Data Breaker

Not content with arranging the biggest Decibel Festival in
its five-year history back in September, Sean Horton (aka

Nordic Soul) is resurrecting his elite

electronic-music brand for one last heck-raising hurrah in 2008,
filling the last two nights of this mostly sad annum with sizzling
lineups. It’s doubtful there will be a better New Year’s Eve
entertainment option for those who like their electronic music brainy,
body-moving, and bacchanalian.

Tuesday’s bill, dubbed “Best of Bass: DB 2008 Highlights,” kicks off with locals Seed and NovaTRON performing live.

NovaTRON does that bass-samurai/dub-funk thing with
panache—somewhere between Machinedrum and Scorn. L.A. producer
Deru kills it every time he plays here, and somehow I doubt
he’ll forget his A game for this shindig. Deru’s sexy-MF glitch-hop
stands out like a, well, you know, in a morass of awkward-ass
Poindexters working similar territory.

Philadelphian mellow electro-house seducer KiloWatts will
likely not leave a dry pore (or panty) in the club. Headliner Jesse
Rose (Dirtybird, Get Physical, Made to Play) jets in from Berlin to
flaunt his leftfield house sensibilities for a DJ set sure to be on the
quirky and rambunctious tip. Don’t be surprised to hear Rose’s
collaboration with Hot Chip, “Forget My Name,” and other highest
uncommon denominator crowd-pleasers.

Wednesday’s “Dirty Dancing” bill starts with Seattle
stalwarts Nordic Soul and Michael Manahan dueling in a 2×4 DJ
set. Their epicurean tech-house selections will transition nicely into
Dave Pezzner‘s live performance. Half of the world-renowned
Jacob London (the funniest house-music act in the biz), this
local producer has been generating buzz for his punch-drunk tech-house
productions. Check the three-part “Almost Here” for proof: It’s deep
yet playful dance-floor gold. Los Angeles techno legend John
Tejada is one of those producers at whom other knob-twiddlers gawk
in awe over his technical wizardry—usually done with old-school
hardware. He’s a master at subtly melodic, rhythmically intricate
techno; Tejada’s going to blow a lot of minds (but understatedly). His
biggest club anthem is a self-fulfilling prophecy: “Sweat (on the
Walls).” Last but most, Glasgow’s Alex Smoke has been infusing
minimal techno with maximal sound-design detailing and orchestral drama
over the last few years to growing acclaim. You may wish you had a few
extra hands to throw ceilingward while Smoke is onstage.

Go to Micro Decibel and you’ll be saluting Horton and company on
NYE, but probably cursing them by the evening of January 1, when your
bass-battered, beat-sozzled head realizes what hit it. But it’ll be
worth the bangover. Happy ’09, champ.

Jesse Rose, KiloWatts, Deru, NovaTRON, and Seed perform Tues Dec
30, Neumos, 8 pm–2 am, $15 adv/$20 DOS, 21+; Alex Smoke, John
Tejada, Dave Pezzner, Michael Manahan vs. Nordic Soul perform Wed Dec
31, Neumos, 8 pm–2 am, $20 adv/$25 DOS/ $30 for both nights,
21+.