As the night carried on and more people arrived into the dome, the heat and pressure of bodies tumbling against each other gave form to a diamond.
Behind the decks, Valesuchi presented something unique that shone through the club atmosphere. Her set had a truly live feel. If you paid attention, you could follow the trail of thoughts in real time as she built rich hardware polyrhythms. Valesuchi brought us on a journey from elongated clave loops to dense series of claps that sounded like sped-up Brazilian Caixa grooves.
At the peak of intensity she brought the bass back into the mix and everything suddenly fell in place, we were at once in two worlds, between gyrating percussions and grounded kicks. Arms flailed in harmony, dancers filled the space like liquid. The mix was raw in the best way, as if she had a deep relationship with her instruments and didn’t care to hide their imperfections. This is what made her sound truly authentic, and unmistakably live. While the drums had everyone dancing, dirty hovering pads and wailing sirens subtly exposed a more grungy aesthetic and moodiness that echoed through the rest of the night. The depth of emotion was refreshing. From start to finish, Valesuchi skillfully managed to draw our attention through a panorama of detailed sonic landscapes. Her imaginative approach to sound brought excitement for the future of electronic music.
What will come next? We will surely find out, as Mutek continues to deliver incredibly soulful manifestations of electronic music year after year. This year’s lineup left us wanting more as artists like Valesuchi fueled the discussion on how music can be played and experienced, and on the importance of human touch.
Photo: Bruno Aïello-Destombes
