by RAF KATIGBAK

Well, another Easter weekend has passed and once again, thanks to the kind gentlemen in baseball caps surreptitiously doling out party favours at this year's Bal en Blanc, I'm that much closer to complete brain-cell/serotonin depletion. The final verdict for the White Is Pure Party, though, is a thumbs-up. There's no doubt that if you're looking for a big circuit party, this crew knows how to do it up right. With the exception of the bathroom situation (an insane line-up that snaked up three floors) this year's party went off without a hitch. Packed to capacity, Armin van Buuren rocked the place and Misstress Barbara brought the house down with two pumpin' sets, one as the Misstress and one as Barbara Brown. My personal highlight was the live chainsaw ice-sculpture performance that took centre stage at around 3 a.m. (mostly 'cause I was half fearing the chainsaw flying loose from the sculptor's hands, thus quickly turning the party into Bal en Rouge).

The U.K.'s Chris Duckenfield visits Montreal this Friday, April 25, at Stereobar. Some of you may know Duckenfield from his excellent mix on Turbo Records a while back and others may know him from his Swag project with Richard Brown. From wherever you know him (he may be the guy who shaved your old Aunt Edna's back every week, for all I know) you should at least know that this guy can turn it out, so make sure you go check him out (requests for private back-shavings will probably be denied).

Also visiting from the land of bubble and squeak, the man from UNKLE, Mo'Wax major-domo James Lavelle, drops by Aria this Saturday, April 26. As a producer this guy's top-notch, as a DJ his mix on Global Underground is an eclectic mix of hip hop, breaks, house and beyond.

Tonight the SAT is hosting the final shindig at its current location. Let's all bid a fond farewell (but not forever as they will soon reopen on lower St-Laurent) to this wonderful space as local label Wikkid records showcase some home-grown beatmeisters. On the bill will be the incomparable David Kristian, Black Market, Pivot and RCola as well as Canada's number-one scratch jungle DJ, Capitol J. Tickets are $10 in advance, check www.sat.qc.ca for deets.

The third installment of the Blend is coming up this Saturday, too. On the decks will be Miss Bliss, the Unexpected/Hed Nodda'deb, the Nitrous and a host of others providing breakbeats of all flavours, from D&B and breaks to hip hop, chillout and electro. Call 218-8174 for info.

Finally, Montreal's premier indie-electro-synth-pop-glam-rock monthly Razzmatazz is back this Saturday, April 26, at Missy Bar (250 Mont-Royal E.). Don't miss your chance to rock out to the sounds of DJs Radiowhore and Amyl Nitrate - like all the best things in life, it's free!

Next Tuesday, April 29, you've got a couple of choices on your plate. Head to Jupiter room and check out local acid electro act Aum Supreme and synth pop sensation the Unicorns, or drop by the VAV Gallery (1395 René-Levesque E.) for a good old fashion vernissatchdance party for local photo wunderkinds the Sanchez Brothers, with the We Are Molecules DJ Team and the World Provider. Either one is a hot ticket!

Step on a crack… shave your auntie's back. Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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