Enjoyed Autechre’s powerful bass with chaotic unsync beats in first half of live set, standing amongst a full crowd (who watched the stage where there was nothing to see) on the trembling floor at the halles de Schaerbeek.
Autechre’s usual dark set up with speakers facing the 2 musicians, throwing scatty beats and drum’ with a slight glimpse of the 90’s.
As often, the space lacked another pair of speakers at the rear, the sound would have surrounded the crowd instead of facing it with the usual rock set up: stage + speakers, which gives a festival rather than a club feeling, wich doesn’t serve electronic music.
Then James Holden came on, and gentky picked up the static crowd and brought it into motion. The set was totally beautiful, Holden played his own stuff on 3 CD players + effects.
He created a perfect bridge between the sound of the 90’s and today’s club sound.
Incredible beats, layered with romantic soundscapes and minimal moments.
Somehow, he managed to revive the sensation Autechre created in 1994, with that ability to lift up the clubber and bring him somewhere else, away from the stage, from the DJ, from the club space to be only in the music. Precious!
