2/5: Unsound New York Festival at The Bunker

Unsound Festival New York, Co-Presented by:
Unsound, Fundacja Tone, the Polish Cultural Institute in New York, Goethe-Institut New York

In Co-operation With:
Trust for Mutual Understanding, the Romanian Cultural Institute New York, Austrian Cultural Forum New York, Consulate General of Finland New York, Pro Helvetia, Fonds Pop Over Zee

Friday February 5
Unsound Festival New York at The Bunker

10pm to 6am
$25 advance, $30 at the door


Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Map)

FRONT ROOM

tobias. (Logistic, Wagon Repair, nsi. | Germany) live
Marcin Czubala (Mobilee | Poland) live
Jacek Sienkiewicz (Recognition, Cocoon | Poland) live
Legowelt (Bunker, Creme Organization | Netherlands) live
Kadebostan (Freud Am Tanzen | Switzerland) live

BACK ROOM

Newworldaquarium (Delsin, Peacefrog | Netherlands)
Luke Hess (Echocord, FXHE | Detroit) live
Patrick Russell (Circus Company, Mentalux | Detroit)
Derek Plaslaiko (Spectral, The Bunker | Queens)
Spinoza (The Bunker, Beyond | Brooklyn)


tobias. is Tobias Fruend, also known as Pink Elln and one half of both Sieg †ber Die Sonne (with Dandy Jack) and Non Standard Institute (with Max Loderbauer). Recently, he's gained a lot of attention with wildly popular dancefloor tracks and remixes on labels like Cadenza, Wagon Repair, and Ostgut Ton, but he's been producing his own brand of electronic music for over 20 years. With his current projects as Tobias., Non Standard Institute, and Odd Machine (an open collaboration with Ricardo Villalobos, Atom Heart, and others), Freund has redoubled his efforts to strip house and techno back to their most skeletal forms, all the while pushing at the limits of electronic sound design. Tonight, Tobias. plays a live set featuring the Roland 808 and other analog gear in his debut American performance.

Marcin Czubala is not your typical techno artist. Part of this might have to do with the fact that he hails from Poland, not Berlin. Part of it is connected to his classical music studies: between 1991 and 1994 he performed in over 300 concerts, with artist such as experimental-music giant Krzysztof Penderecki. Ultimately, though, what sets Marcin apart is his personal style, that most difficult to define of all musical criteria. While grounded in minimal house and techno, Marcin's work always bears his unmistakable signature: slinky, bouncy, and full of mystery and seduction. In 1999 he founded Poland's first techno label, Currently Processing. Marcin recorded some 17 singles and one album before joining up with Mobilee in 2007. Inspired by minimal techno, but not bound to its rules, Marcin continues to forge a sound that's his alone.

Jacek Sienkiewicz was born in 1976 in Warsaw, Poland, where he still lives. After two years of DJing, he started performing live sets in 1996 and never looked back. He launched his own label, Recognition, in 2000, with an album and string of singles. Jacek's talent was quickly recognized by Sven Vath's Cocoon organization, who represent him worldwide, and have since released three of his albums. At this point, Jacek is well known for his unorthodox approach to live performance, and is in high demand, playing huge events such as I Love Techno, Awakenings, Nature One, Love Parade, DEMF, Transmediale, and Mutek.

Newworldaquarium is the alter ego of Amsterdam based Jochem Peteri, named after a New York aquarium supply store. Peteri has released only a handful of records over the last sixteen years under various monikers: Newworldromantic, Ross 154, and 154. With tracks licensed to Carl Craig and classic releases on Delsin and Peacefrog, Peteri has remained mysteriously under the radar. In late 2001, Peteri set up his own label, NWAQ, to release his material. His sophomore album, "The Dead Bears" arrived in early 2008, fifteen years after his debut on Dutch techno imprint Eevo-Lute Muzique. Newworldaquarium rarely performs in public, and tonight is his U.S. debut. His slow, drawn out house dirges will certainly add to the atmosphere of the night.

