Clubs PROFILE
SANDWELL DISTRICT Also known as: Regis (aka Karl O’Connor) and Function (aka Dave Sumner, pictured) Occupation: The record label and live incarnation of the aforementioned techno duo.
I recognise those names. Tell me more Regis and Function are respected producers in their own right. Regis has been producing dark intelligent electronica and harsh industrial since the 90s, went on to set up Downwards Records, and is also half of another formidable techno double act, British Murder Boys (alongside Surgeon). New Yorker Function has had two underground hits with his Isolation and Anticipation EPs, and has been DJing/producing for the last 15 years.
And what exactly is Sandwell District? Following on from the success of Downwards, Sandwell District is at the cutting edge of underground techno. A mysterious organisation with no formal structure, MySpace or even website, it specialises in dark Detroit sounds and downtempo hypnotic beats (hovering around the 120bpm mark) that take techno in a new direction. Boasting releases from names such as Kalon (another Regis alter ego), Female, Silent Servant and Ian Richardson, Regis and Function are now heading to Glasgow to represent the label.
No MySpace? No website? How can we hear these Sandwell chaps? By picking up any of their rather splendid 12”s, or of course you could head down to Animal Farm at the Sub Club to experience their techno excellence firsthand. So what should we expect on the night? ‘For our second outing at the majestic Sub Club we thought we’d keep it nasty, after Ben Klock ripped the roof off in December,’ explain the chaps at Animal Farm. ‘We welcome techno overlord Regis with partner Function for a live performance. Armed with laptops, controllers and drum machines, it’s going to be an all-out audio assault.’ (Henry Northmore) ■ Animal Farm at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 23 Apr.
38 THE LIST 15–29 Apr 2010
ELECTRO/BURLESQUE/CABARET CONFUSION IS SEX Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Fri 16 Apr
Confusion is Sex strives for something different – mixing burlesque, leftfield cabaret, electro, live bands, pole dancers and more to create a unique world within itself. ‘It’s an underground freakshow,’ explains Gamma Ray Dali, the mastermind behind the madness. ‘I think people love the bizarreness. One minute there’ll be hardcore electro and the next there’ll be a latex fashion show on stage. People love the five minute sparkle of something different.’ Customers are encouraged to join in the
celebrations, with discounted entry if appropriately dressed. ‘The customers and performers create an energy together,’ adds Dali. ‘Some people come down dressed even more fabulously than the performers.’ It’s Dali’s singular vision and attention to detail that really set CiS apart. She trained up her own
performance troupe, The Freaky Brides, designed the décor, and oversees the operation from the ground up. ‘I’m coming up with ideas and physically making stuff for it every week; at one point every day I’m working on something from an outfit to choreography.’ However, even with all the other attractions the music is never overlooked, with an ‘electro and white trash glam techno’ soundtrack in the main room while the upstairs area features country, punk, surf and rockabilly. In the world of CiS, every night is different. ‘Every month I try and do a whole different concept,’ says Dali. ‘You can’t go to the same Confusion is Sex twice.’ For this fortnight’s first birthday they have burlesque from Wild Card Kitty, the debut of comedy dance duo The Muffs, and live music from Berlin’s Platzblanche alongside the Freaky Brides. ‘I’ve booked the crème de la crème of every Confusion is Sex.’ (Henry Northmore)
MINIMAL TECH-HOUSE KATE SIMKO Equalised at Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 16 Apr; Introduction at Studio 24, Edinburgh, Sat 17 Apr
Kate Simko is unapologetic about her geekiness. What will her live show consist of, I ask? ‘It’s truly a live performance,’ she replies in her email, ‘with an analogue drum machine, MIDI controller and laptop. Well, fingers crossed. I just realised the tempo button on my Roland TR-505 is broke, so I hope my new MFB-522 drum machine arrives in time for the tour.’ Civilians and non-trainspotters: just leave her to it. Despite her tech-geekery Simko creates music of an unusual tenderness and delicacy, particularly considering this Chicago girl started out going to ‘underground parties and raves as a teenager.’ Right now, Simko is working on her first full length album for Spectral Sound (also the US home of Matthew Dear) and a side project with Tevo Howard, but her ambitions lie beyond the dancefloor. Her first remix was of a Philip Glass track, she’s released a soundtrack to a documentary about physicists entitled Music From the Atom Smashers and she’s constructing an audio-visual installation with Jeffrey Weeter. ‘I absolutely love this kind of work,’ she says. ‘It’s something I can picture myself doing more regularly in the future, when I’m a little too old to be hanging late at the club. I’d like to make music that is appreciated as art, not just for booty-shaking.’ (David Pollock)