The new release from local duo Obelus is aptly titled
Montana, inspired by a rediscovered ambient track recorded on a
secluded ranch. If you’ve ever wondered what Big Sky Country sounds
like, this is the release for you—its lush, spacious
improvisations deftly balancing drone, glitch, and silence. It’s
a departure from Obelus’s more drum-centric fare, but the duo have
always cast a wide creative net. Obelus invoke a bit of vinyl purity
with this album, releasing the recording solely on limited-edition
green vinyl.
Obelus have always emphasized live performance, and perhaps the best
way to experience Montana is to see the duo onstage with MIDI
guitar and drums, playing off of one another and the audience. They’ll
be doing that this Thursday at Nectar, with a bill rounded out by
Logic Probe, Brett Bullion, ndCv, and a DJ set by
Lusine. With all those forward-thinking artists on the same
bill, the night sounds like an installment of retired weekly
Oscillate.
The next night will be a bit less heady, but still for the heads.
You might not associate Public Enemy with dubstep, but DJ
Lord, PE’s DJ, is making an appearance at Shift this Friday, going
up against Swytch of the duo Trill Bass. It should make
for an interesting pairing. DJ Lord’s turntablist background will
undoubtedly mean some showmanship behind the decks, while Swytch has
been doing the dubstep thing for years, and both have spent time with
drum and bass. It may end up being a case of style versus substance,
turntable trickery versus deep crates, but so long as the
bassbins are properly tuned, it should work out just fine.
In a case of giving the people what they want, this week’s edition
of Drum and Bass Tuesdays at the Baltic Room has been deemed “Dr. Hops
and Demo’s Request Line.” As the name suggests, Kid Hops and
Demo are asking attendees to set the playlist for the night by
sending in track requests. Time to flood the NWTekno post with calls
for the mellower end of the drum-and-bass spectrum.
Sticking with drum and bass, you’ll want to take note of Konkrete
Jungle‘s move to Oseao/Electric Tea Garden in the wake of CHAC’s
loss of their current 12th Avenue space. Konkrete Jungle is still
keeping things friendly for the kids by being all ages, and this week
they’re bringing in Texas’s Sol.ID for a night of “sexy
d&b.” 
Obelus’s album release party is Thurs June 19, Nectar, 8 pm, $8,
21+.
DJ Lord and Swytch play Fri June 20, Shift at Contour, 10 pm, $10
before midnight, 21+.
Kid Hops and Demo play Tues June 24, Drum and Bass Tuesdays at
the Baltic Room, 10 pm, $3, 21+.
Sol.ID plays Wed June 25, Konkrete Jungle at Electric Tea Garden
(1402 E Pike St), 10 pm, $8, all ages.