Scout Network Blog» electronic music

The Body Electronic

Erin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:08:06 +0000

Visiting Berlin rekindled my love for electronic music – the kids certainly do love the techno. Coming back to my hometown, Toronto, I thought I’d do a little digging around in the electronic scene here. What I uncovered was some great talent like Art Department, Egyptrixx and Nacho Lovers but they might agree that while there is good electronic music from Toronto, what can be found in Toronto is a bit spotty.

The electronic music scene in Toronto goes back in time to the 80′s and a notable club called Twilight Zone, followed by a strong rave scene through the 90′s but post rave apathy came upon the early 00′s and generally indie music has dominated the local music scene ever since. However, I find the more I talk to people about house music, they confess that they too love dancing into the wee hours. Perhaps there is something brewing here?

Toronto has a few venues that regularly host electronic acts like The Government, Wrong Bar, Sound Academy, and assorted smaller venues but they all close after last call (2am) and then…? There is usually an after hours to be found, but you can pretty much guarantee a $20 cover and who knows what the music will be like or if it will be good vibes or sketchy. The Comfort Zone and Sunday afternoons at Cherry Beach are the closest this city comes to providing somewhat legal party spaces in the electronic scene.

But that hasn’t stopped Toronto from turning out some great producers, even if, arguably they play outside of the city most of time. Long time veteran, Kenny Glasgow along with John White make up Art Department – live vocals by Glasgow set to moody, dark, spaced out beats. Egyptrixx is reluctant to assign a genre to what he does but creates ‘experimental club music,’ pushing boundaries and carving new niches in the electronic world. Locally, the duo Nacho Lovers certainly know how to get some sweaty dancing going both in the studio and the club. Not to mention all the other new talent waiting in the wings of what is possibly the beginning of a renaissance. The party people are out there and if you play it, they will come.

More New Forms From Vancouver’s Biggest Festival Experience

Kuma — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 13:23:56 +0000

I’m feeling old. When the brands you saw launch celebrate eleven years of existence, you begin to start checking for grey hair. I know I’ve talked about them before but as they continue, it’s always worth recognizing them as they continue to progress in their mandate.

The New Forms Festival has branded itself as Vancouver’s festival of festival when it comes to electronic music, art and digital culture.

I have fond memories of playing the very first NFF back in the day and to see it taking over the Waldorf Hotel, itself the new east Vancouver hub for art, food and music, I cant help but smile.

By promoting Canadian Artists in collaboration with the international arts and technology world, the NFF facilitates multi-diciplianry art and engages in discussion on their role in our cultural environment. Seattle has the Decibel Festival, Montreal has Mutek, Vancouver has the New Forms Festival.

This year was no exception, crossing an excellently curated musical lineup over three nights with a series of art and video displays in the hotel rooms galleries of the Waldorf.

Happily mixing ambient drones with bumping Detroit house, broken beat and serious dub techno. Three nights of music at the 2011 NFF meant you were losing it to Scant Intone one minute, Shlomo and Jeremy Ellis the next and then Deadbeat and Sun Araw in the last sun of an East Vancouver afternoon the day after that. Such rampant eclecticism could come off as overly self conscious in the hands of others but with the NFF, it works.

Artistically, the presence of Negativland hung heavy and that’s not a bad thing, especially with the group’s Mark Hosler leading dialogues over the course of the weekend. From hacked X-Box Kinect’s to lazer graffiti and projections everywhere, art was truly in the public domain.

Ghosts on Tape brings the tropical-booty-crunk

Vanessa — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:13:14 +0000

I can’t understand how this guy is not more famous yet.

Ghosts on Tape is a one-man dance jam powerhouse from San Francisco whose unique tropical-booty-crunk sound defies categorization. In his own words, Ghosts on Tape is “live PA with no laptops on some janky ass ghetto equipment that no one would be caught dead using in the 21st century.” This means that he does his whole performance live on two blinking mixer looking things (no turntables involved) that look straight out of the early ’90s.

Ghosts on Tape

He did an xlr8r mix in November 2009 and some hot remixes that are gaining some serious attention (for Lemonade and Rainbow Arabia), but I can’t really understand why this dude is not blowing up. He’s put out a bunch of releases on Wireblock. Plus he’s a super nice guy and even agreed to do a live set at my birthday party for a hundred bucks. Labels/booking agent/promoters take note! And just when I thought he couldn’t possibly have any more street cred, he takes a sample from this widely acclaimed/cult youTube video.

