Brain Machine Radio, Salford
Although a fixture of Islington Mill’s open-minded programming, the infrequency of Brain Machine Radio is testimony to the night’s quality control and uncompromising nature. Loosely associated with other northern techno substations such as Bohemian Grove, BMR’s remit has been defined by live sets of futuristic electro from groups such as Photodementia and Dopplereffekt. There’s a similar theme and standard for this weekend’s event, which is headlined by Inkamera, the celebrated project of experimental French composer Victoria Lukas. Lukas applies her own ethereal vocals to analogue electronics, joined on theremin by countryman Thomas Suire of tongue-in-cheek electro-punks Infecticide. Despite both members’ outsider credentials, Inkamera’s music is in the classic vein of synth-pop, new wave and industrial styles. Support comes from local DJs.
Islington Mill, Sat
JT
Reviveher, London
Lying in the shadow of the Millennium Dome, the Emirates Air Line and other preposterous east London white elephants is the Jetty, a pop-up venue in the middle of the Thames which is playing host to this excellent daytime free party. It’s topped by Suzanne Kraft, AKA Los Angeleno bloke Diego Herrera, whose recent EP Talk From Home featured sparse, Junior Boys-style yacht rock ballads – but as his Dude Energy alter ego shows, he’s also well versed in sunstroked Italo disco. He’s supported by DJ Nature, who cropped up first in the early 90s with a jazzy flip on jacking house, went to ground, and then re-emerged 20 years later for another bout of lithe grooves. The party shifts to a secret Shoreditch location at night, and features Kraft again alongside Otologic, star of the Animals Dancing label/party in Melbourne, which has brought the likes of Prins Thomas and Hieroglyphic Being over to Australia. Assisted by a few cocktails and some milky sunshine, it’ll turn your Saturday into a bleary simulacrum of Mediterranean holidaying.
The Jetty, SE10, Sat
BBT
Ministry Of Sound Nr Chertsey
Now in its fourth year, Ministry Of Sound’s summer sessions have proved hugely popular. This time around, residents Nilesh Parmar, Matt May and Just Geo will be taking the reins at Thorpe Park with sets of high-energy house and garage mash-ups; Just Geo’s acclaimed grime-influenced set at November’s MoS session marks his return as a total no-brainer. With the venue opening at 8pm, you’ll have a chance to ride some of the rollercoasters, too, without those screaming summer-holiday kids getting in the way.
Thorpe Park, Sat
SM
Jackhammer, Edinburgh
Did you know that “techno” came from the name of a compilation? 1988’s Techno: The New Dance Sound Of Detroit introduced Jeff Mills and Juan Atkins to UK ravers, and proved so popular that its follow-up, 1990’s Techno 2: The Next Generation, brought in Detroit’s new blood. Among them were Octave One (pictured), brothers whose love of turning soul melodies and funk basslines into crunching techno has seen their popularity only grow over the decades; their classic Octivation EP has just been reissued for the first time in 20 years. They play live here, while DJs include Downwards label boss Regis and Hans Bouffmyhre, whose Glasgow party Sleaze has made him a serious techno tastemaker.
LM
DJ Mustard, London
XOYO finishes up its week of third birthday celebrations – which also feature Bicep, Andrew Weatherall and Mr Ties on Saturday night – by hosting the man behind the definitive rap backing of the last couple of years: DJ Mustard. His production style, of three-note melodies and people saying “hey” over and over again, has been put to ultra-addictive use in smashes such as Tinashe’s 2 On, Omarion’s Post To Be, and Big Sean’s I Don’t Fuck With You. Expect plenty of hunnert-throwing, cognac- flinging pop rap in this DJ set.
XOYO, EC2, Sun
BBT