Legowelt is the name under which Dutch artist Danny Wolfers releases most of his music. He describes his music as "a hybrid form of slam jack, The Hague electronix, combined with deep Chicago trax, obscure and romantic ghetto technofunk, EuroHorror Soundtracks and a lot more". Initially influenced by early Detroit Techno and Chicago acid tracks, Legowelt moved on to more and more experimental sounds until finally discovering the Bunker Records crew in his hometown, The Hague. He has since released dozens of records under more artist names than anyone could possibly keep track of. We are glad that we were finally able to bring someone from Bunker Records, who we've admired from afar for years, to play at The Bunker in Brooklyn.

Long term resident of Geneva, Kadebostan is a rising star. His productions are multi-influenced by musical history, fusing elements such as jazz and classical music with electronic sounds and rhythms. Released on labels such as Freude-am-Tanzen and Fenou, his EP’s have all been highly acclaimed, leading to live slots at clubs such as Watergate and Panorama Bar. But nothing has prepared listeners for his work with the Belarus band Rational Diet, a 6-piece avant-garde group that has led to the formation of National Fanfare of Kadebostany. A project originally commissioned by Unsound, National Fanfare have become Kadebostan’s band, and will release a live album on Mental Groove. For Unsound Festival New York, Kadebostan will perform one of his famed live shows, highly energetic and danceable.

Born in 1980 and raised in the Detroit area, Luke Hess has harnessed a deep appreciation for electronic music and the expression of the underground movement. His background in mathematics and engineering has given him a scientific approach to the dance floor, using frequencies, tones, and soundscapes to transform surroundings and mood. His music quickly caught the ear of Omar S, who released two of his EPs on his own FXHE imprint. His debut album was released in early May 2009 by Denmark based label Echocord. With eight years of DJ experience, he is regarded as a perfectionist in his live sets and behind the decks, layering his tracks in a very detailed and hypnotic manner. Luke has played at notable venues and events such as Culture Box, Panorama Bar, Fabric, Unit, and DEMF. In 2010, Luke will be launching his own label (DeepLabs), and releasing an EP as Reference (with Brian Kage) on Carl Craig's Planet-e. Tonight marks his debut New York appearance.

Patrick Russell is a serious name to watch. A Detroit-bred DJ, artist and producer since the early 90's, Patrick has played countless clubs, parties, and high-profile events throughout his career. His resume highlights include everything from performing at the 2001 & 2008 DEMF/Movement festivals to an exclusive opening for Jeff Mills in Detroit in 2007. Not to mention, we heard he did some MAJOR damage opening for Scion for the Detroit stop on their tour. His taste has always been impeccable and his sets just get better and better as time progresses. And fans in Detroit and beyond are taking notice, as many of them are singing the praises of his artistry very loudly these days. We have been wanting to get him in at Bunker since we were in Subtonic, and the time has finally come.

Derek Plaslaiko has long been the resident at The Bunker, and is widely considered to be one of the best DJs in New York (The Village Voice named him New York's Best Techno DJ in 2006's "Best Of" poll). Derek pretty much blows up The Bunker every single month, often outshining the world famous special guests from all over the world. 2009 was a good year for Derek, as he continued to heavily tour the United States, and even made appearances at Berghain and Club der Visionaire in Berlin. Also, his mix of all Spectral material was part of the "Spectral 50" release, on, you guessed it, Spectral Sound. We expect a lot from him, but in 2010 you can expect much more as Derek focuses more energy into his own productions and finally releasing some music.

Bryan Kasenic (aka Spinoza) is known in the electronic music world for throwing many successful parties, playing adventurous DJ sets, launching an influential newsletter, and starting Beyond, his own booking agency. In addition to many sets at The Bunker and House-N-Home in Brooklyn, 2009 saw Spinoza travel for gigs at Watergate in Berlin, Unsound Festival in Krakow, Communikey Festival in Boulder, and Decibel Festival in Seattle. In January 2010, he will be celebrating the seventh anniversary of his infamous party, The Bunker, and helping to organize the first Unsound New York Festival.

