Sónar by Day
It has really became some sort of tradition. One could say that there is no better way to start the every year’s festival season than down in the south of Europe in Barcelona at the Sónar festival. This year, the event stepped into its 21st edition and carried on with its aim — to bring and present highly talented artists and their exciting shows as well as creating a platform for meeting experts and learning more about the music industry. The program was as every year packed with interesting pannels, workshops and of course — a colorful music program which promised among other things returns of legends like Plastikman or Massive Attack. See a concise overview of what captured our ears and eyes…
THURSDAY
Arriving to the venue of Sónar on Pl. Espanya exactly on the time when gifted German composer and one the most talented current composers, Nils Frahm, is stepping on the stage at SonarComplex. There are several keyboard instruments placed including a classic piano which this young man can play in such an intense and haunting way. Humble Nils says hi to the crowd and implies that since it´s a performance on a music festival, he will try to play more dancy songs — and suprisingly, he does! Starting with huge dub beats accompanied with improvised piano and synth melodies, this master of keyboard instruments delivers a huge show giving instant and longlasting goosebumps. For Nils it’s so natural to play two keyboard instruments at the same time and hold different tones and melodies on them. The performance is so intense and you can, with an admiration, observe how he is completely absorbed and devoted to his instruments. There is no one other like Nils at the moment.
After such a classical opening of Sónar, it’s time for some funny tunes… and that’s the job for Ryan Hemsworth outside at SónarVillage. Suprisingly, he didn’t bring any mascot which he often uses for Twitter pictures :) Delivering few tunes of his lastest album as well as older tracks and mixing it with sometimes even cheesy r’n’b and pop melodies and vocals, it’s a decent starting set for the day. Although, I can´t help to peek to the live stage at Village which is already prepared for U.S. artist Machinedrum who brings the Vapor City to the festival — an exlusive live show of his latest album featuring live drummer Lane Barrington. This show is without any question one of the very best of Sónar 2014. The unique chemistry that those two have and how the whole live show works, it’s just incredible. Lane provides amazingly precise beats and samples, meanwhile Travis [Machinedrum] accompanying him handling electronics, playing guitar and singing. It’s obvious how both guys enjoy the show and forward this energy to the crowd. One more time a proper & longlasting goosebump feeling that lasts the rest of the day. Oh yeah!
Moving quickly to SónarHall for the show of probably the most-known Danish producer Anders Trentemoller. As you would probably expect, the hall is fully packed by an impatient crowd and finally, on 20.30 it all starts! However, the band performs mostly older & crowd-favourite tracks (incl. Moan, Miss you, Shades of Marble or Silver Surfer, Most Riders Go!!!) and only very few ones from the newest album. But… it’s just always so nice to see Trentemoller as he delivers quality shows.
The final of Thursday’s evening is dedicated to the return of one techno legend — a project of Richie Hawtin, Plastikman. I had the pleasure to see his comeback back in 2010, which was actually one of the TOP experience of Sónar visits, like ever. Unfortunately, I cannot say this again about his newest performance named “Objekt”, originally created for Guggenheim’s International Gala last fall. Although, it was looking good at the beggining… with the huge obelisk located in the middle of venue and light mapping, synchronised with the music. Richie’s spot for playing, also located outside the stage and more close to the crowd, visually it definitely worked. But the music just missed something… the first half sounded like one long breakdown, full of 303 sounds and you could feel like everyone is waiting for some turning point. But nothing actually happened. It’s still kind of old Plastikman but there is no moving forward.
Machinedrum live
FRIDAY
Sun is shinning over SónarVillage and we are back in the front line and enjoying the first sounds of Canadian rising star Jessy Lanza. The newbie at Hyperdub family has taken care of a huge musical suprise in 2013 with her debut, co-produced with Jeremy Greenspan of Junior Boys, named Pull My Hair back – a perfect combination of pop, r’n’b and dancy sound. Her live performance is, however, only about her and the lovely synth sounds of the newest record and it’s a pretty amazing one!
Shortly after 4 p.m. we are quickly moving to the RedBull Music Academy stage where comes some fresh breeze from the South Africa – Trancemicsoul. He is one of those highly gifted young producers to whom recently the house scene started following looking up to. South Africa has a huge scene coming and it’s pretty sure that something big is going to happen there. Trancemicsoul brings to Sónar wonderfully mixed deep house tunes with catchy and very different grooves which can catch your soul immediately. It sounds incredible and what’s more important – totally different from that European house we all know…
The heat during Friday afternoon is incredibly strong, so it’s just the right time to hide for a while into the dark and see the installation of Carsten Nicolai (also known as Alva Noto from Raster-Noton label). The special project is called “unidisplay” and represents a giant long wall on which geometrical symbols are projected and all of them are, of course, synchronised with abstract and minimalist musical sounds.
And it’s dancing time again! The sun is setting down at SónarVillage and on stage arrives Bonobo with his band. Warmly welcomed by the huge crowd, they start with songs of the last album called North Borders. People are getting crazy and everywhere there are lots of happy faces, singing together with the band. Although, we are rushing back to outdoor stage again as the master of beatless music, a Russian born artist Oneohtrix Point Never is about to start at SónarComplex. Drone driven and with haunting and melancholic synth tones, this performance consumes the soul from the start. Together with surreal visuals it creates a very unique experience, definitely one of the best of Friday’s program.
