Scuba: Personality
March 6, 2012 § Leave a Comment
It’s been out for a couple of days now and it already has dozens and dozens of rave reviews. The release of Scuba’s third full length album on Hotflush has been long awaited, as has been the release of anything on this label these days, and it lives up to the hype. Here is my modest review of what I consider to be one of the year’s best albums so far.
If you’ve seen Scuba play a set live or if you’ve heard some of his recent output, this album will not be a surprise for you. In his latest opus, Paul has pushed past what he and his label has been known for from 2003 to 2010, that is solid OG dubstep that has nothing to do with all the brostep noise that has become so ubiquitous. His last LP, Triangulation, was to me one of the last true dubstep albums, presenting deep yet unagressive basslines and a plethora of tweaked sampling over a shuffle of 2-step percussions at the usual 140 bpm. The game has changed since 2010, and it seems that Hotflush has changed with it, for the best. Not that I would say that Personality is a far cry from Triangulation… but Scuba and his label definitely seems to have turned the page on “traditional” dubstep and moved on to something else; Adrenalin and all the other EP’s released in 2011 tend to prove this according to me.
Speaking of which, if you enjoyed the Adrenalin EP, you will not be disappointed with this album . “Ignition Key” starts off strong with frank percussion and a solid yet simple bassline over an airy backdrop of reverb’ed synths. The minimal sampled vocals is pretty much the only thing reminding you that you aren’t listening to 90′s techno. The tone is set: you’ll be hearing a lot of techno-influenced stuff in the next hour. Underbelly follows suit with a consistent 4 to the floor stomp, weird ambient noise samples (birds and a garage door?) and jazzy percussions… again, it’s isn’t actually techno, but it’s pretty damn close. “The Hope”, one of my favorites, brings back that jacked house mood from from “Adrenalin” and makes for a sure-fire dance floor igniter. “Dsy Chn”, “July” and “Tulips”, are also all reminiscent of early techno, cheesy synth lines included. “Cognitive Dissonance” invokes jungly drums and silky smooth female vocals, with another healthy dose of interesting if not weird samples (I’ve heard a dog, a lock, and a long-travel bolt action rifle). The distortion-filled “Gekko” reminds one of Gesaffelstein, but with an upbeat rhythm and a definitely more “happy” percussion track. “NE1BUTU”, “Action” and “If U Want” are also all heavily techno-infused, albeit with longer and more present crescendos and decrescendos that defy the general convention of very progressive, predicitive beat construction and deconstruction present in minimal-techno. Here again, there are some cheesy moments… but if you ask me, it’s a very important part of the aesthetic value of the pieces. The bonus track, “Flash Addict”, almost sounds more like 2562 than Scuba, with ever-present ringing, the synth stabs, the hushed toms and an overall mysterious feel.
They say that everyone is a product of their environment… Scuba certainly corroborates this by having recently moved to Berlin, seeing the omni-present amount of minimal-techno influences. People keep talking about that famed “UK sound”, and how unique and distinctive it is. Too little is said of the “German sound”, or rather the “Germanophone sound” present in all of central Europe; a simple, well-built, no-frills aesthetic that values beauty within attention to minute details. Consciously or not, it seems to me that Mr. Rose is definitely assimilating this regional characteristic, and that’s all for the best.
With all this, where are Paul Rose and his label going now? It’s pretty hard to tell considering all the confusion in genre names going on. I’d be tempted to dust off the old “IDM” moniker to describe Hotflush’s output as whole… the label of “bass music” being not quite sophisticated enough to describe their latest content. It’s slightly slower, more soul-foul, yet it packs all the body-rocking energy of the techno influences that seem to have given it birth (see anything by George Fitzgerald). Is techno making a comeback, or is Hotflush bringing a new half-blood mix of UK-born bass music and German minimal-techno the masses? Is there more than that in the mix? One thing’s for sure, with the release of Personality, the label has further cemented it’s status as one of the best sources of forward thinking material in electronic music.