2/12: Unsound New York Festival at The Bunker

Unsound Festival New York, Co-Presented by:
Unsound, Fundacja Tone, the Polish Cultural Institute in New York, Goethe-Institut New York

In Co-operation With:
Trust for Mutual Understanding, the Romanian Cultural Institute New York, Austrian Cultural Forum New York, Consulate General of Finland New York, Pro Helvetia, Fonds Pop Over Zee

Friday February 12
Unsound Festival New York at The Bunker

10pm to 6am
$25 advance, $30 at the door


Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Map)

FRONT ROOM

Anthony "Shake" Shakir (Frictional, Rush Hour | Detroit)
Mike Huckaby (S Y N T H, Deep Transportation | Detroit)
Barbara Preisinger (~Scape, Slices Of Life | Germany)


BACK ROOM

Petre Inspirescu (Cadenza, [a:rpia:r] | Romania)
DJ Qu (Underground Quality, Strength | New Jersey)
Eric Cloutier (The Bunker | Brooklyn)


Over the last few years, its been almost impossible to go anywhere and not hear someone mention the A:rpia:r group from Romania. Championed by Ricardo Villalobos and Luciano as some of the best DJ's around, the group has taken over dancefloors all around the globe, presenting people with their tasteful take on house music and showing even the masters of the game how its done. One of the groups most talented faces, Petre Inspirescu, more commonly referred to as Pedro, is making his first ever North American appearance at Unsound, and we're quite sure he's going to show us a thing or two on how to move a crowd. His DJ sets are as sonically baffling as they are irresistibly groovy; as a producer his tracks are as unhinged as they are methodical. Musical connoisseurs take note - there is, without question, the distinct possibility that in one sitting you'll be privy to rare classics, hidden gems and unheard secret weapons from Pedro himself during his set, so make sure you're paying close attention to one of house music's most talented new faces.

Detroit producer Anthony "Shake" Shakir is one of the more under recognized, underappreciated names in American techno. A producer since 1981, Shake had an important role in helping shape the early Motor City sound associated with artists such as Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May, and in fact belongs to the first wave of producers. Unlike the famous Belleville three, Shake has remained elusive - a secret within a scene known at that time for multiple alias'. Shake was a very active part of the first two crucial generations of Detroit techno producers - recording some of his first tracks in Kevin Saunderson's studio, working with Derrick May on remixes, and dropping cuts for Juan Atkins Metroplex label were he also got his first taste of label management and A&R. His first solo material appeared on Virgin's seminal "Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit" compilation. As well as being tied to that first wave of producers Shake is perhaps stylistically closer to second wave artists such as "Mad Mike" Banks, Carl Craig (whose first track he edited), the Kinchen brothers and his close associates Dan Bell and Claude Young. Shake is one of the few that can tell you the full history of Detroit Techno from a Detroiters first hand perspective - he's seen it all from Cybotron to The Music Institute to the first DEMF and today's new generation of producers Shake was there. Shake is known for using diverse range of musical approaches from hard, stripped-down tracks to more experimental fare that owes equally to electro, hip-hop, jazz and funk. His music is always at the cutting edge and often unpredictable. In 2000, Shake was diagnosed with MS but his production work did not slow down. Instead he continued to release music consistently. This year, Shake has made a big comeback on the underground with two very highly rated 12"s, and in 2010 he will finally release a three disc compilation of his tracks on Rush Hour for those who have yet to discover his genius.

The main thing you need to know about Mike Huckaby is that he has impeccable taste and the ability to see past petty genre divisions to bring together amazing sets that may cover everything from the deepest house and the darkest techno to classic tracks from 20 years ago that you didn't even realize existed. These skills have landed him endless gigs worldwide at huge clubs, and make him an ideal DJ for the Unsound dancefloor. Although his talents as a DJ are well documented, do not forget that he is also a very accomplished producer of dub techno and deep house, with tracks on his own Deep Transportation and S Y N T H labels, as well as the Berlin-based Cache imprint.

Patience is a virtue, and quiet tastemaker DJ Qu has been on steady rise for many years. As founder and resident of the historic Dance Music Conference party that takes place in NYC every month, Qu garnered himself a reputation of subtle persistence, impeccable taste and technical mastery behind the turntables. Years of house music appreciation shine brilliantly within his talent, and he quickly found his way as part of the Underground Quality crew, headed up by another notable peer, DJ Jus-Ed. Deciding to turn towards production, DJ Qu created his own label, Strength Music, as a creative outlet for his compositions, and before long he was making his way to Fabric, Tape-Club and other illustrious venues around the world, preaching his house music gospel he'd so carefully been perfecting for so long. His careful track selection and deft touch behind the decks clearly are a perfect fit for Unsound.

