The very last act of FME was krautrock outfit Patche, who filled the stage with a practical wall of synths on one side, and an analog bassist and drummer on the other. Their music is trance-inducing, trippy, and incredibly refined, perfectly melting and congealing into itself as you get drawn deeper in. Combining three modular synths, the group interweaves layer after layer of electronic drums, hypnotic rhythms, and jaw-dropping bass solos that compel movement.
This is music to get lost in, letting it channel through your body directly without thinking too hard about it. Because half of the band is working on a synth, it sometimes means they can take a break, giving the impression of a musical machine being assembled before us rather than a constantly involved musical performance. But on the other hand, the bassist and drummer are playing nonstop, intricate parts, in perfect sync with the quantized synths and each other, meaning Patche never loses its urgency.
Though the technical ability on display was brilliant, these are massive songs that could have me gently swaying into an early grave after being on my feet covering the last 4 days of FME. Having seen about an hour of Patche, I bid them, and the festival, a fond goodbye.