On a related note, if you have an hour and a half to spare, check out this great interview Scuba gave at the Red Bull Music Academy last year… it’s a very good watch, as are all the other RBMA interviews.
Nanny State Strikes Again: Quebec Enforces Zero BAC Policy on Youth
February 18, 2012 § Leave a Comment
It’s been in the air for a while now, and nobody ever really took it seriously, but yesterday it got real: as of next April (approximate date), the Liberal government of Quebec is tightening up the Code de la Route to remove young adult’s right to drive a vehicle with under 0.08 mg/L blood alcohol content (BAC), and will be enforcing a strict zero tolerance policy on alcohol for all drivers under 21. The media and those favorable to the mesure recommended by the Table québécoise de la sécurité routière are calling it an honest attempt a reducing mortality amongst the youth in road accidents, and a catch-up on what is being done in other provinces. I’m calling it yet another undue interference by the government and a perfect example of how the nanny state is restricting our freedoms and killing off the concept of personal responsibility.
I am not of the those libertarian, border-line anarchists a la Ron Paul who condemns every single attempt at regulation with one hand on the flag and the other on the heart, screaming for liberty. I am however, or so I like to think, a logical thinker, and to me, removing the rights to 0.08 BAC to what is legally considered adults here in Quebec is totally illogical. What becomes of young adults aged 18-21? Are they no longer true adults in the eyes of the law? I was raised to believed that a privilege always has a counterbalance of responsibility ; we are stripped of a privilege, what responsibility are you also taking away to compensate? From the time I turned 18, I was asked to jump through the hoops that every other adults has had to jump through, file my income taxes, pay my dues and contort through the maze of bureaucratic procedures relative to school and healthcare, why in hell would I not be considered like a lesser adult?
Pushed further, it becomes clear that the logic behind the Table’s recommendations for the measure makes strictly no sense. De Konick defends this initiative by presenting statistics on automobile accidents saying that young people are more likely to cause fatality won the roads, in a way which doesn’t directly correlate accidents in which young adults are involved and the presence of BAC less than 0.08. He says that since young drivers are more likely to get in an accident, young drivers under the influence of alcohol, even if minimal, is twice as dangerous. Nowhere does he mention that youth are more frequent offenders with regards to drunk driving. De Konick is adding 2 and 2 and getting 8. If young males are more at risk of getting in a fight, and if bars are statistically more violent places, does it make sense to restrict legal age for going out to 21, but for boys only? This asymmetry in the concept of adulthood is unacceptable, and I fear that giving in to such incongruent practices might set a precedent that would open the door for other such pieces of legislation.
I find it particularly funny that this measure is announced right after the Parti Quebecois has positioned itself in favour of lowering the voting age to 16 years old. Everybody has had this reflection: why is it that a teen can give his life to his country at 16 years of age in the US but can’t purchase alcohol? “Stupidity is not exclusive to the youth,” said Stephane Bergeron defend his party’s orientation. I wholly agree… I’ve seen 40-some year old man-childs rake up DUI’s just as much as I’ve seen friends take the wheel after a couple of drinks. Obey the law or go to jail if you get caught with solid proof, it should be that simple. In the end, the message that the adoption of this new legislation is sending out is that 18-21 year olds aren’t responsible enough to be entrusted with things like the assessment of their capacity to drive. What other things aren’t we responsible enough for? All this goes a long way in showing how Quebec’s socialising tendencies are getting out of control. When your government starts putting more value in statistics and modelized analysis of risk factors for car accidents than in responsibilization of the youth, you know something has gone wrong.
Now that it has been announced, there pretty much is no going back, unless an election comes around very soon and aborts the adoption of the measure, which I hope it will. In the meanwhile, enjoy the times when you can still have a beer or two before going somewhere with your vehicle… because it’ll most likely be gone to never come back.
