Night Vision 1.06

(Co-written with Clifford Brown)

Those of you who were at the Glimmers last Thursday night at SAT might now feel as if the legendary "brothers" have not lived up to their reputation. I was sure puzzled to hear a set I'd have expected from a local part of the "Neon Mafia", comprising of the same set of songs we're used to hear at every electro evening in town. Yes, we heard much of the "Neon top 20" and the Glimmers stayed away from the funky disco-dub their latest mixes have been featuring. I apparently was too drunk to remember that they played "House of Jealous Lovers" in its original version (thanks Seez) but that says a lot about their performance. Maybe some other time ?

Until then, let's see what else has been happening around town lately...

News En Vrac
Well, Stereo didn't win the prize for "Best Sound System" at last Friday's Club World Awards. The event presented by Club Systems magazine took place during Miami's Winter Music Conference. It looks like Stereo's owners have decided to head in a different direction with their sound system and their "award-winning" engineer Shorty resigned as a result. He'll be removing all his custom boxes from the club and replacing them with stock equipment. How this will affect our appreciation of Montréal's "Temple of Sound" remains to be seen… or heard.

In other nightly news…

The big electro night slated for Sunday April 16th just got a little bit better: it looks like Romeo Kardec will be opening for New York's Tommie Sunshine at Stereo, adding yet another excellent DJ to an already stellar line-up. The evening's celebration will begin with No Excuse at Ballroom with DJ Unknown (also from NYC), Bender & Sean Kosa. Those who attend No Excuse can expect to be offered a reduced entry fee for Stereo. Advanced ticket for Balroom will be available at Moog Audio tonight, for $10.

A partial list of Mutek's 2006 programming has been revealed to the public thru the festival's website. Among this first batch of confirmed guests: Alex Under, Audio Werner, Clark, Dandy Jack, Dimbiman, Jackson & His Computer Band, Jan Jelinek, Henrik Schwartz, Marc Leclair (Akufen), Modeselektor, Noze, Pierre Bastien, Ryoichi Kurokawa, Sonja Moonear, Stephen Beaupré, TBA & Thomas Brinkmann.

We've also managed to dig out a few dates for you (see the "Later On" section) as well as this little "exclusive": Guido Schneider should also be in town for Mutek on June 2nd.

Also – It looks like The Juan Maclean and MSTRKRFT will visit us once more the Festival de Jazz on July 8, a day after Jamie Lidell re-scheduled appearance.

So? What's going on this week you wonder…


Friday 31/03
Éloi Brunelle launches his new mixed album "5", in honor of his Epsilonlab label's fifth anniversary.


This local tech-house institution, also a net-label - which means that you can download some of their MP3 releases for free on their website (epsilonlab.com) - is becoming a landmark in the city's sounds, with frequent collabs with Germany's like-minded Thinner and explosive events all around. This new mix was compiled & arranged by François LeBaron, who did a similar good job with Hakan Libdo's material when he released "Fishing in Deep Area". The party features Éloi and François, as well as tech-head Paul Keeley, best known for his trippy releases on Thinner, who'll be live. 12$ gets you in, 25$ gets you in + the CD.

The Saboteur Bal proposes Killthelights, Frivolous, The Mole, Leo Cruz & Iamdjsylvie @ the Sala Rossa, for an evening of Saboteur sounds and creepy costumed patrons probably way too old for prom night. 10$.

The 20th "Soirée Risquée" sees Chic Miniature, Stephen Beaupré, Vincent Lemieux & Akufen bring down the house @ Café Délima (6409 St-Hubert), a location I have yet to visit. For some weirded-out experimental micro-house and overblown funk, be there or be square. 7$.

On the after hours front, New York's John Creamer will be deejaying at Circus, with Nicola Torriero and Joubin. Creamer is also scheduled to make an appearance at Taro Sushi Palace earlier in the night!

Local DJs King Louis & Kal will provide good vibes to Aria's crowd, likely throwing a good dose of electro at them in the process.


