Posts tagged “ Clown and Sunset

Valentin Stip | Temple

Valentin Stip - Temple

Earlier this month, Nicolas Jaar launched his latest project: Other People , an imprint branded by Jaar as a “serial label.” Every week, members (yes, you have to sign up) receive a new issue. The first, released on September 2, featured a handful of new names alongside a number of artists you’ll recognize from Clown & Sunset. Valentin Stip was of them and you can listen to his contribution below.

Head here if you wish to subscribe-

Valentin Stip


Igloofest 2013 Retrospective

It’s mid-February now, and we’ve closed another chapter of the Igloofest chronicle.

Almost an extension of the holiday season, the beloved festival serves as a unique mechanism to escape the all too consuming weight of the Montreal Winter. Now that it’s over, thousands of party-goers – upwards of 76,000 to be accurate – must rely on their own devices to persevere towards the effortless joviality of Spring.

As always, the celebration exceeded our expectations, leaving only slight and likely superfluous qualms for us to meditate until they are once again wiped from our conscious with the opening revelry of Igloofest 2014.

Until then, let us relive its grandeur.

One element of the festival that never ceases to strike an impression on me is the crowd.

Yes, on some occasions the pulsating mass aggravated several of the die-hard music appreciators and gentle personalities I’ve spoken with since, but more often was I all together impressed by the spirit of the crowd and their commitment to this 21st century nocturne.

I’m not sure if I’ve ever witnessed a more consistently dancing group of people. The audience is not solely comprised of dance music fanatics either; older individuals and a great many who may not even relate to music of an electronic variety make up a considerable portion, if not a majority of the crowd as well.

I believe that this rare phenomenon can be attributed in part to the physical need to keep moving – considering that this was the coldest Igloofest to date – but also to the entirely non judgmental, come-one-come-all atmosphere provided by the event’s organizers. Either way, a sense of unity was often inevitable.

Another thing I must applaud was the host of talented visual artists performing in unison to those on stage. Their work was most often dazzling and at times even breath taking.

Some artist’s that impressed us in particular, Baillat Cardell & fils , Gridspace , and Diagraf , not only provided appropriate and mesmerizing accompaniment to their respective DJ’s but shone in their own respect, on occasion even over-shadowing the musician with creations that garnered audible mass exaltation.

Now, to give credit to the enormous talent that graced the 1′s and 2′s at this year’s festival; with this calibre of expertise, I can hardly begin to highlight every instance of musical fervour, but of course, there were some performances that were unforgettable, inspiring even.

[Mistress Barbara]

The most memorable set for us was surely Misstress Barabara ‘s ravenous opening ceremony.

Her definitive exhibition of rolling, hard-hitting yet upbeat techno, a style I can’t say I was previously compelled by, knocked our photographer and myself off of our feet, not that we could feel them anyway.

It made me wish for the first time that I went raving in 2005.

[Kaytranada]

Home town hero, Kaytranada , put forth a captivating mix of generational classics, and a slew of tunes, assumedly out of his growing catalogue of self-produced beats, that maintained many of the nuances of the trap template, but with smoother, funkier bass lines and grooves that distinguished them from the overwhelmingly popular genre.

His entourage, one of the liveliest groups of gentlemen this side of the 49th parallel, was also a compelling attribute.

[Nina Kraviz]

As expected, Nina Kraviz enchanted us.

Yes, we may very well have fallen victim to her playfully seductive stage presence, but I’m certain that it was her hypnotic brand of house music and the decidedly and ever so delicately off-beat manner in which she chose to mix said music that truly won our hearts that evening.

Regardless, Ben Klock is indeed one lucky individual.

[Joy Orbison]

The final weekend was a triumph in and of itself, with a line-up that in my opinion rivaled even the combined glory of the previous three.

Thursday night, Ben UFO represented the Hessle Audio mentality, along with affirming the root of his own success as a ‘DJ that only DJs,’ by playing out cold, industrially percussive and bass-heavy records in flawless succession.

Joe Goddard livened up the crowd with melodically centered house tunes, before descending once again into more deep and rumbling grooves.

The following night we were treated to yet another staple of the ‘DJs that only DJ,’ club, but in comparison to Ben UFO , Oneman was far more effective in accommodating the entire audience with his eclectic and keenly blended mix of disco, hip-hop, garage, dubstep, and house.

Following him was the legend, Joy Orbison ; I don’t mean to sound over-zealous but it feels like something of an honour every time I have the opportunity to catch his set. This being his first ever time in Canada, he lived up to every expectation and blew us away with his signature style of pounding, twanging, and immanently groovy UK bass music.

[Joe Goddard]

Apart from the aforesaid heroes, there were many that made the honourable mentioned list.

Wolf + Lamb , KiNK , Pan-Pot , Lunice of TNGHT , Taal Mala , and Tommy Four Seven all put forth sets that deserve notation in their own right. I recommend taking the opportunity to catch every one of these outfits if the occasion so presents itself.

What might we change about Igloofest if given the opportunity to do so? Not much.

Perhaps we’d narrow the volume gap between opener and headliner; I shouldn’t be able to maintain an unstrained conversation at the front of a Ben UFO set, indoors or out of doors.