Why Aussant’s Option Nationale Will Fail
January 27, 2012 § 1 Comment
I’m currently reading a book, Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy by Robert Michels. It’s first part deals with the paradox between the idea of democracy and the necessity for hierarchical organisation, then goes on to describe the psychological predispositions of human beings that permits the formation of a ruling class amongst political parties and entities. In his treatise of leadership, Michels talks lengthily of the necessity of a leader to be a great orator and communicator.
Jean-Marie Aussant is the provincial MP for Nicolet-Yamaska. He used to be part of the Parti Quebecois, but left a while ago in the gigantic gaggle-fuck of resignations that hit the party over Pauline Marois’ leadership. He has now start his own party, which according to what I understand seeks to consolidate the motivated separatists so that we can have ANOTHER referendum. The horrible video you saw up top is an official video for his new party.
Nearly 100 years after the initial publication of Political Parties, the requirement of being a good orator has largely transformed into having the capacity to communicate effectively over different media. On this point, Aussant has failed… the collection of poorly edited hand-held video clips that he presents to us as official material speaks for itself. Lens flare from dirty optics, totally unmastered audio along with cheesy poses and soundtrack all make the video so tragically bad it almost becomes funny.
I don’t believe that this guy knows what he’s undertaking… with funds and party adhesion a thousand time his, after 2 failed referendums and countless times in power over 40 years of existence, his former employer the Parti Quebecois has still not been able to get a referendum to pass. And this guy expects to win with THIS?
It’s no secret that nationalists are losing a lot of ground these days, so if Aussant REALLY wants to venture in this rocky terrain, he better come well equipped. As of right now, with a platform that reeks of PQ’s leftovers, no (good) promo material, and no big names rallied to his cause means that he’s not going to succeed in a political arena filled with experience players. Especially not with the elections coming up at such a short notice.
Something tells me the upcoming provincial elections are going to be VERY interesting.
On Language and Quebec’s Obsession on French
January 26, 2012 § Leave a Comment
A couple of days ago, a friend of mine posted a video on Facebook relating to Chiac, a marvelous mash-up of english and old french that is spoken in New Brunswick and some parts of the surrounding provinces.
Obviously, the video is a parody. There is no such thing as Malroney’s secret plan for nation-wide convergence to chiac, and the Institut nationale du Chiac. Radio-Canada ISN’T pushing for more chiac; in fact, any french-speaking Canadian knows that our public broadcaster has a soft spot for sanitized, text-book french, mostly stripped of local linguistic particularities.
But despite the humurous tone, to me, Chiac maybe is the solution, or at least part of it. The solution to Quebec’s torments on it’s identity, the problem it has with setting forth what is it’s culture and defining it’s essence.
The debate on cultural identity obviously has a lot of things to do with language; it’s usually the primary characteristic that is noted when explaining the schism between Quebec and the ROC to outsiders. Essentially, it is a symbolic difference that, according to me,helps perpetuate the idea that Quebecers and Canadians are intrinsically different and irremediably incompatible. Most in favor of the protection of the french language carry the message that the French language is an important part of our heritage, and therefor must be protected by all means necessary. How does enforcing the perpetuation of a language given to use just under 400 years ago contribute to defining our collective identity?
What I see in this is nothing else than obstinate conservatism, refusal to accept change and the fluid nature of both collective and individual identity. I find it quite ironic that the proponents of french, delved so deep in this conservatism, are unable to understand the aspirations of their english counterparts. Likewise, these people are eager to perpetuate certain aspects of their heritage: the presence of symbols of the monarchy within our federal establishments is the first example that comes to mind. The difference between the two cases being that I haven’t seen any english people talking about the need for legislation to safeguard their heritage… it just perpetuates naturally, waning to more distant symbolism as time passes.
That said, I believe that the solution to Quebec’s torments on identity is fundamentally the acceptance of change, perpetuated by both our artistic elite and legislation like Bill 101. In this sense, chiac is a beautiful example of how cultural baggage combines with time to create something truely unique, something that truely defines one’s identity; while chiac can clearly be identified as the language of the people of the maritimes, the same thing can not be done with Quebec’s french. The struggle to keep alive certain aspects of our identity has ruined our opportunity to become something else.
