Finnish producer Vladislav Delay has emerged as one of the more interesting figures in electronic dance music. Early on the former jazz percussionist put hard but minimal beats through subtle workouts, transforming them by introducing digital errors and gentle dubby effects; on recordings from a couple years ago, like Sistol (Phthalo) and Entain (Mille Plateaux), the music twitched danceably but there was something appealingly off about the rhythmic accents. He was an early proponent of what’s sometimes called glitchwerks–the creative application of the clicks, pops, and other noises that normally tell you your CD player is on the fritz. Under the name Luomo he developed an unusually accessible strain of the stuff, complete with vocals, that was far more sumptuous than his other work. But his last few recordings have found him venturing into more abstract territory. Last year’s Anima (Mille Plateaux) consists of a single 60-minute track of liquid gurgles, splattered beats, muffled effects, and serene synth tones. On the more recent Naima (Staubgold), Delay used music from Anima as source material but also brought in Antye Greie-Fuchs (aka AGF), his girlfriend and the singer for the German electronic-pop duo Laub, to read some text; her heavily manipulated voice becomes another hypnotic musical element. Greie-Fuchs explores similar ideas on her recent solo album Head Slash Bauch (Orthlorng Musork), disfiguring her words with repetition and clicky distortion and setting them against cool organ tones, percussive static blasts, and spooky electronic sounds. Delay will perform sets under his own name and as Luomo, and will collaborate with Greie-Fuchs, who will also perform by herself. Wednesday, May 22, 10 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western; 773-276-3600.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/AGF.