As New York’s annual Unsound Festival heads into its home stretch this weekend, two of Brooklyn’s top underground promoters are presenting some serious exclusives on Friday and Saturday night. Up first: Aurora Halal’s Mutual Dreaming event, which presents the live U.S. solo debut of copeland (formerly Inga Copeland of Hype Williams) along with a rare appearance from dub-techno don Rod Modell, who’ll perform as Deepchord. The following evening, Bryan Kassenic’s long-running Bunker party welcomes Porter Ricks, Demdike Stare’s Miles Whittaker, Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe (Lichens, Om, 90 Day Men) and more.
Not quite convinced? Halal and Kassenic break their bills down into digestible YouTube playlists down below…
[youlist pid=”PL7puG0mW6qOw5yPzns4OcufNekRbNHzuB” width=”600″ height=”338″]
1. Inga Copeland, “Damage” (Rush Hour)
This came out on Rush Hour. It was the first solo music I had heard by Copeland, and was pleased to discover that her parts of Hype Williams were the ones I was always drawn to the most—the sighing strings, shadowy beats, and a drifting sense of melancholy.
2. Huerco S, “Untitled” (Wicked Bass)
This track is insanely sexy… So nasty with an addictive groove, but its composition is subverted, and the hooks hit in unexpected ways. The digital artifacts of a bassline sample are pushed so loud to the front; it sounds so wrong in a way that I love.
3. Willie Burns, “Washed Hands” (Trilogy Tapes)
Most of Willie Burns’ productions and the records on his label WT always have this distinctively trippy, emotional and strange quality. This one, from a recent Trilogy Tapes 12″, is particularly stunning to me.
4. Model 500, “Starlight (Echospace Unreleased Mix)”
This is simply one of the most beautiful ‘club tracks’ I’ve ever heard. Deepchord/Echospace occupies such an interesting territory. All of Rod Modell’s projects share that innovative spirit of European dub-techno with the best (Maurizio, etc.) but with a stonier, softer feeling that is very intimate and singular. And also very Detroit.
5. Heathered Pearls, “Beach Shelter”
I had this ambient album on my computer for two months while on tour last year and completely fell in love with it. It provided the background to many introspective train rides and a few sunrises. Each track blends together with soft, gentle repetition and rich, soothing textures; the second it comes on you feel something.
[youlist pid=”PLlxVAExh_bYZ34yPZNPa1HyGuQdVU72U1″ width=”600″ height=”338″]
1. Porter Ricks, “Nautical Dub” (Chian Reaction)
Porter Ricks’ Biokinetics album for Chain Reaction has stood up to the test of time like few techno albums do. Nearly 20 years later, it still sounds fresh and reached many new ears via the Type reissue last year.
2. Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe, “M’Bondo” (Type)
Robert’s sidelong modular synthesizer piece from 2012’s type album is
one of the finest slabs of psychedelic music from the past few years,
and give you a good idea of what his live performances sound like.
3. Miles, “Status Narcissism”
While best known for his work as part of Demdike Stare, Miles has been very productive over the last few years, releasing solo albums under various monikers.
4. Leisure Muffin, “In Wearable Hertz” (The Bunker NY)
Leisure Muffin was the first release on The Bunker New York’s label in January of this year. His unique and unclassifiable take on electronic music has been turning a lot of heads.
5. Le Petit Garçon, “Lab.Oratory” (Love OD Communications)
Le Petit Garçon of Norway, with his take on isolated ambient techno, using a vast expanse of shoegazing guitars, synth harmonics and churning, ice-breaking bass.