The truth is, unlike what kids are still being told in schools across the province, you can’t kill a culture just by exposing it to others and allowing it to integrate certain aspects. The beautiful thing about cultural heritage is that it lives on no matter what… culture doesn’t die, it transforms. It is my opinion that if anything is going to kill off french and the Quebecois culture, it’s an implosion, a result of the amassed frustration of years of being forced into the state-defined mold; cultural change comparable in scale only with the Revolution Tranquille. If Quiet Revolution brought on a flurry of nationalist tendencies and a providence state which still plagues us, what will a second cultural revolution bring with it? Far-right neo-nationalists? Far-left revolutionaries? I see our habit of cultural protectionism not only as something that is unwanted, but also potentially dangerous.
Pourquoi la loi 48 n’est pas la solution
December 19, 2011 § 3 Comments
La semaine derniere, M. Paul Arcand, ministre de l’environment du gouvernement libéral, a déposé pour une première lecture en chambre le projet de loi 48, Loi concernant l’inspection environnementale des véhicules automobiles. Baptisé projet de loi sur les “minounes” par les médias, le projet de loi est encore flou, voir carrément vide de modalités précises, comme l’est souvent un projet de loi a la première lecture. Ce qui se discute est un programme en deux, peut-etre trois phases: un inspection obligatoire à la revente d’un véhicule de plus de 8 ans dans un premier temps, et puis plus tard une inspection annuelle requise pour immatriculer tout véhicule plus vieux que 8 ans. À partir de là, les dispositions futures sont plutôt floues… appliquer les mêmes dispositions aux véhicules agés de 6 ans et plus, et potentiellement une inspection mécanique complète sont des hypothèses qui ont étés avancées par les médias.
Au premier coup d’oeil, ce projet de loi est une disposition tout à fait sensée qui permettera de réduire les emissions du parc automobile Quebecois. Cepedant, en regardant le programme similaire qu’on en place les Ontariens depuis maintenant plusieurs années, et en considérant tout les cotés de la medaille, on se rend bien compte que cette loi est vouée a l’échec.
Regardons d’abord l’example Ontarien. Depuis 1999, le program Drive Clean impose au propriétaires de tous les véhicules personnels non-commerciaux agées de 7 ans ou plus des inspections bi-annuelles qui sont obligatoires pour l’obtention de l’immatriculation. Le test en lui-même est une courte inspection visuelle, suivi d’un test sur dynamometre accompagné d’un “sniff test”, une analyse des émissions polluantes du véhicule. Si le véhicule semble conforme et satisfait au normes d’émanation des divers polluants selon les spécifications originales du véhicule plus une marge d’usure, l’inspection est réussi. Grosso modo, le cas Ontarien est un example dans ce qui se fait a travers l’Amérique du Nord; plusieurs états américains ont un système similaire en place.
Ce type d’inspection présente plusieurs problèmes. Le premier, le plus apparent, est qu’il ratisse trop large pour retirer trop peu de véhicules pollueurs de la route; selon George Iny, de l’Association pour la protection des automobilistes, 6000$ en inspection sont requis pour retirer un seul véhicule fautif de la route (7:40). Ceci pénalise ainsi plusieurs automobilistes, la grande majorité, qui sont en règle et qui n’auront jamais à faire face à un échec. Les plus touchés seront nécessairement les moins nantis, qui aurait sans doutte bien envi de consacrer cet argent dépenser en inspection et en réparations à l’achat d’un voiture plus récente, et donc plus propre sur le plan environmental. Personne n’a envi de rouler en minoune.
