all great photos by: James Malone
all words by: Wlada Kolosowa
How much of a good show is the musician’s credit, as opposed to just a fortunate combination of circumstances? Is good music always good music or is it a mixture of mood, timing, surrounding and expectations that makes you like a show? And since dancing is more situation based than listening: How important is the setting for a DJ live act like Modeselektor?
I always thought Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary were one of the best electronic acts Berlin’s BPitch Control (and the world in general) has to offer. But yet again, I never saw them until 2 am. And every time I was in a very … erm, compromised state of mind and surrounded by an easily flammable crowd. It was late, the people were willing. Some drumming on an upside-down cooking pot could get them going.
This time Modeselektor couldn’t expect to have such an easy time. Although Bronsert and Szary probably felt a tiniest jet lag themselves (10 pm + 6 = 4 am, “their time”), the crowd they were judged by had a 10 p.m. perception. And a 10 p.m. blood alcohol content.
Still, Modeselektor went from zero to sixty right in their first track. And the crowd followed. Gernot Bronsert barely needed to murmur “To Eastern America from Eastern Germany, go DC!” and people were immediately dancing. They danced uncompromisingly. They danced relentlessly. They danced as if there were no tomorrow. After the second track the first couples on the dance floor started to make out.
Modeselektor pulled out all the stops: grinding synths, wiping bass lines and ear-splitting mixes. They kept the crowd as high as kites, only to go low all of the sudden. Breathe in. Breathe out. Sway in blissful delirium. And then full force ahead! On repeat.
Modeselektor’s music is often described as fusion of hip-hop and electronic, but it can’t really be labeled. They make Techno, Dubstep, Raggae, Hip-Hop, Rave – a wild mix of all things machine and non-machine based. The outcome varies from haunting electronic beats to jarring atmospherics. (Whatever it is, it was approved by Maximo Park and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, who mentioned Modeselektor as one of his favorite bands and toured Eastern Europe with their collaborative project Moderat.)
The visuals of the show were as tumultuous and hypnotizing as the sound: Decomposing monkey faces, neon mosaics and druids in white dresses … Insane beauty. The duo’s charisma made the show perfect. The guys really seemed to enjoy the gig and were constantly partying and smiling behind their Macs. There was only one thing they didn’t like about American audience: “You don’t smoke here, right?” complained Bronsert in a computer voice . “I can tell. The party smells different.”
When Modeselctor closed up with “Hyper, Hyper” – a remix of a single by German techno dinosaurs Scooter – I was sure: Modeselektor kick ass no matter what circumstances. They blow your mind. Even from 10 to 12 pm. On a Thursday night. Sober.
Yes, this her all right! Yacouba to the very like.
November 9, 2009 at 10:39 amGreat review. And fantastic photos. I took some video of the show as well….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqoJxkf_IcI
November 9, 2009 at 4:49 pm
is that Yacouba Tanou I see dancing in the crowd? I believe it is…
November 9, 2009 at 10:15 am