I’m a huge fan of early to mid-2000s era electronica dance music (Blockhead, Bonobo, Com Truise), a sound that is recreated on stage rather than just DJ’d live, and this is what the Scottish producer Joshua Spence Mainnie, known as Barry Can’t Swim, brought before Doechii’s set next door. Before last week, I had no idea who this 30-something producer was, having been sent his new album, Loner, press release countless times. But after his set, it’s safe to say I’ll be playing Loner on the headphones to relive the live set experience.
Barry Can’t Swim live consists of a three-piece; Mainnie on a high rise, surrounded by synths and keyboards, one other keyboardist, and a live drummer (who holds down the beats so the others can really go for it). The backdrop is a mix of vibrant, psychedelic imagery; kaleidoscopic human walking, shapes melting into eyes and faces, and maybe just for Osheaga, a Pink Floyd-esque laser show. The music is always danceable, but brings a bit of noise and experimental electronic work before bouncing into a future house vibe full of bass. You wait for the drop, but sometimes it comes when you least expect—my favourite kind of electro music, non predictable and bringing the right amount of intensity and bass when you want to rage. Mainnie’s little jazzy keyboard solos really send Barry Can’t Swim’s sound into the stratosphere. This is an artist I’ll be watching for sure.
Photos courtesy of Osheaga / Benoit Rousseau
