Happy Birthday To Us...

On the Mutant Pop front, this weekend sees us celebrate our first birthday in style with the debut hometown performance from Emptyset. If you haven't checked their debut release on the Future Days label yet, then I suggest you do so quick sharp as it's pretty much sold out in all stockists after riding high at #9 in Juno's techno chart. I have, however, been reliably informed that a repress is on the way, so expect that to hit the shops sometime in the next couple of months. A-side 'Acuphase' can be found on my current mix that's being hosted over at the Club Mezcla website here.

The project consists of two members, Microman from Bristol's much loved under_score night (you may have seen him in action doing his BoxJam set with felow under_scoree Jim Petherwick at the local Ashton Court Festival or at the Cuisine night at Timbuk2 last month), and his accomplice, 30Hz, who's most known for his breakbeat productions on the Vertical Sound label. After Mictoman unveiled the world of techno to his partner, they embarked on their production project where they strived to create a sound of taut, streamlined, reductionist beats that would work the dancefloor into a sweaty transcendant state. This latter element seems to be an important part of their material as the tracks so far have a very jacking mentality, whilst they remain stripped down to the core elements. Maximum damage with minimal ingredients seems to be the key to Emptyset's sound, and its this style that has already won them fans worldwide such as the legendary Hardwax records in Berlin, and also the guys at Sheffield's Warp Records.

It certainly promises to be a birthday celebration to remember (or should that be forget?) at the Arc, and anyone wishing to make a weekend in Bristol out of it can check out James Holden at Blue Mountain on the Thursday, and Radio Slave at Timbuk2 on Saturday. Those staying until Monday morning should definitely check out the always reliable Normalise chaps (including our very own Puffin Jack) at Hush Hush on Sunday night for some 'bathtime techno, crackle-haus, and pagan disco'. Trust me when I say that there's no better way to soothe yourself into Monday after a hard weekend's partying. Have a good Easter weekend, and make sure that you make the most of it!