Boards of Canada sets

Available over at Deepgoa. A few sets from 2000 – 2002, always hard to come by, but always a pleasure.

Orbital Live at Brixton Academy

Not long after their planned reformation at the Big Chill Festival this coming August, Orbital are on the road down Brixton way at the O2 Academy. Tickets go on sale at 9.00am tomorrow (Friday), but I managed to purchase mine today (with no special powers) So, book the ticket and lets see what one of the most exciting electronic acts of all time possibly has left to give us.

I want one!

WTF!!! Has anyone seen one of these?!?! I want one!!!? HANDHELD SYNTHESIZER!!!!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N6tLRCDqJ2c&feature=channel_page

Massive Attack’s new stage set

With the visual aspect of live shows becoming more elaborate and prominent, those looking for a masterclass should check out Massive Attack’s new set-up. Straight off the back of Massive Attacks Meltdown Festival on the Southbank, they have updated their look with the help of United Visual Artists. After designing sets for UNKLE and the Chemical Brother’s, UVA are hot on the list of the big performance artists,

“UVA have created a new stage set, with a wide, sculptural LED screen as the centrepiece. The visual treatments, created in collaboration with Massive Attack, are the group’s most explicitly political yet. Flickering references to rendition flights, detention without charge and surveillance societies light up the stage, and computer-controlled lights, also designed by UVA, allow perfect synchronisation between the music and the visuals”

Watch them live against their new stunning backdrop here.

Check out http://www.uva.co.uk for more visuals and more info. Below are a few from the Royal Festival Hall.

Echaskech Vs Jon Hopkins – Free download

Just Music – one of my favourite record labels offer a free download every week just by subscribing to the site. They dont offer any old crap either, and this weeks download highlights their exciting roster of artists and productions.

I went to see Echaskech play live a couple of years ago at a pub in Hammersmith. Cant remember the name of the place, but it was an intimate venue with only about 50 people in total. Echaskech played tracks off their album Skechbook (Buy and preview here). A mixture of chill, ambient, breaks and electronica, their album reflects an early more downtempo Orbital. Uptempo electro breaks mixed with pure electronic chilled bliss. They are great live, with accompanying visuals to keep you that little bit more entertained. Since this gig i haven’t heard much apart from a few remixes and appearances at the Hayward Gallery on the Southbank. Unfortunately i am yet to check them out down there.

So i was very pleased this evening to see an email in my box announcing a free download of Echaskech’s live remix of Jon Hopkins -100 from his album, Contact Note. As you can probably tell, im a big fan of both. I suggest you get over to the Just Music website, sign-up and give it a listen. It might not be what you were expecting…but you will indeed love it.