1. Flavorpill - March 13th, 2007

    Ever the busy beaver, San Francisco-based Tycho, aka Scott Hansen, has a portfolio of notable graphic design, a brand-new album, a 12-inch on the recently retired Merck imprint, and an upcoming Ghostly International record to his name. His live PAs feature edgy, funky instrumental hip-hop and IDM, fitting in perfectly with the monthly Ramp party's futuristic aesthetic. Quantazelle also kicks off her new residency tonight using her lesser-known but equally accomplished Liz Revision moniker, under which she runs Modsquare magazine and net label and throws numerous parties throughout the city. - m50

  2. New City - March 8th, 2007

    The folks at BassUpTrebleDown have been warming up Sonotheque's sleek interior all winter long, with the Ramp Chicago monthly playing host to electronic artists in every sense of the word and tonight is no exception. Although special guest Tyler Hansen might not ring any bells initially, you might¹ve seen some of his delightfully warm and psychedelically iconic work as graphic designer ISO50. Or perhaps you¹ve heard this San Francisco resident's music, recording as Tycho for Merck and Ghostly International. Detached and meandering-yet-melodic, Tycho¹s music finds warmth amongst electronic noise, and captures the analogous results of his visual style as a designer. Also on the bill is Mr. Automatic, a fine multimedia artist in his own right, providing visuals and installations for events around Chicago with Metropop Media and Retropop! Tonight, Mr. Automatic will be flexing his musical muscles with an eclectic mix of downtempo, and 60s pop and disco. New resident Liz Revision (aka Quantazelle) also joins the fray for what is certain to be a synergistic evening of artistry and music. - Duke Shin

  3. Time Out Chicago - March 8th, 2007

    BassUpTrebleDown throws this monthly for fans of left-field, homemade electronics combining DJ sets and unusual live PAs. This time, it's got Ghostly Int'l artist, melodic minimalist and graphic guru Tycho dropping a live set and Mr. Automatic joining residents Liz Revision and Emulsion in the booth. Spiderback VJ's the entire mind-melding experience.

  4. New City - February 8th, 2007

    Vocalist/writer Christine Ingaldson heads a rotating cast of chameleonic creatives who like their electronica every which way but straight. The Chicago-based project Flutter first flickered its way onto the local electronic scene in 2001 with a brand of ambient IDM that settled over the senses like a cool hush. Their first album, Molting, was an ethereal ride of emotive, operatic vocals that felt pretty to the touch. In 2003, Flutter upped the ante on fun, crafting a cheeky electro-pop gem in Toys in Coin Machines. Collaborating with fellow electro enthusiast Paul Determan, Ingaldson's live shows are a mix of dark pop, indie-rock and underground dance peppered with irreverent vocal musings. Imagine Junior Boys taking a few tips from Yaz in the dance-rock department—then watch Flutter make it come to fruition on stage. Expect a barrage of engaging visuals and a pop-tart sweetness that will make the boys (and girls) purr. - Jenn Danko (Tip of the Week)

  5. New City - January 25th, 2007

    Producers Nathan Koch (Emulsion) and Chris Jones (Yard) keep busy testing the limits of one of Chicago's best sound systems. Inside the dark, streamlined digs of Sonotheque, experimental artists test the boundaries of techno, dub, and minimal the second Tuesday of each month. "[Ramp Chicago] is devoted to live and interesting electronic music that takes a path somewhere between the dance floor and your headphones, bringing in artists that straddle genres and take chances," Koch says of the monthly. January saw the the dubby techno blip of Narita's Arctic Hospital work over the room; on February 13 the lush, experimental workings of Flutter s end audiences on an ethereal IDM ride. Her Ramp Chicago play date celebrates the release of her new CD, Dolls Like Me, a blendy of catchy beats and melodic vocals that define her one-woman show. As a resident DJ for the night, Koch lays down his brand of electro, IDM and ambient with monthly guests including Ianhixxx this January and TMI (of Thorny Tigers) in February. Also brewing in the coming months: live visuals. "With the demise of Locale every Sunday at Rodan, we're giving local video artists a chance to showcase their work again," Koch added. - Jenn Danko

  6. Time Out Chicago - January 4th, 2007

    BassUpTrebleDown puts on this monthly for fans of leftfield, homemade electronics. Milwaukee's He Can Jog headlines with a live set of shimmering glitched out melodies while Chicago's own Quantazelle delivers a live version of her melodic floor-filling IDM. Emulsion and Ianhixxx get in on the action with DJ sets and Spiderback mixes the videos.

  7. New City - January 4th, 2007

    Milwaukee producer and remixer Erik Schoster brings his He Can Jog project to Sonotheque for BassUpTrebleDown's monthly Ramp Chicago event. His live set of laptop-based clicks and grooves will be complemented by the serene yet funky sounds of Chicago's own Quantazelle, as well as two notable DJs and live visual mayhem. Ramp Chicago's raison d¹être is to spread the bleeding edges of electronic music to both headphones and dancefloors alike; the artists chosen for this event are proof plenty of that. Whether shaking your booty or sitting upon it, prepare your ears for quality glitch and techno at what promises to be one of the premier events of the new year. - John Alex Colón (Tip of the Week)

  8. Flavorpill - December 12th, 2006

    Merck Records may be closing its doors in January 2007, but don't expect its last gigs of 2006 to be a quiet farewell. The Miami-based label has released nearly 50 CDs and 50 vinyl records — music that combines electronica with strains of IDM, ambient, hip-hop, and indie. Tonight's party features Chicago's Proswell, who is releasing his new (and final) CD for Merck, Bruxist Frog. DJ sets from local producers Emulsion, Yard, and Merck's own DJ M3RCK top the evening off with several different styles, proving that, yes, quality electronic music still exists in America. - Marla Seidell

  9. Time Out Chicago - December 7th, 2006

    With Ramp Chicago, the BassUpTrebleDown crew bring cutting edge talent in electronic music that has pleasing qualities whether its coming from the PA or your headphones. Tonight, Proswell plays a live set and releases a new disc on Merck Records. DJ M3RCK, Yard, and Emulsion spin and Metropop media contributes live video mixing.

  10. New City Chicago - November 9th, 2006

    Green Bay, Wisconsin native Eric Bray has been garnering a bit of attention by way of his fittingly icy pseudonym, Arctic Hospital. Sure, growing up in an icy climate might've influenced his production moniker, but the sounds he creates also reflect an icy-clean edge to deceptively danceable tracks that seem to straddle the fence between IDM and techno. Arctic Hospital's releases have found a home in Miami-based Narita Records, which fittingly claim to "put the D in IDM." Drop into Sonotheque tonight, where Arctic Hospital will perform tracks from his latest release, "Citystream," which has received rave reviews from the lives of Warp Records and Boomkat. DJ sets from Brian Foote of Nudge (Kranky, Tigerbeat6) and local label-mate Yard round out a strong evening of electronic enlightenment for both your head and your feet. - Duke Shin

  11. Time Out Chicago - November 9th, 2006

    BassUpTrebleDown brings out artists with a combination of headphones and body rocking appeal. Arctic Hospital (Wisconsin producer Eric Bray) headlines with a live set while Nudge, Yard, and Emulsion bust out DJ sets.