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May 8, 2007
“Which is better, New York or Chicago?” This innocent little question explodes a heated debate between fans of either city. Chicago has less-expensive housing, but New York has a superior public transit system. New York has a phenomenal restaurant scene, but Chicago smells better in the summer. Chicago has Ramp Chicago for quality electronic music nights and New York has Machinedrum's Cassette fêtes—all-night art / film/ dance parties featuring a who's-who of contemporary electronic music and indie hip-hop. When Machinedrum takes over the PA at Sonotheque, you'll get to experience a taste of Brooklyn in the swanky sonic environment of Sonotheque here in Chicago–and you just might just feel the urge to take your shirt off.
It's easy to see why Travis Stewart's Machinedrum project has been compared to artists like Prefuse 73, Autechre, and Funkstorung. Take Autechre's algorithmic glitch, combine it with Prefuse 73's micro-sampled hip-hoppery, toss in Funkstorung's genre-crossing prolific remix power, then add the melodic sensibility of Plaid and you can start to imagine his sound. As one of the first artists on the much-lauded (but now defunct) stateside IDM label Merck Records, he sold out albums, raised the label's popular consciousness, and garnered critical acclaim. Look for two upcoming releases on the Normrex label this year.
And he knows what it takes to make a party go off. Along with two-time DMC World Champion DJ IE.merg he released a ground-breaking battle record for turntablists. Taking his music to the next level, Travis also organizes monthly Brooklyn-based dance parties featuring art openings, live painting, and film screenings under the Cassette banner. Past performers include Jimmy Edgar, Praveen, Telefon Tel Aviv and more.
Make sure you get to Sonotheque early enough to catch local talent Justin McGrath—a one-time producer of dense, emotional IDM who's switched lanes and now cranks out noisy, analog synth-based dance tracks while still maintaining his characteristic sweeping melodic lines and dense orchestration. Don't think it can be done? Justin will prove you wrong. And Machinedrum will keep the party going, bringing the sounds of a Brooklyn art loft to one of the best-sounding clubs in Chicago.
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April 10, 2007 - 6pm to 9pm
The night of the next Ramp Chicago we’re doing an info session for the Red Bull Music Academy–where DJ’s and producers who apply and get accepted are flown to a free “school” taught by big name producers. Doc Martin, Alex Smoke, Mira Calix are all past tutors along with just about everyone else you can think of.
VictorGanic (Astralwerks) will be hosting a discussion on the RBMA, Martin Atkins is doing a presentation on the contemporary Chinese music scene, and Liz Revision and Emulsion will be spinning our usual techno/electro/idm/ambient thing.
The Red Bull Music Academy is an event that travels the world. A yearly celebration of all the journeys and breakthroughs, all the dreams and intricacies that go into the music we love. In between checking gear, chatting on tunes, and spinning in clubs, you’ll get a rare glimpse into local musical hybrids in different countries each year. Believe! And in your free time, you can talk to people from around the world who started revolutions in sound. They’re the people we look up to, and they’re looking to you for a fresh perspective in turn
.The Academy is intended for anyone with a strong yen for music and a desire to be involved in its evolution: DJ’s, producers, MC’s, singers, dancers, promoters, sound engineers, broadcasters, banjo players… They’ll all be considered.
Come out and learn about the Red Bull Music Academy, and also hear from our guests: Martin Atkins (Suicide Girls Columnist/Label owner): Presentation on the Chinese Music Scene VictorGanic (Astralwerks): This past attendee with discuss his experiences at the Red Bull Music Academy Emulsion & Liz Revision (Ramp Chicago Residents): Spin techno, electro, IDM, and ambient Plus a panel discussion on the state of the music industry.
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April 10, 2007 - 9pm to 2am
“Free music? A record label is giving away all of its releases? And it's legal to download? Well it can't be that g—whoah, hold on-- this is really excellent stuff here... free you say? C'mon, there's got to be some catch...”
Nope, there's no catch, people: quality underground music can be yours for a total cost of zero dollars ($0.00). Witness the power of the Netlabel—the new, super niche-y music distribution platform with an instant delivery, grab-it-while-it's-fresh aesthetic that's only possible because of the Internet. While it's similar to a traditional independent label, the main difference is that a Netlabel has no physical component to any of its releases—everything is digital and free to download. iTunes, eMusic or any other digital download broker is never part of the picture, proving that the power of the Internet, combined with pure DIY spirit can bypass the traditional system of music distribution.
It's fitting that most Netlabels feature IDM and experimental electronic releases, seeing as the genre is produced on computers likely to be connected to the Internet at some point. The most established Netlabels include Kikapu & Monotonik (IDM), Textone (minimal techno), and 8bitpeoples (8bit / Chiptune). While they oftentimes feature a mixture of higher profile and less-established artists, one thing is consistent: they are always focused on bringing quality music to a larger audience.
Enter Xynthetic [pronounced “Synthetic”], the Netlabel that's intent on blowing out your eardrums as well as your musical preconceptions with releases by such talented producers as Mochipet, Phylum Sinter, Mercury Effect, Zainetica, and Ramp Chicago resident, Emulsion.
