ADAM BEYER VS. JOEL MULL @ DRUMCODE TOUR
With Metalogic (live), DJ Nitin. Fri, Oct 10. CiRCA Ballroom, 126 John. $18.50 advance at Moog, Play De Record, Shanti Baba.
While the Randomland crew celebrate CiRCA’s first year with Lupe Fiasco and Arthur Baker in the club’s main room, the Platform crew host Swedish techno stars Adam Beyer and Joel Mull in the Ballroom, which will have its own separate entrance. Although both men have played Toronto before, they’re hitting North American clubs together to represent for Beyer’s Drumcode label. Expect mixes to range from driving and percussive to stripped down and deep, as Beyer has been experimenting with a wider variety of sounds in recent years.
MORGAN GEIST
With Mikey Apples, Felix & Gani, Dopplehertz DJs. Sat, Oct 11. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen W. $10 advance tickets at Rotate This, Play De Record, Wantickets.com, Milkaudio.com.
Few modern-day producers make electronic music that’s as subtle, sweet and emotive as New Jersey’s Morgan Geist. Whether recording solo or as one half of revered recording act Metro Area, Geist allows his romanticism and adoration of classic synth sounds — think disco, techno, soul, house and new-wave — to shine bright. Double Night Time is his first solo album in over a decade, and it continues the producer’s tradition of melding nostalgia with ultra-modernism. And on Nov. 10, Metro Area release Fabric 43, their entry in Fabric’s legendary mix series.
DIGABLE PLANETS
With Abdominal and the Obliques. Sat, Oct 11. Mod Club, 722 College. 8pm. $24.50 from Play De Record, Soundscapes, Rotate This, Ticketmaster.
NYC trio Digable Planets were arguably among the greatest contributors to hip-hop in the early ‘90s. Butterfly, Doodlebug and Ladybug Mecca created two brilliant albums — 1993’s Reachin’ (A New Refutation Of Time And Space) and 1994’s Blowout Comb — of positive, literate lyrics rapped over jazz, funk and psychedelia-steeped beats before splintering off into solo careers in ’96. They weren’t afraid to be political or original — their thoughtful pro-choice song “La Femme Fetal” is just as relevant today. The Digables reformed for a handful of live dates in 2005, and now are set to play nine more. Could their long-promised new album be within reach?
THE GUVERNMENT’S 12TH ANNIVERSARY
With Sander Kleinenberg, Eric Prydz, The Junkies, more. Sun, Oct 12. The Guvernment, 132 Queens Quay E. $46.50 advance tickets at Numb, Play De Record, Zoam, Shanti Baba, Ticketmaster. More at door.
The granddaddy of T.O.’s club scene celebrates 12 years of staying power with this full-facility mega-bash bringing together big-room sounds ranging from house and electro to drum ‘n’ bass and techno. Each genre is well-represented, with marquee international acts spinning alongside favourite locals including The Guv’s beloved Saturday-night resident, Mark Oliver.
MOODYMANN
With DJs Andy Roberts, more. Sun, Oct 12. Mod Club, 722 College. $15-$20 advance at Milkaudio.com, Delphic, Cosmos, Play de Record, Rotate This, Moog.
Detroit’s Kenny Dixon Jr., a.k.a. Moodymann, is one of the most significant techno and house producers of the past 15 years. Dixon’s output for labels including his own KDJ and Mahogani imprints show us a man who is inventive, unique and, yes, moody.