Playback, Bristol
As one-third of the Principals party collective, host of the popular Sunday night dancefloor-focused radio show 88 Transition on NTS, renowned Boiler Room programmer, and founder of Young Turks imprint Whities, it’s surprising that Nic Tasker even has the time to get a good night’s sleep, let alone play a set outside London. Luckily, Playback has nabbed him for its post-Love Inn residency comeback. One of the fresher London techno labels, Whities has so far released the likes of German-Italian pairing Terron and Minor Science, with its fifth release, Reckonwrong’s Luscious Lips, due later this month. Fresh from supporting Jamie xx at Copenhagen’s Culture Box, Tasker is set to headline the Exchange for two hours, giving fans a rare chance to catch the multitasking maestro in his element. He’ll be sharing the decks with Bristolians such as Ruff Draft’s Owain K and Idle Hands affiliate Sam Hall.
The Exchange, Sat
SM
Clock Strikes 13, London
From the people who brought you the Hydra (which continues its sweat lodge vibe with Levon Vincent and Move D this week) comes a series of rather more underground parties, and the lineups will have you block-booking your weekends like some deranged X Factor fan. Take this Saturday’s, which goes to show the sheer breadth of grime today: pwopa nawty filth from Kahn & Neek, Darq E Freaker and Spooky, gyaldem-facing R&B pop from DJ Q and Finn, and emotional devastation from Deadboy and Rabit. Come Friday, it’s the turn of Portuguese label Príncipe, whose tracks are so raggedly syncopated that they’re in danger of falling apart altogether, DJ Firmeza and the staggeringly talented Nidia Minaj are joined by the daddy of the scene, DJ Marfox. And look ahead: other Clock Strikes 13 nights include laidback Vancouver dawgs 1080p, ferric techno from Mute’s Liberation Technologies spinoff, Atlantan rap pervs Awful Records, and three barnstorming nights from Ninja Tune.
Corsica Studios, SE17, Sat; Dance Tunnel, E8, Fri
BB
Riffraff, Middlesbrough
Out to celebrate a “decade plus two of scrinsing, smogging, punching holes in ceilings and going against the grain”, gritty north-east techno collective Riffraff has roped in Detroit techno duo Octave One and their meticulously constructed live show, fresh off the back of fifth LP Burn It Down and a summer of rapturously received Euro-festival sets. While autumnal Middlesbrough possesses a rather different charm to, say, the rolling Croatian coast, the brothers can expect a similarly ecstatic response here. Meanwhile, Evan Baggs, a New York-via-Berlin DJ and producer and firm favourite among the likes of Joy Orbison, adds a flavour of tasteful house and techno to a worthy 12th birthday for a thriving party.
The Medicine Bar, Sat
JT
Zongamin, London
Too underground to be well-known, too active to be truly mysterious, Japan-born, London-based producer Zongamin is blessedly enigmatic. His only album to date was back in 2003 and is the definition of a cult classic, featuring garage-punk, itchy electro and Prince-style squelch (Spiral in particular still slays), while his 2005 single for Ed Banger, Bongo Song, was a ubiquitous blog-house smash. Since then he’s played with Hot Chip side project About Group and done the odd remix, but is still very much a “secret weapon”. Catch him at this ultra-rare DJ set. Plus, look out for a live performance from CAR.
Queen Of Hoxton, EC2, Sat
BB
6th Birthday, Glasgow
Set in a bar basement, La Cheetah’s sweaty, compact guest parties have been the stuff of legend for six years now. One of its most successful strands has been Motor City Electronics, a regular night that celebrates the lasting influence of Detroit upon the club dancefloor. For this anniversary instalment it welcomes back prolific producer, student of the city’s late 80s techno boom and FXHE label head Omar S for three hours of tech-house, booty and electro.
La Cheetah, Fri
DP
