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by Don Crispy
Funk D'Void
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| Lars Sandberg aka Funk
D'Void |
Pre-holiday Sundays always provide an occasion
for special events. This Sunday is no exception, with a rare
touchdown by one of Scotland's finest techno jocks,
a visit by a Chicago house innovator, and a Japan tour by
a little-known German electronica imprint.
The son of a concert pianist, Glasgow native Lars Sandberg,
aka Funk D'Void, represents the first wave of European
DJs to emerge out of the acid house boom of the late '80s.
Influenced by Detroit techno and European electro, many of
these DJs grew from humble origins into the stars of the current
international club circuit.
Sandberg was one of the first DJs in Glasgow to catch the
house bug, honing his tastes with a seven-year stint as a
buyer for Fopp Records. His production work began in the '90s
with tracks for key techno imprint Soma, including the seminal
"Jack Me Off," a dancefloor smash with its razor-sharp
production and cracking beats.
Sandberg's debut album took the form of Technoir, released
in 1997, and since then he's issued a stream of chart-toppers
as Funk D'Void as well as releasing tracks with Nigel
Hayes under the name Chaser.
Associated with international house party Cocoon Club through
annual residencies on the Mediterranean clubbing isle Ibiza,
Sandberg will be joined at Womb by local techno veterans Mayuri,
organizer of summer rave Metamorphose, and Toby…
In a different musical vein, Sunday also welcomes a set by
a rare visitor to Japan. Larry Heard, aka Mr. Fingers, is
arguably Chicago's best house producer, having written
a number of defining cuts for Alleviated Records in the late
'80s. His bottomless beats and subtle instrumentation,
when combined with the gospel vocals of recording partner
Robert Owens, helped set the template for the house explosion
of the decade. Heard has not been quiescent of late, with
this summer's Where Life Begins (Alleviated Trackmode)
constituting another hallmark in the DJ/producer's
career.
At Yellow, Heard will be joined on guitar by Alleviated stablemate
and recent partner-in-beats, DJ/producer and multi-instrumentalist
Son Dexter. Something of a protégé, Vancouver-based
Dexter was introduced to Alleviated by Heard, who was taken
with Dexter's skills on the guitar and a grab-bag of
other instruments, and his ability to work live instrumentation
into soulful house tracks such as those contained on Dexter's
2001 Beauty Within EP...
Finally, German techno label Background Records touches down
at Ism as part of a Japan tour for their new album, Cycling,
by label artist Portable, the stage name of producer Alan
Abrahams. A native of the South African township Bonteheuwel,
Abrahams relocated to London in 1997, the result being Cycling,
which brings together Abrahams' interests in contemporary
house production with the intricate rhythms and optimistic
spirit of African music. Abrahams will offer a live electronica
set, with DJs Ten and Keita Magara providing backup on the
decks.
Cocoon Club@Womb, 10/12, 11pm, ¥4,000.
Tel: 03-5459-3939.
Alleviated Records Japan Tour@Yellow, 10/12, 10pm, ¥3,500.
Tel: 03-3479-0690.
Background Records Label Night@Ism, 10/12, 10pm, ¥2,500.
Tel: 03-3780-6320.
credit:
Metamorphose
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