Friday is also the first night of Sónar by Night from which we have captured, due to tiredness, only the up-and-coming talent Kaytranada. This young man is on his rise up and there is no need to have doubts about it as he is a good DJ who can puts together r’n’b, trap or disco music, as well as being a skilled producer – his upcoming album is one of the most anticipated ones in 2014. Ending his set with huge rework of Janet Jackson’s If, it’s just a superb finale of our second day at Sónar.
Jessy Lanza live
SATURDAY
And it’s here, the last day of our Sónar musical journey… Going to the SónarVillage in the late afternoon to catch the show Vinyl Vaudeville 2.0 by Canadian turntable master Kid Koala. It’s a proper trip through almost every music genre, from blues over rock/death metal to hip hop. Dressing in plush koala costume (in those temperatures – he deserves my respect), this little man knows how to make a show. Handling three turntables, dancing and communicating with the crowd it really requires some skills. When I say show, in this case it’s a proper one – it includes even a cabaret dancer or a kid controlling turntables meanwhile walking through the crowd under the stage…
After travelling through almost every music genre it’s time to go back to the basics – to the techno beats delivered by Mathew Dear’s alter ego Audion. This wasn’t even on our schedule first, but after learning that this is going to be an A/V show created by Heather Shaw and Alex Lazarus (who stands behind spectacular Amon Tobin’s ISAM show) it just couln’t be missed. In this show, named Subverticul, Mathew is hidden in space shaped in form of some labyrinth, created by geometrical structures. The whole structure is, of course, absolutely synchronised with the music and it properly reacts. Mathew brings within this live show his personal sound of techno with minimal elements, based on huge basslines. Unlike Plastikman’s show, this one has a certain character and it’s great to watch and listen to as well. Unfortunately SónarHall, where this show is held, has some technical issues with the sound and since the second half of the set the volume goes down so we rather leave…
Looking for a better sound we move to SónarDome, the Redbull stage, where L.A. based beatmaker Tokimonsta arrives on stage. She is maybe small and an barely be seen behind her equipment, but her sound speaks for herself. Toki takes us through almost every subgenre of beat and broken music, from trap and a bit of juke music to her beautifully sundreched beats – her signature. She also drops the rework of Janet Jackson (kind of popular one) and the Dome is literally shaking… but it’s also the time when James Holden is stepping on the stage back at the SónarHall so we are heading back to try if the sound is better now… and it kind of is! Staying for a while to catch some of the raw analogue sounds of the Border Community boss and mainly to hear his masterpiece “Renata” from the latest album. Time is running and the beginning of Sónar by Night is approaching and after an over-crowded experience of last year, we rather move to the night venue ahead.
It’s one of those highly expected moments of the festival. Like last year, in case of Kraftwerk, I’m a bit nervous and can’t deny that expectations are pretty big one. I believe I’m not the only one on who the Bristol based band Massive Attack has had such an influence… Around 10.30 p.m. the band comes on the stage and opens the show. However, the first moments are full of doubts, mainly about the sound which is pretty strong and at some moments even unpleasant, but I guess it has to be that way. Continuing with track Risingson, I’m trying to catch the wave which comes from the stage but there is still something missing. The band performs quite decent, vocalists are spectacular but there is just not so much chemistry which I sort of expected… and even when the most recognizible tracks like Angle, Teardrop or Safe from Harm are being played. The whole show is also supported by special visuals, giving the emphasis of agitation and propaganda — always so typical for this band. Part of visuals are in Spanish language, so I can only understand some parts which f.e. show how much money is spend on creating missiles or to millitary industry in general. Although, the whole feeling of the show remains a bit average… ok, maybe nextime.
After some chilling we are heading to see a rare performance of ‘supergroup’ Future Brown, created by members of Fade To Mind label — one of the most rising up labels at the moment. On the stage is Fatima Al Qadiri, duo Nguzunguzu (Asma & Daniel) and J-Cush and it seems they are having a really good time! The show is at the beginning held basically only by Fatima and from time to time some of others plays the track. They are supposed to play a live show but seems they have more fun just hanging on the stage so it’s turning out as a dj set of the whole crew. It’s mostly about raw grime sounds combined with r’n’b or UK bass. Holding up for only about 30 mins as I have some feelings that Rudimental could save the night… and guess what, it’s totally right. When this almost a dozen-member-band comes on stage, it’s like jumping on a train which never stops. The vivid energy starts to rollin’ down from stage to everywhere and catch you even if you are standing and just observing. Rudimental’s show is without any question one of the best performances that the current commercial electronic scene has to offer. It’s a magnificent balance between a bit of pop music and current UK’s d’n’b music. Both vocalists are simply amazing singers as well as dancers and other musicians create a perfect support. We couldn’t wish a better finale of our Sónar 2014 experience.
Rudimental
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Carsten Nicolai: unidisplay
Sónar by Day venue
Nils Frahm live
Mathew Dear presents Audion live
Oneohtrix Point Never live
Plastikman presents Objekt