Supposedly he is roommates with one of the guys behind Lazer Sword, a two piece half in San Francisco and half in New York whose sound is more hip-hop infused with more of a glitchy/electro/bass thing going on — but the influence both ways can definitely be heard. (Lazerword also did a mix for xlr8r.)

Lazer Sword

I saw Lazer Sword last year them with the similar and equally awesome Megasoid, from Canada — and their live show was pretty banging, even though it drew a crowd that was 90% sweaty dudes. Lazer Sword also done some pretty cool remixes, like the Larytta remix released on the innovative Friends of Friends label/project.

Their concept is to do a series of split digital-only releases where one artist chosen by the label in turn chooses a friend to join them on the split (thus “Friends of Friends”). Instead of CDs, you buy a limited edition t-shirt that comes with a download code. I want to see them repping Ghosts on Tape next!

Megasoid

Miami is the next Seattle

Arielle — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:05:38 +0000

I am happy to say that locally, there is some truly fantastic shit going on. I’ve said it before that Miami is the next Seattle in that there are a ton of talented acts ready to pop…

Awesome New Republic are one of the best bands out right now, period. They consider themselves to make “pop” music but have utilized just about every genre of modern music in their songs. They got a lot of press recently when Leighton Meester of Gossip Girls sang one of their tracks. The notoriously picky Pitchfork.tv site just debuted their latest video which is a must-see:

Awesome New Republic – Digital World:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVcJBZ37pBU

¡MAYDAY! are a local hip hop act that take it to the next level. They play with live musicians and did a track last year that Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley did guest vocals for! They have a super dedicated local following with a street team and everything.

Otto Von Schirach is a local favorite for his bass-heavy electronic music. He’s toured the world and put out a record on Mike Patton’s esteemed Ipecac record label. He did a cracked-out cover of “When Doves Cry” for a Prince tribute years ago at Sweat Records and now “Sliced Doves on Codeine” is one of his most-requested tracks.

Rachel Goodrich’s music is so original she needed to invent a new genre for it: shake-a-billy! She plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, a mean kazoo(!) and has been likened to a female Bob Dylan, with some Grateful Dead, Buddy Holly and Django Reinhardt throw in.

Here’s a short piece on Rachel from the local PlumTV affiliate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45nmZDsf2SA

Last but not least one of my personal favorite local acts is Life of Seals. They’re dreamy and melodic but with a more bombastic sound…imagine if The Postal Service rocked out a bit more. They create a huge wall of sound live and it’s hard to believe that band consists of only two guys.

I am happy to say that locally, there is some truly fantastic shit going on. I’ve said it before that Miami is the next Seattle in that there are a ton of talented acts ready to pop…

Awesome New Republic are one of the best bands out right now, period. They consider themselves to make “pop” music but have utilized just about every genre of modern music in their songs. They got a lot of press recently when Leighton Meester of Gossip Girls sang one of their tracks. The notoriously picky Pitchfork.tv site just debuted their latest video which is a must-see:

Awesome New Republic – Digital World:

¡MAYDAY! are a local hip hop act that take it to the next level. They play with live musicians and did a track last year that Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley did guest vocals for! They have a super dedicated local following with a street team and everything.

Otto Von Schirach is a local favorite for his bass-heavy electronic music. He’s toured the world and put out a record on Mike Patton’s esteemed Ipecac record label. He did a cracked-out cover of “When Doves Cry” for a Prince tribute years ago at Sweat Records and now “Sliced Doves on Codeine” is one of his most-requested tracks.

Rachel Goodrich’s music is so original she needed to invent a new genre for it: shake-a-billy! She plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, a mean kazoo(!) and has been likened to a female Bob Dylan, with some Grateful Dead, Buddy Holly and Django Reinhardt throw in.

Here’s a short piece on Rachel from the local PlumTV affiliate.

Last but not least one of my personal favorite local acts is Life of Seals. They’re dreamy and melodic but with a more bombastic sound…imagine if The Postal Service rocked out a bit more. They create a huge wall of sound live and it’s hard to believe that band consists of only two guys.