by RAF KATIGBAK

First off, big ups to Les Passagers for winning the first annual Lumen VJ challenge. The dynamic digital duo did a great job cutting up the Coen brothers’ film The Man Who Wasn’t There (personally, if I had a choice, I’d have cut up Gigli, but the critics have already taken care of that) and have won a G and a chance to VJ at the next Elektra festival in November. Speaking of Elektra, one festival insider gave yours truly a glimpse into this year’s program and lemme tell ya, it looks like a big ’un: vibrating musical cars, a new 360-degree Granular Synthesis show, Christian Vogel at the MAC and one mysterious big-name electro guy who must remain anonymous.

Tonight, Thursday, Sept. 11, join maestro DJ Philgood as he transforms Soho Lounge into his own electro-tech dance party. Tomorrow Philgood and partner db will be hosting a vernissage at their own Center Records store on St-Laurent (north of Laurier). Art by Samousse, beats by Mini, J-delis and Jibril.

Friday, Sept. 12, don’t forget to support your local minimal house labels as Musique Risquée hosts another Soirée Risquée at O Patro Vys. On hand will be label dons Vincent Lemieux and Akufen. Cover is only $5. Over at la Sala Rossa, local techno wiz Mateo Murphy launches his latest album on the Epsilon Lab label. On hand for this party will be the man of the hour as well as Pheek, Moss & Friends and Eloi Brunelle.

For many of us who have absolutely lost it at Blizzarts’ Thursday night Grill shindigs, the name DJ Bliss will be familiar. For the last 15 years, Bliss has been reppin’ all things funky and breaky. With his Saturday night Chemistry residency he has let his electro side shine, heating up the dancefloor for fellow DJs Mini and Jordan Dare. This Saturday he launches his latest promo mix CD La Mish Mash, an hour-long eclectic mix that travels from Miss Kittin and Jean-Jacques Perrey to Aphex Twin and Depeche Mode and beyond—a killer mix from a killer DJ. Don’t miss this party!

Also on the 13th, on the leftfield of the musical spectrum, catch Why? from the Anticon crew as he, Dosh and Montreal’s Helen of Troy take over at Casa del Popolo for some serious off-kilter organic electronic music, for $10 at the door.

Best Disko wishes go out to local man-about-town Rodrigo “the Dictator” who will be celebrating his birthday this Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Living, where Christian Pronovost, Fernando “Loco” Baldeon and Pat Boogie will be on hand to deliver the bumps. Did I mention the free sushi? What more incentive do you need?

Shameless plug of the week: Also on Wednesday, Lederhosen Lucil will be launching her new CD at Cabaret (with Parka 3 and the We Are Molecules DJ Team—wink, wink). Fun, danceable zaniness will no doubt ensue.

Let there be light! Diskoakimbo@sympatico.ca

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