A couple new music purveyors have popped up on Capitol Hill who specialize in different areas of electronic beats. Tone (1359 E Olive Way) has been around a few months and is run by Module's David Farrell (be on the lookout for a future Module release on Seattle's Orac Records). They specialize in electro, IDM, glitch, and weird abstract shit that you probably won't find elsewhere, like Bobby Karate's "Hot Trips, Cold Return" on Woodson Lateral, and a few releases by recent Los Angeles transplant/live PA act L'Usine on Dub and Ghostly International. (I think David also has a broken microwave for sale that makes a really cool buzzing noise, if anyone has a use for it.) Down Low, located just a stone's throw away (422 E Denny Way), was recently opened by Tilted Records' Jon Lee and Bay Area transplant Ryan Lengle (AKA DJ Ryno) and specializes in house, downtempo, and jungle--check it out.
Local DJs/producers Dave Pezzner (AKA Jacob London) and Bob Hansen have just stepped up their game in a huge way by releasing "Casual Bingo" on Derrick Carter's highly respected Classic label. This 12-inch DJ single contains three quirky, funked-out tech house tracks that either totally inspire or completely confuse people. Be on the lookout for their record release party with Justin Harris from Freaks at Chop Suey in April. In other local label news, Alexander East will be in town this week courtesy of Viva Recordings and Uniting Souls. Viva recently released East's deep, dark track "Werx of Effection," and is also doing a Doubledown/Lowdown party next month with Dizzy, so make some room on your calendar.
LawnChair Generals have some upcoming tracks in the works: a remix of Rhythm Slave's "Party People" on SoCal's Deepfunk Records, and another Westbound release slated to hit the stores in early June. Also keep an ear out for releases by new upstart label Market House Meats (disclosure time: It's a label I help out with on the side), whose first release features tracks by Panhandle/SafeinSound's Jone'ne' and Deepfix's J-Rod and Pat Nice. Dallas' Demarkus Lewis will be in Seattle in early April to kick off Market House's second release.
The party situation is looking pretty Spartan these days, but Zacharia from 360 BPM is kicking off a new monthly drum 'n' bass event called "The Drum and Bass Summer Sessions" starting the last Friday of April.
And if you missed Inland Knight at Chop Suey, the shit was off the hook--leave it to the Brits to school us on our own turf! See ya on the dance floor. NICOLAE WHITE