Deuxiemement, la démarche du ministre ne semble aucunement tenir compte du cout en carbon que représente la fabrication d’une automobile. Une étude suggère que certain véhicules aurait une empreinte environnementale à la fabrication aussi sinon plus élevée que ce qu’elle générera en gazes polluants a rouler. Une question se pose alors: est-il vraiment plus raisonnable de changer son véhicule plus fréquemment pour un modèle plus éconénergetique? Entre Gaston qui a le pieds lourd qui change son gros Cadillac loué aux 3 ans et Mme Bergeron qui conduit sa petite Tercel entre l’église et l’épicerie du coins depuis 1995, qui a participé le plus aux changements climatiques? Et pourtant, on sait très bien qui payera dans l’éventualité de la mise en vigeure de la loi 48.
Troisièmement, les plus grand pollueurs ne sont pas pour autant éliminés, du fait qu’il est pratiquement impossible de pleinement inspecté tout les systemes anti-pollution du véhicule sans dépenser une fortune. Les véhicules a grande cylindrée, peut importe leur émanations de gazes a effets de serre, ont automatiquement un passe-droit: ils on été conçus pour consommer plus de carburant, et sont évalués comme tel. De plus, la tricherie a prouvé être beaucoup trop facile et largement répendu dans le program Ontarien. N’importe quel amateur de voitures avec un peu de volonté et de savoir-faire peut actuellement passer avec aise le e-test Ontarien avec AUCUN équipement antipollution sinon qu’un catalyseur (dans certains cas, même sans celui-ci!). Dans les véhicules plus modernes, on peut facilement retrouver 4 systèmes anti-pollution ou plus, qui sont plus souvent qu’autrement invisibles pendant une inspection rapide en dessous du capot… pensé qu’un mécanicien payé a l’heure et cherchant a rentabilisé une inspection a taux fixe prendra le temps de vérifier la présence de tout ces systèmes si le “Check engine” n’est pas allumer, c’est surestimé le zêle des mécaniciens.
Autre problème: le projet de loi pue le lobbyisme. Dans le cadre d’un dossier monté par Argent, la chaine affaire de Canoe, les représentants de l’industrie ne cachent pas avoir mit des pressions considérables sur le gouvernement pour la mise en place d’une telle mesure; La Corporation des concessionnaires d’automobiles du Québec et l’Association des recycleurs de pièces d’autos et de camions se sont clairement positionnés. En tant que lobbyistes, l’environnement n’est pas leur priorité: ils savent très bien que ce projet de loi sera un occasion en or, tant pour les détaillants que les garage indépendants. Le ministre lui-même a dit vouloir crée une “étanchilité entre la personne qui inspecte et les gens qui vont faire les réparations” (6:00), ce qui pourrait permettre a l’organisme mandaté pour les inspections de mettre le couteau à la gorge du consommateur quand vient le temps d’un inspection.
Concrètement, que seront les résultats de l’application de ce projet de loi? Les moins nantis se verront privés de leur moyen de transport. Les amateurs d’automobile qui ont un minimum de genie contourneront sans problème l’inspection. Mme Bergeron, qui se fait deja arnaqué chaque fois qu’elle se rend au garage avec son Tercel pour faire changer son huile aura une chance de plus de se faire avoir par un bandit en chienne bleue. Pendant ce temps, le gouvernement dépensera de votre argent pour faire appliquer se programme a grand frais, et en plus de refiler une facture au consommateur. C’est une triple sur-taxe qui a mon sens est totalement inutile et injustifié, qui affectera les propriétaires de plus de 1.6 millions d’automobiles.
D’autre mesure moins regressistes s’offre a nous si nous voulons véritablement contribuer a réduire les émmanations du parc automobile Quebecois. Les prix du gaz ont déja encourager les ventes de véhicules de moins grande cylindrées et donc généralement moins polluants: la monté en puissance de la popularité du petit moteur turbo-compressés en est une preuve tangible. Dans cette optique, pourquoi ne pas abaissé la taille des moteurs élligibles à une surtaxe à l’immatriculation à 3 litres (plutôt que 4), et stratifié de manière plus aggressive la tarification pour punir les vraies pollueurs, peu importe l’âge de leur véhicules? Pourquoi ne pas adopter les habitudes des européens, et d’encourager l’achat de véhicules au diesel, un carburant généralement beaucoup plus éfficace?
