by RAF KATIGBAK

After a bumpin’ weekend featuring a steady diet of live electro (the Vox event at the Jupiter room), robo-DJs (the Jukebots at Elektra) and serious trouser jazzercise (the smashing and extremely packed Mr. Scruff night at the SAT), Montreal shows no signs of slowing down as it gears up for the holiday party season.

This week the SAT, which is rumoured to have already chosen its new and improved location, continues to shine as one of the best places to see interesting and diverse shows. Tonight, Nov. 21, check out Cream Test Centrifuge (no, it’s not a new attraction at Super Sexe—they already have a free hot-and-cold buffet, isn’t that enough?). CTC is a very special surround-sound audio presentation by the U.K.’s highbrow hearing heavyweight David Toop (author of Ocean of Sound, Exotica and Rap Attack) on flutes, paraphernalia and effects. It features Toronto composer Sarah Peebles on laptop, and Nilan Perera on swizzle sticks, paper clips, metal brushes and other assorted oddities, and is all masterfully orchestrated and spatialized on eight speakers by Darren Copeland using a special 40-channel mixing board. For a truly unique sonic experience, this event is not to be missed. $14 in advance, $18 at the door.

Amidst rumours of shut-downs and handovers, Stereo is forging on through November as it celebrates its fourth anniversary. This weekend’s festivities include U.K. progressive house DJ and producer John Debo (from Boston’s Chrome happenings), Brad Copeland and local D’Kai. On Saturday, check out Twisted and Tribal records founder Rob Di Stefano as he brings the pumping progressive tribal sound to Montreal alongside hometown house head Alain Vinet.

Speaking of rumours, Bombay Records, looking to nip the Montreal rumour mill in the bud, recently made an announcement. It states that 1) No, they aren’t going out of business (in fact it’s just the opposite, they’re releasing more stuff than ever, but currently focusing more on singles rather than CDs), 2) They’ve got a shiny new office on Parc, 3) Although Shawn Phelan is not at the office full-time and DJ Nav is moving to Vancouver, they are both still very active within the label, and 4) Even though Patrick Dream had a small sale of his vinyl collection (1,000 out of 8,000), that does not mean he is getting out of DJing. Nuff said.

Local drum & bass producer Black Market (of live D&B duo DB fame) is starting up a brand spanking new night on Wednesdays, upstairs at Saphir, called Flexout. It features DJs RamDac and Dr. Teeth. If you’re into music of the experimental, breakcore, IDM and all-out sound-buggery variety (e.g. Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, Venetian Snares, Bogdan Raczynski etc.), you’d do well to check this night out as there aren’t many in Montreal at the moment. Also of note, DJ RamDac will be using the revolutionary Final Scratch technology so all you trainspotters and gear geeks might want to scope this out—but come ready to party, I know I will! :

Did you hear the one about Michael… Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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