One of the unsung heroes of Berlin is a talented lady by the name of Barbara Preisinger. One of the founders of the seminal ~Scape label alongside fellow Unsound performer Pole, Barbara initially made a name for herself DJing the lush and abstract sounds the label itself was known for, but it wasn't long before the call of the dancefloor was upon her and she made a switch towards the 4/4 side of things. It wasn't long before her talents and tastes being noticed, and being in Berlin, she was quickly cited as a remarkably gifted up-and-comer. After making the acquaintance of Daniel Bell, however, the two formed a smash-hit monthly, Deeper Still, at the always debaucherous but notoriously popular Club Der Visionaire, and Preisinger rapidly became a household name to the locals itching for a mature, well curated selection of house and techno to accompany their summer afternoons.

If you appreciate house and techno music with depth and sophistication played with tight technical skill and genuine feeling, Eric Cloutier should be on your radar. His recent sets around town have become an attraction for dedicated heads seeking a deeper shade of techno than your average weekend warrior. Aside from a few very memorable sets at The Bunker this year, Eric traveled to Japan to play at the Labyrinth Festival, and appeared in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Memphis, Vancouver, Boston, and Washington, DC. He put out several well received podcasts in 2009, and is working on a few new ones and delving into the studio for some original productions.

2/13: Unsound Festival New York at The Bunker: Bass Mutations

Unsound Festival New York, Co-Presented by:
Unsound, Fundacja Tone, the Polish Cultural Institute in New York, Goethe-Institut New York

In Co-operation With:
Trust for Mutual Understanding, the Romanian Cultural Institute New York, Austrian Cultural Forum New York, Consulate General of Finland New York, Pro Helvetia, Fonds Pop Over Zee

Saturday, February 13
Unsound Festival New York at The Bunker: Bass Mutations

10pm to 6am
$25 advance, $30 at the door


Public Assembly
70 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Map)

FRONT ROOM

2562 (Tectonic | Netherlands)
Untold (Hemlock, Hessle Audio | UK)
TRG (Hessle Audio, Tempa | Romania)
Dave Q (Dub War | NYC)

BACK ROOM

Pole (~Scape | Germany) live
FaltyDL (Planet Mu | NYC) live
Pavel Ambiont (Belarus) live
Konque (Konque | NYC) live
Sepalcure (Machine Drum & Praveen | NYC) live


Stefan Betke aka Pole is one of the most important and well known electronic music producers to emerge in the past decade. His first three albums ("1", "2", & "3"), released from 1998 to 2000 and packaged in solid blue, red, and yellow sleeves, are absolute stone-cold classics. Betke reissued these three sadly out-of-print albums as a box set on his own ~scape imprint (titled "1 2 3") in 2008, so they are once again available to the unfortunate souls who missed his timeless music the first time around. More recently, Pole released the "Steingarten" album on 2007, further developing his sound. He also did A&R for the critically acclaimed "Round Black Ghosts" compilations on ~scape, two collection of tracks that blur the line between dubstep and techno. We've caught Pole's newest live set a few times in Europe, and he's taken things in a much more dancefloor direction while maintaining the Pole sound design and creativity we all love.

Producer Dave Huismans is 2562, pioneering in the way that he has merged dubstep and techno. The result is a full yet lean, fluid hybrid that has found an audience not only among fans of dubstep, but anyone drawn to fresh and innovative club music. His 2562 album “Aerial” was released in 2008 by Pinch’s Tectonic Label, and regarded by many critics as one of the albums of the year. As Boomkat wrote: “This album follows in the massively revered tradition of dub experimentation and rhythm science laid down in the lineage stretching from Lee Perry through King Tubby, Scientist, Steve Gurley, Dillinja, Photek, Rhythm & Sound, Kode 9 and Burial.” Huismans also releases deep house and techno influences tracks under the alias A Made Up Sound.

Untold is Jack Dunning, described by Fact Magazine as the “dubstep producer of the year”, for a trademark sound fusing garage, techno and UK funky with percussion and bass stabs. Releasing a succession of left field 12"’s on Hessle Audio and Scuba’s Hotflush, he also runs his own label, Hemlock. In 2009, Untold’s reputation as an innovator has exploded, for creating tracks that throw the rulebook out the window to create their own sound. Pitchfork wrote in June that Untold is bringing a vitality to dubstep in 2009, by using “the limits of his imagination”, drawing from a sound palate that includes chirps, sub bass, plastic sounds made on a Casio keyboard and even elephant snorts. Boomkat called him “the most talked about underground producer in the UK right now”.