Le projet de loi 48 est à mon sens un example parfait de comment les lobbies et l’industrie peuvent se servir de sujets intouchables pour influencer la législation en leur avantage. L’environnement étant devenu un intouchable au Quebec au même niveau que l’identité et la culture, il faudra être doublement vigilant quand l’on verra des lobbies annoncer en grande pompe leur appui à un projet de loi en prétendant défendre de beaux ideaux. On ne sait jamais quand on tombera sur un complot communist!
Vers une grêve générale? Non merci!
November 10, 2011 § 1 Comment
Aujourd’hui, des autobus pleins d’étudiants ont convergé vers Montréal pour manifester dans le cadre de ce que les organismes responsables ont appelé “la manifestation nationale contre les frais de scolarité”. Directement ou non, sachez que vous avez participé à cette manifestation, car l’AGE a voté avec une MAJORITÉ ÉCRASANTE la participation à cette manifestions, avec 90% de OUI par les 250 membres présents, soit un peu moins de 5% de la population étudiante totale (1). Nous avons même débloqué du budget pour payer des autobus et des petites collations pour nos braves manifestants; tout cela a même les cotisations qu’on vous impose à chaque session sur vos frais d’inscription!
Les médias n’ont pas manqué de couvrir l’évènement, et la phrase la plus rapportée est sans doute la menace qu’a fait Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, porte-parole de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ) à l’endroit du gouvernement Charest:
C’est le dernier avertissement à ce gouvernement avant qu’on passe à la prochaine étape dans les moyens de pression. S’il ne recule pas sur sa hausse des frais de scolarité après la mobilisation exceptionnelle d’aujourd’hui, on va se diriger vers une grève générale illimitée à l’hiver.
Juste un petit rappel en passant: une “grève générale illimitée”, ça veut dire une levée de cours permanent pour tout la session, autrement dit une session, ou deux, ou trois… de perdues. Donc, ce que Gabriel propose en le nom des 40 000 étudiants qu’il représente, c’est que tout le monde cesse d’étudier le temps d’une session, jusqu’à ce que les demandes des assemblés étudiantes soient satisfaites. Peut-être que Gabriel, étant étudiant à temps partiel (2) (moins que 4 cours par session) à l’université dans un programme de penseurs, ne trouve peut-être pas ce sacrifice trop important, mais permettez-moi de douter que ses membres sont prêts a le suivre dans sa noble démarche.
Heureusement que l’AGECTR n’est pas affiliée à l’ASSÉ, non? C’est mal connaitre les milieux syndicaux: solidarité l’oblige, fort est a parié que la FEUQ, dont tous les étudiants du CÉGEP sont membre via l’AGECTR, sera contrainte à considérer cette grève générale elle aussi. Si le même vote non représentatif s’opère, c’est un congé pour tous!
L’année passée, j’ai écrit plusieurs articles concernant la représentativité quasi nulle des associations étudiantes de la véritable base étudiante; comment la poignée de soit-disent représentants s’empare de manière illégitime de nos voix et se permettent d’émettre des opinions pour nous. J’ai été heureux de constater que mes allégations ont fait quelques vagues au sein de la clique de l’AGE… mais comme la population étudiante se contrefout (avec raison) de la Gifle et des affaires de “vie étudiante” en faveur d’une dévotion sérieuse à leurs études, à leurs loisirs et au travail, la situation en est restée là. La clique a continué à gérer son agenda, laissant une grande majorité des étudiants dans l’indifférence la plus totale.
Maintenant que la d’une grève générale mets en danger le parcours scolaire de plusieurs d’entre nous cependant, il faut que ça change. Prenez les moyens nécessaires, frappez où ça fait mal: la loi 32 sur accréditation des associations étudiantes dites qu’un règlement doit être prévu à l’effet que les cotisations soit remboursables ou non (Chapitre 5, article 52): retirez les! Ne laissez pas votre argent servir des intérêts qui vous ne représentent pas. Si la grogne se généralise, sur demande de 25% des étudiants, la présence de l’association peut être contestée; cette situation serait bien embarrassante pour la minorité des activistes qui disent parler en notre nom.
