by RAF KATIGBAK

After five solid days of full-on Muteking and an off-the-hook after party that completely depleted my serotonin reservoir, I'm spent. Personal highlights of the festival were T. Raumschmiere, who brought some punk rock to minimal techno (too bad the obnoxious performance of Philipp Quehenberger all but cleared the place), the Mego label showcase where Kevin Drumm dropped some seriously ominous strobe-light noise (causing more than a few to feel they were witnessing some pan-dimensional, demon-summoning, level-nine wizard shit) and Tujiko Noriko, who injected some much needed personality with her bittersweet, abstracted Japanese pop. Kudos goes out to all the locals who represented Montreal big time with some outstanding performances, especially Deadbeat, Tim Hecker and [sic], who each stole their respective shows.

Looks like there's no rest in sight for me this week as Montreal continues its push towards summer insanity with lots of things to do. Tonight, Thursday, June 5, Level 4 Productions are hosting their regular Bleep event featuring special guests Granny Ark and Noah Pred at Amnesia (1421 Bishop). Cover is $4.

Following the release of their latest tech-house opus Train to Reofa, Friday, June 6, local duo les Jardiniers will be throwing down some wax at O Patro Vys, with live act Champion and DJ Christian Corvellec. Cover is six bucks at the door.

Saturday night, June 7, come check out the SAT's new digs as the popular art/show space reboots with a bang. For the grand finale of the three-day audiovisual fest, Saturday night will feature some clicks 'n' cuts from Scandinavian artists Andreas Tilliander and Tuomas Toivonen as well as local artists the Mole and Pheek and visual improv from a selection of Finnish and Swedish artists whose names look like someone sneezed while typing them.

Also on Saturday, following his success designing the world-class sound system at Stereo, DJ/producer Angel Moraes will work his musical magic on Laval's Red Lite, giving the club a sonic overhaul with a newly designed sound system. Check out the results this Saturday when Moraes starts up his once-a-month residency Sound Works. That same night one of New York's hottest bands, the Rapture, is returning to Montreal. This time they're taking their guitar-driven, disco-rock dance party to la Sala Rossa. If you didn't catch 'em the first time around, don't miss it and prepare to be blown away!

Across the street at Casa del Popolo, on Sunday, one third of the Dat Politics crew, Aelters, will be returning to Montreal for a performance of his solo work. Expect more melodic laptop antics as heard on his EP on Kid 606's Tigerbeat6 label.

Finally, the second Monday of every month has never been so hot as "Montreal's only '90s dance party featuring a white guy and an Asian guy" Oh Snap! returns to Blizzarts. Dust off the Hammer pants and get ready to party as DJs Mr. Vain (white guy) and Dr. Octoboobies (Asian guy) get ready to drop the best in hip-house classics and Euro-dance anthems. This is the rhythm of the night. Oh Snap! offers a free drink to the first person who e-mails me Vanilla Ice's real name.

Rice, rice, baby! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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