TRG is causing a stir. Known in the bass-heavy music scene, electronic music communities around the world who share a passion for fresh new sounds will soon know the addictive grooves of 28-year-old Romanian producer Cosmin Nicolae. His first 12" on Hessle Audio garnered the attention of BBC Radio 1's Mary Anne Hobbs among others, and labels soon got on his case. TRG has been active in nurturing the electronic music scene in Bucharest since he relocated there in 2000. Influenced by classical, jazz and disco as a child, and son of a single mother, Cosmin has a fire inside that gave him the gumption for forward thinking electronic music in an environment where there was none. With several manuscripts under his belt by the age of 15, TRG was ready to play mega raves within a year of beginning his first DJ night. Bass Mutations is TRGÕs North American debut.

Before New Yorker Drew Lustman began releasing music on UK labels Ramp and Planet Mu, he built up a small catalogue on US independents Unfun, fizx-recordings and Napalm Enema Records. Lustman's first record as Falty DL was the jungle inspired Beat Lumber EP (Unfun 2007). Raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Drew was influenced by Aphex Twin and Squarepusher and had an early start with music as a child, He played upright and electric bass in the jazz quartet, Luggage, straight out of high school. On moving to Manhattan, Lustman started going to dubstep nights and was inspired by jungle, disco, and New York garage and house. After his jungle inspired releases on Berkley-based Unfun records in 2007, Lustman sent countless "crazy jungle" demos to Mike Paradinas, head of Planet Mu. He finally struck gold when Paradinas picked up the first track of his debut album, Human Meadow. The experimental-dubstep album "Love is a Liability" was released in 2009.

Pavel Ambiont is a producer of dub techno living east of Poland in Belarus. Long releasing his solo work on Internet labels, in 2008 he collaborated with Bristol producer Pinch during the Unsound project “Connections”. This resulted in the track “Poison / Remedy”, included on the project compilation compiled by scape Records and Unsound.

Dave Q is the founder and resident DJ of Dub War NYC, the US's original dubstep party. He has played at London's seminal DMZ night and many of the leading dubstep events around the US. Along with fellow Dub War residents Joe Nice, Juakali, and Incyde, DQ has been at the forefront of the fast-growing scene from day one. His sets are uncompromising in exploring new directions for the sound, and feature the most sought after dubplates from the scene's top producers. His new label, The Index, is a collaboration with NYC producer Badawi, and launches in early 2010.

Konque is a music project and record label helmed by Sasha Kaline and David Last. Strange jacking tracks for dirty basements, or sometimes, just pure sound. Konque embodies a more electroacoustic side than Kaline's Alka_Rex project, and a stranger palette than David's usual wobbly funk tracks. They share interests in tape music, modern classical, asian percussion music, as well as dub reggae and ska; these influences are clearly present but not obvious. The textures they choose are meant to evoke images, and they have started developing the sounds simultaneously with animation. Separately, Sasha has released with Musique Risquee, Thema and Mille Plateaux, and David has released with Staubgold, The Agriculture, and Foundsound. As Konque they release on their own label Konque. Recently other artists such as Ezekiel Honig, Pheek and Morgan Packard have joined them.

Sepalcure's combination of love for bass and 90s house acapellas is the culmination of a cathartic two week collaboration between Machinedrum and Praveen. Their mix of tribal dub, house and two step beats works equally well for both late nights in the club and rainy, introspective nights at home. Detroit techno chords cut through wooden beats, neon synths and dubbed out atmospherics. Future lovestep. Based in Brooklyn, NY, the two run the Cassette NYC series of events as well as the curated and user contributed mix archive, PercussionLab.Com. Integral to the thriving bass music scene in NYC, the past 5 years have seen Praveen and Machinedrum inviting artists such as Flying Lotus, Daedelus, David Last and Ghislain Poirier to perform alongside local favorites. Their own past releases featuring artists such as Theophilus London and Beno”t Pioulard reveal an artistic breadth unusual for the majority of genre-trapped electronic musicians today.