Turboaquawonkycrunk

As I try to get my head around being back at the full time job and all, there’s been a lot of stuff going on. Photo above was taken at what might be referred to as a Turbocrunk reunion party a couple of weeks back here in lovely Montreal. Megasoid joined Ango and Lunice for some live PA action alongside DJs Seb Diamond, Hovatron (best website ever, btw) and Grand Mal. It was darned good fun.

I’ve been quite the fan of turbocrunk folks, and specifically Lunice, for a while now. Apparently the new term is “aquacrunk” (though it’s actually an old term, having been explained by the Guardian’s Lanre Bakare a couple years back), referencing the cross-Atlantic sounds of Glasgow, Montreal, L.A., New York and beyond, as reflected in the work of a whole range of folks like Rustie, Hudson Mohawke, Joker, Lazer Sword, Glitch Mob, our hometown boys (‘cept for Megasoid’s Speakerbruiser, who’s made tracks out west in recent months), Machine Drum and on and on. One wonders whatever happened to “wonky” as a moniker?

Anyhow, the stuff is damned good, and capable of bringing all sorts of sounds together. Myself and my dancing partner kept it going the entire evening like there was no one watching.

To try a taste of the good ol’ days, way back in 2008, when it wasn’t wonky or aqua or nothing, just darned good music for dancin’, download this excellent Mofomatronix (Seb and Phil/Hovatron) mix. (If you want to be hip to the new stuff, check Lucky Me’s often-updated treasure trove of mix tapes)

Crookers & Face T & Pwa-ri-ay

The Karnival party a couple weeks ago was a darned fun part of Montreal’s Nuit Blanche. Bonjay killed it from early on (watch out for these two, as their indie-cum-soul-cum-dancehall takes parties by storm), and then Mr. Ghislain Poirier and friends took the opportunity to make a video for “Arena”–a big big tune that’s on the new Crookers record, Tons of Friends, released about a week ago. If you missed the stylings of Face T in Blazin’, here’s your opportunity to get caught up. The fellow is wicked on this track, and he looks mighty sharp in that blazer. Video directed by Mtl’s Colin Beaudry, btw.

Oh, and if you happen to be in Austin next week, you too can check out Poirier and Bonjay at the Pop Montreal showcase on March 20. Gotta big up the Canucks.