You owe it to yourself to see and hear the innovators behind Xynthetic in their first Chicago appearance. Josh Garrett (Xyn) a native of Detroit / Ann Arbor has contributed remixes for labels like Component and tracks for en:peg, while Graeme Foote (Pyxis) is a respected Vancouver club DJ. Both are convinced that traditional music distribution channels have failed musicians and believe that a Netlabel that connects the music of talented artists with an appreciative audience will only bring great things. Building upon their eclectic-but-excellent theme, local celebrity selector Ianhixxx will shake the subwoofers and your expectations with his genre-bending forays into electro, Italo, growly techno, acid and IDM.
- Xyn (Live)
- Pyxis
- Ianhixxx
- Emulsion [Resident]
- Visuals - Spiderback [Resident]
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March 13, 2007
If Ramp Chicago needed a poster boy it would be Scott Hansen—equal parts audio and visual, he executes both with finesse. As Tycho he's a master of swirling, sun-drenched melodies and as the much-lauded graphic designer, ISO50, he's equally stunning and mines a similar aesthetic. Having just shared a bill with Matmos, Tycho is at work on new material for Ghostly International, having recently released Past is Prologue on Merck records. Hansen will be performing and displaying artwork from his ISO50 guise, as well as his live set as Tycho.
You'll regret it if you miss Chicago DJ Mr. Automatic, a long-time veteran of collectives like Metropop Media, Retropop!, Boutique Sound and Iconoclast. He’ll be spinning an eclectic mix of downtempo, 60’s pop and disco. Also look out for our new resident Liz Revision (a.k.a. Quantazelle), who recently appeared with a live set in January, returning resident Emulsion (who brings his personal blend of electro, IDM, and ambient), as well as live video artist Spiderback, returning to Ramp Chicago with his distinct blend of synthesized visuals.
- Tycho (Live)
- Mr. Automatic
- Liz Revision [Resident]
- Emulsion [Resident]
- Visuals - Spiderback [Resident]
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February 13, 2007
This month we go a little outside of Ramp Chicago’s usual style with the sweet sounds of Chicago’s own Flutter. Vocalist and songwriter Christine Ingaldson delivers distinctive electro-pop married to catchy beats on her new album dolls like me, out Valentines Day – February 14th.
Also on board is “scene grampa” Josh Davidson, aka Touchmaster Infinity (TMI). Known for his time with Chicago electronic favorites String Theory (now Thorny Tigers) and keyboardist/producer for the underground pop band Parks & Gardens, he’s not one to place much stock in “genre” or “indie credibility” – an audience is as likely to hear Steely Dan as New Order in a TMI set!
Also look for sets from local radio and club mega-scenester m50 and resident DJ Emulsion, with the requisite live visuals supplied by the hard-working VJ Mason Dixon.
- Flutter (Live)
- TMI
- m50
- Emulsion [Resident]
- Visuals - Mason Dixon
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January 9, 2007
With releases under both his solo moniker and as part of Milwaukee trio Cedar A.V., Hecanjog (AKA Erik Schoster from Milwaukee, WI) is a prolific performer and remixer with releases on Fork Series, Asthmatic Kitty, Hippocamp and more. Also playing live is the near-famous, hard working Quantazelle, known for everything from her melodic, booty shaking live sets to her recontextualized electronic components-made-jewelry as Zelle.
Rounding out the night we have DJ sets from Emulsion and Ianhixxx (aka Ian Hicks) known for his sets with local party collective Opaque, as well as live video from Ramp Chicago veteran Spiderback.
- Hecanjog (Live)
- Quantazelle
- Ianhixxx
- Emulsion [Resident]
- Visuals - Spiderback
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December 12, 2006
This time around we’re bringing you DJ M3rck of Merck Records, a Miami based label with almost 50 releases in every style from “electronified hip-hop” to indie-influenced electronics to ambient. With new releases coming this winter be prepared to hear some hot new unreleased tracks. Also on the bill: a live set from Chicago’s own Proswell, a long time veteran of the electronic music scene and one of Merck’s founding artists. This show will be the release party for his 4th (and final) CD for Merck, "Bruxist Frog".
- Proswell (Live!)
- DJ M3rck
- Yard
- Emulsion [Resident]
- Visuals - Metropop Media
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November 14, 2007
Arctic Hospital (aka Wisconsin producer Eric Bray) will be the star of the show, with his new CD Citystreams (out now on Narita) picking up great press and raves from everyone from Warp Records to Boomkat. ("a prime slice of futuristic 4/4"). Brian Foote from Nudge (known for releases on Kranky, Tigerbeat6, and OMCO as well as running the Outward Music and Audraglint labels) will be throwing down a DJ set that will run from minimal to experimental. Look out as well for fellow Narita (and now Plong!) producer Yard and local melodic IDM nerd Emulsion.
- Arctic Hospital (Live!)
- Brian Foote of Nudge (DJ set)
- Yard
- Emulsion [Resident]
- Visuals - Spiderback