Je comprends les enjeux de la lutte pour les frais de scolarité, bien que je ne sois pas d’accord avec les arguments en faveur d’un gel continuel, encore moins d’une gratuité totale. L’accessibilité à tous, c’est bien beau; privé une majorité qui veut mener à terme leurs projets d’études postsecondaires par contre, ça ne passe pas, particulièrement quand cette privation se fait selon une ligne directrice partisane qui pue le corporatisme syndical. Une grève générale, ce n’est ni un mal nécessaire, ni un noble sacrifice: c’est un handicap que l’on ne doit pas se faire imposer.
(1) Calculé de manière approximative selon les chiffres publiés dans La Gifle et ceux disponibles sur le site du CÉGEP de Trois-Rivières. Chiffres plus précis à venir.
(2) http://bit.ly/vpB8Cl
Piknic Electronik: Dorobo, Appleblim, Addison Groove & Scuba aka SCB
August 22, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I’ve been talking about going to the Picnik for many years, but last Sunday I walked the walk: I attended August 14th 2011′s edition of the Piknic, which feature artists primarily from the UK: Dorobo (Canada), Appleblim, Addison Groove, and Hotflush head-honcho Scuba aka SCB.
The journey on bike was long and perilous; after being slowed down by the Gay Pride parade and put off track by the distant bass hits coming from the neighbouring “Fete des enfants“, I arrived at the Ste Helene Island for the show. The site is surprisingly intimate: while the area reserved for the Picnik can probably hold 1000+ people the area nearest to the stage, which forms a pit and is bordered with lawn furniture, is probably smaller than some of the bigger indoor venues.
First off was Dorobo: a local electro-fiend who I had never had heard about. I arrived late because of all my misadventures, but the last 15 minutes of his set was mostly deep house.
Second off was Appleblim, hailing from Bristol. Previously co-owner of Skull Disco and currently running Applepips, this guy was also a regular DJ at the legendary FWD>>. I was expecting nothing less than all-out dubstep from him, but I felt that the harsh transition between the previous set and an attempt at spinning some 2-step material made the set much more dance-y. Mixing was flawless and massive tunes were dropped. At the one hour mark, the area in front of the stage was filling up, and the crowd was very much into it.
Third up, Addison Groove. Originally scheduled for later that Night, AG took Scuba’s spot for an undisclosed reason. He rocked the ones and two with his distinctive style, however I felt that he too watered down his set a bit for his Quebecois audience. I request his remix of Jimmy Mack for the end of the set, but sadly I didn’t get it. Montreal isn’t nearly “rave-y” enough, according to him… What I did get thought is info about upcoming releases on Tectonic as AG, and Blackbox as Headhunter. Props to AG to have talked and shaken hands with his fans… Try doing that with YOUR favourite artist!
Last but not least, Scuba hit the decks. Or rather SCB in this case, as his set too was more on the dance side of things. Awesome none the less though… By the time the sun had set, the place was completely crowded and people were straight up juking out. I unfortunately had to leave before the end of his set, which probably lasted past 9PM as was planned. Big tunes were dropped, including Scuba’s own “Feel It“.
There was only one disappointment: the fact that damn near nobody even knew who were the artists and what they were playing. At some point, Joy Orbison’s “Source Delight” (“Ellipsis”?) was cued in, and I was the only one howling with my gun-fingers in the air at the MASSIVE, unreleased tune. I was ashamed of being part of such an uninitiated and non-reactive crowd. To add insult to injury, I heard one of the Piknicers commenting on how he had “heard better dubstep” during AG’s set… Yeah, whatever.
Overall though, the event was awesome. Fresh air, sunshine, cold beer and an excellent line-up of artists you definitely don’t get to hear live very often… everything was set for success. Thanks to the Piknic for putting Sundays back on the map!
