Call me jaded, but these days it seems like you can’t swing a glow stick without hitting another DJ or producer (and if you did, would that be a bad thing?). It’s hard to know who’s really talented and who’s just remixing somebody else’s songs or recycling ready-made sound samples taken from the latest music software package. But while that debate will rage on in music circles everywhere (ok, maybe not everywhere, but it does seem like a pretty popular topic of conversation), there’s no denying that electronic music is here to stay and that it is one of the defining sounds of this generation.
Why the rant? Because I just saw some really good electronic music that reminded me of why I fell in love with it in the first place. Finally. Tipper, the British breaks producer who headlined at the Echoplex, has been an influential presence in the electronic music scene for over 12 years and is one beat maker I can get down to. (Oh and believe me, I did. You should have been there.)
Tippers style has shifted over the years from breakbeat and trip-hop to a more bass-heavy sub-octave sound, but regardless of the evolution, hasn’t lost its musicality, it’s unpredictable yet grippingly immersive quality. It might have also helped that the event, put on by Space Island, had a extraterrestrial theme going on—Tipper (and opening/closing acts Jupit3r, RD and Kether) played on a stage filled with fiery red props so they looked like Martians peeking out of a lava field, and often times were flanked by silver-clad go-go dancers on stilts, courtesy of the Stilt Circus. Off the dance floor, the art gallery, curated by Karim So and live painting by John Park added to the otherworldly feel of the night.
But honesty, I kept getting pulled back into the pool of infectiously mesmerized dancers during Tipper’s set, and I’m glad I did. Because while I know my generation may not have the most discerning taste when it comes to knob tweaking and button pushing, they certainly know how to have a good time. And when the face behind the laptop is actually proficient at what it does, it’s even better. So Tipper, I tip my hat to you. I think you may have even made eye contact with the crowd once or twice. Bonus points!
Words by Christine Spehar, photos by Curious Josh