Saturday 01/04
You'll be glad to learn that Voyeur is back with a third edition @ Societe des Arts Technologiques. It will feature solely locals : Jordan Dare, of course, will bring down the house with his ever dirty sounds; his pal & partner in crime Bliss will do the same, in his old-fashioned funky way, and they'll have Mateo Murphy as a guest.


Murphy was at Eresys.net's party last Saturday at Salle Belle-Gueule, and we're glad to report he's starting to show his face again. After a creative break to change his sound, he'll show you what he's capable of and we'll see the results on the SAT's dancefloor. Let's just hope the lightning guy doesn't drink too much this time around, so we can locate our friends in the place, if we have any left... 10$ at the door.

Roger Sanchez will invade the Medley and play a six hours set for 30-40$. This is a surprise visit that you can't spit on; the guy's a legend of its own. His album FIRST RELEASE was very well received and his Toto-sampled "Another Chance" was a massive hit in Ibiza, Laval & my car a couple of years ago, so if you like your house dipped in some cheese & latin rythms, Sanchez is your type of guy.

If you're the kind of person who wakes up a 3am, check out Creator & Maus at Aria, but be aware of their new pricing scheme: $15 for guys, $5 for the ladies.


Sunday 02/04
The usual No Excuse rocks Balroom with Bender & Kosa.


Robert Owens, the house legend that refuses to die, will be DJ'ing at Parking's Perfect Sundays. The guy knows what the shit is all the time, and his collabs with Photek a couple of years ago prove it. He recently teamed up with Systematic's Marc Romboy for two songs on GEMINI, and if we feel lucky he'll play them ! Don't worry about the guy, he's nice as ice and he'll be your friend... 5-8$ at the door, depending on Patrick Dream's mood.


Next Week
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are in town to promote their latest, Show Your Bones. 25$ in advance, at Metropolis. The Piknic team takes it to Tremblant on the 9th, during the afternoon, with Motus 3F and their "Electronik Bingo", and Frivolous & Éloi Brunelle spinning afterwards. Don't dress too much as you will most definitly sweat.


Later On

April:
13 - Frankie Knuckles @ Unity II (Bal En Blanc)
13 – Jordan Dare @ Parking (Overdose)
14 – Sean Kosa, Bender & Philgood @ Stereo
15 – A Touch of Class & Jordan Dare @ La SAT (I Love Neon)
15 – The Sounds @ Théâtre National
16 – DJ Unknown, Bender & Kosa @ Balroom (No Excuse combo)
16 – Tommie Sunshine & Romeo Kardec @ Stereo (No Excuse)
17 - David Guetta (Bal Afterparty) @ Parking (Bal en Blanc)
19 – Ladytron @ Club Soda
22 – Sander Kleinenberg @ Stereo
27 – Laurent Garnier & Mini @ Parking (Overdose)
28 – Quattrophonic 7 @ Stereo
29 – Cabane à Sucre Electronik
29 – Mini, G O'Brien, X-Cube & Axel Klein @ Velvet


May:
06 – Tiga & Thomas Von Party @ La SAT (I Love Neon)
09 – Pink Mountaintops @ Sala Rossa
12 – MSTRKRFT @ La SAT (Voyeur)
17 – Depeche Mode @ Centre Bell
19 – Architecture In Helsinki @ Sala Rossa
19 – Electro-Chic 7 @ La SAT
20 – Headman @ ? (I Love Neon)
28 – Piknic Electronik
31 – Modeselektor (Live) (Mutek)


June:
01 – Alex Under (Mutek)
02 – Guido Schneider (Mutek)
23 – Blondie & The (New) Cars @ Centre Bell
29 – The Hacker @ Parking (Overdose)


July
07 – Jamie Lidell @ Club Soda (Festival de Jazz)
08 – The Juan Maclean & MSTRKRFT @ Club Soda (Jazz)


September
15 - John Dahlbäck & Jeff Grosse (DiskHo)
21 - Miss Kittin @ Parking (Overdose)
22 - Detroit Grand Pubahs @ Cabaret Music-Hall

Until next week: Keep the fire burnin' !