky space-pop with a sense of humour and a flair for showmanship, this guy’s guaranteed to get the SAT swingin’. Show starts at 11 p.m., $15.

Thursday, May 30

Touted as “IDM at its best,” catch artists from U.K. imprint SKAM and Canadian label Suction as they form like Voltron for some serious techno tomfoolery at the SAT. Solvent and Lowfish are two analog-gear purists on Toronto’s Suction whose proto-electro-techno releases have garnered props from IDM and neo-electro fans alike. Bola’s 1998 album Soup (Geddit? Bowl-a-soup?), on England’s almost mythical SKAM label, turned a lot of headz with its combination of experimental sounds and beautiful ambiences. Preferring a quality-over-quantity approach, his releases are few and far between, but each one is packed with yummy melodic goodness. Note: regretfully, SKAM’s Gescom DJs are unable to attend Mutek this year. Pity. Show starts at 11 p.m., $15.

Friday, May 31

Don’t miss hometown hero Akufen as he plays the same bill as one of his own heroes, Herbert, who’s back performing under his more raw, experimental Radioboy moniker. Think sweet, minimal, funky tech-house chiselled out of raw radio samples. This’ll be a big show, so be there!
9 p.m. at the Metropolis, $25.

Sunday, June 2

Teutonic ersatz-Latino Atom Heart, the mastermind behind the brilliant Señor Coconut and Flanger releases, makes a very special appearance in North America alongside some other audionaughts from south-of-south-of the border. With artists from Mexico, Argentina and Chile (via Germany?!), this is a rare glimpse into the little-known but burgeoning electronic music scene from South America, so don’t miss it! Things start at 9 p.m. at the SAT, $20. :