Though the organization of nights by genre is for the most part very good, it wouldn’t have hurt to employ some minute, strategic shuffling of performers; Schlachthofbronx , for instance, would have certainly suited another night, a night that was not so centred on the very not-German tradition of hip-hop.

Another thing: there were a handful of local artists we were surprised to not find on the bill. The much buzzed production duo, Grown Folk , solo effort, KwikFiks , and Clown and Sunset ‘s Valentin Stip would have all made fantastic additions to the sonic experience. It was also a surprise not seeing the inclusion of local visual authority and personality, Skunch , on the VJ roster. And what about the Dirty Bird backed Prince Club ? Or even the St. Laurent staple, Deejay Ledisko ? Prison Garde ? Seb Diamond ? I suppose the list could go on and on, but a few dollars could be saved whilst upping the musical anti in 2014. Igloofest organizers, take note.

We might also opt for some warmer weather, but then again, it wouldn’t be the Igloofest we know and love with out the numb toes and slushy Sapporo tall boys, now would it?

[Oneman and Joy Orbison (back)]

Take a look at this visual reminiscence we put together if you’re still looking for a more vivid picture.

In conclusion, we’d like to thank the Igloofest team for allowing us to be apart of such a unique enterprise.

Nothing short of a drastic rise in global temperature will keep this festival from excelling far into the future.

See you at Piknik .

words: Samuel Rutledge
images: Kane Ocean
support: Adam Rutledge
other images: Vivien Guamand, Léa Lacroix


Benjha | Ataxia EP

[Ataxia EP]

Nikos Vezanis a.k.a. Benjha recently uploaded “Wanderlust”–a cut from his Ataxia EP, which is slated for release sometime in early 2013 on Nico Jaar ‘s Clown & Sunset label. Vezanis paints soulful intimate improvisational instrumental narratives blending a rich palette of percussion, raw field recordings, warm synths, and chopped vocals. The distinctive looseness of the rhythms is in part due to Benjha’s method of placing all of the drums and percussion hits by hand within his sequencer. Though I love the classic swing of an MPC sequencer, Benjha’s hands-on approach to programming drums yields grooves that are uniquely his.

I have listened through the Ataxia EP, and it contains a handful of gems, many of which, including “ Shadowplaying ,” “ Space Bollywood ,” and “ Time ” are currently available for streaming on his SoundCloud page.

Also, if you are feeling “Wanderlust,” here is another brand new one entitled “Palpitations.” I’m vibing to the eerie interlocking plucked string melodies and the washed-out piano chords.

Having recently relocated to London via San Francisco, Benjha has been settling into his new town as well as working on a new EP project for our very own Blenheim & Celtic imprint. You can expect this to arrive in early 2013.

[Benjha a.k.a. Nikos Vezanis]

Wolfey


Chet Faker | Terms & Conditions (Nicolas Jaar Remix)

Nicolas Jaar extended his markedly unblemished track record today, releasing a wonderfully subterranean retake of one of Australian Chet Baker ‘s latest.

Jaar’s touch drags you deep below the earth’s mantle – to caverns with echoing percussion, whistling and hissing with raw noise, the caves shifting disorientingly  in mood and tempo as you descend along the six minute piece.

Happy spelunking -

-St.Patty


Benjha | Solemn City

It’s September 2nd– And despite the fact that the sun is still shining in a clear blue sky overhead, Fall is creeping up on us. To score the occasion, Benjha offers us “Solemn City”.

Wolfey

See Previously:

Benjha | Gravity

Benjha | Dusk to Dawn

Benjha | Mistyque


Benjha | Gravity

“Gravity” is the latest extended instrumental jam from Benjha. It’s a haunting and beautiful trip.

Listen for yourself–

Look out for more from Benjha upcoming on Clown & Sunset.

See also:

Benjha | Dusk to Dawn

Wolfey


Benjha | Dusk to Dawn

This is a two-part intimate instrumental journey with Benjha entitled “Dusk to Dawn”. Benjha blends a vibrant palette of organic beats with improvised piano and synth melodies and other sampled elements. Benjha will be releasing his first EP via Clown and Sunset . Originally from Athens, Nikos Vezanis is currently based in San Francisco.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, my personal favourite of the two is “Dusk”.


1.Dusk [0:00-3:20]

2.Dawn [3:20-6:47]

Wolfey


Benjha | Mistyque

Keep your sights fixed on Benjha . His first EP release will be out soon on the venerable Clown & Sunset . Nikos Vezanis hails from Athens, Greece and currently resides in San Francisco. Here is just a taste of what to expect.


Nicolas Jaar Interview on Exploring Future Beats | BBC Radio 1

Nico stopped in to chat and play some records on the show with Benji B this week.  Have a listen -

Wolfey


Nicholas Jaar | Don’t Break My Love EP

This gracious release yet again succeeds in his hallmark yearning of minimal clicks and whirs. Clown and Sunset and Nicholas Jaar request that you be gentile in manner with these morally thematic numbers.

Don’t Break My Love – Nicholas Jaar

Why Didn’t You Save Me – Nicholas Jaar [recommended]

sam.i.am