Tokyo and Berlin-based producer Machìna took the first edition of MUTEK’s Metropolis series by storm with a live modular techno performance that was as bare-bones as it was dumbfounding. For this North American premiere of Action, she stripped techno down to its core, improvising with nothing more than a drum machine and her voice woven into the framework of the eponymous album – a truly mesmerizing experience from start to finish.
Clad in a sleek black latex dress and bathed in flashes of red light, Machìna put the venue’s monster sound system to work with classic rave sonics and an infectious minimal beat. It was a full sensory experience as the subwoofers made the floor shake and dancers responded accordingly – moving in unison and responding to shifts in tempo. Her live modular improv unfurled themselves in measured intensity – sharp snares, intricate cymbal patterns, funky distortion – electrifying both floors of the concert hall.
As the set progressed, the Korean-born artist steered progressively towards something darker and ominous. A single spotlight from above cut through the hazy stage, as vertical bars of red light enclosed her in a cage-like structure. At times, the beams seemed to drip from the vaulted ceiling like blood, a detail that strikingly evoked the infamous “Blood Rave” scene from the movie Blade. The crowd, immersed in the visuals, danced in near-ritualistic rhythm as pounding drum kicks reverberated through the space.
At moments, Machìna trimmed down the melodies to their rawest elements – the roar of the drum kicks, bouncy hi-hats & textured sounds – heightened anticipation before releasing the floor back into an all-out frenzy of rhythms and light. The alternating tension and release, combined to a formidable light installation, made the set a fully sensory experience: bass reverberated to the back of the Metropolis, lasers cut through the sea of bodies in motion, and every shift in sound eliciting a reaction from the crowd.
By the time she closed, Machìna had set the bar impossibly high for the rest of the night : fans clapped and begged for more, aThis sharp, refreshing techno set firmly established the artist as a true master, fluidly blending simple beats and layered percussion. One of the best performances of Mutek so far.
By the time she closed, Machìna had set the bar impossibly high for the rest of the night to festivalgoer’s delight. Fans clapped and begged for more, a true testament to her talent. This sharp, refreshing set that fluidly blended stripped-down beats with layered percussion was by far one of the best performances of MUTEK so far.
Photo: Frédérique Ménard-Aubin
