{"id":163922,"date":"2026-08-28T18:22:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T22:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/?post_type=gig_review&p=163922"},"modified":"2026-08-28T18:29:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T22:29:09","slug":"mutek-2026-tandem-masque-sur-lesplanade-tranquille-tiens-tiens","status":"publish","type":"gig_review","link":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/en\/gig_review\/mutek-2026-tandem-masque-sur-lesplanade-tranquille-tiens-tiens\/","title":{"rendered":"MUTEK 2026 | A masked duo on the Esplanade Tranquille, well, well…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Le collectif berlinois Istanbul Ghetto Club est mont\u00e9 sur la sc\u00e8ne de l’Esplanade Tranquille, identit\u00e9s dissimul\u00e9es derri\u00e8re des masques (tiens, tiens\u2026) , pour offrir une prestation \u00e9clectique et rafra\u00eechissante tr\u00e8s attendue lors de la troisi\u00e8me soir\u00e9e de la s\u00e9rie \u00ab Exp\u00e9rience \u00bb du festival MUTEK. C’\u00e9tait leur premi\u00e8re au Canada, et le moins que l’on puisse dire, c’est qu’ils n’ont pas d\u00e9\u00e7u !<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Le m\u00e9lange de leurs influences \u00ab DIY \u00bb brutes et d’instruments anatoliens traditionnels a donn\u00e9 lieu \u00e0 une performance d’une fra\u00eecheur saisissante : de la musique de club improvis\u00e9e alli\u00e9e \u00e0 une instrumentation en direct. La soir\u00e9e a d\u00e9but\u00e9 par un d\u00e9licieux \u00e9chantillon de fl\u00fbte *ney* turque pos\u00e9 sur un rythme percutant. La basse est entr\u00e9e en jeu, tr\u00e8s funky, accompagn\u00e9e de lignes acides fluides qui s’entrem\u00ealaient en arri\u00e8re-plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
 De chaque c\u00f4t\u00e9 de la sc\u00e8ne, des \u00e9crans LED affichant des chats les encadraient \u2014 un clin d’\u0153il charmant aux cr\u00e9atures embl\u00e9matiques d’Istanbul. Ils ont gard\u00e9 leurs masques carnavalesques tout au long du spectacle, pr\u00e9servant ainsi l’anonymat des deux musiciens qui se produisent sous une identit\u00e9 collective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Des rythmes entra\u00eenants et sensuels laissaient la part belle aux \u00e9chantillons de percussions manuelles. C’\u00e9tait comme s’ils traduisaient l’\u00e9nergie de leur pr\u00e9sence sc\u00e9nique pour l’injecter directement dans la musique, cr\u00e9ant un groove contagieux \u00e0 mesure que l’intensit\u00e9 montait. Les deux artistes dansaient sur sc\u00e8ne tandis que des lignes acid hypnotiques et des \u00e9chantillons de fl\u00fbte tenaient le public en haleine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Le duo a encha\u00een\u00e9 les moments forts, m\u00ealant habilement composition \u00e9lectro en direct et envol\u00e9es virtuoses au saz, le tout salu\u00e9 par les acclamations constantes d’une foule compos\u00e9e aussi bien d’habitu\u00e9s de MUTEK que de festivaliers plus jeunes. Des sonorit\u00e9s oscillantes et hypnotiques per\u00e7aient \u00e0 travers les motifs de batterie, se m\u00ealant \u00e0 des \u00e9chantillons vocaux hach\u00e9s et satur\u00e9s. La pulsation constante et percutante de la bo\u00eete \u00e0 rythmes 909 ne faiblissait jamais, assurant un set d’une \u00e9nergie ininterrompue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apr\u00e8s avoir tout donn\u00e9, ils ont offert un bref moment de r\u00e9pit en ralentissant le tempo, d\u00e9montrant une ma\u00eetrise totale d’une foule de danseurs qui ne cessait de grossir. Alors que le calme semblait revenir, le public a eu droit \u00e0 une nouvelle s\u00e9quence de *saz* en direct, montant crescendo sous les rugissements et les applaudissements de la foule alors que les musiciens saluaient une derni\u00e8re fois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
C’est, de loin, mon spectacle pr\u00e9f\u00e9r\u00e9 de la programmation de MUTEK jusqu’\u00e0 pr\u00e9sent ; j’aurais m\u00eame aim\u00e9 qu’ils puissent jouer un deuxi\u00e8me set. Il ne fait aucun doute qu’ils ont conquis de nouveaux fans ce soir-l\u00e0, moi y compris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Istanbul Ghetto Club, the Berlin-based collective, took to the Esplanade Tranquille stage, faces clad in masks, to deliver a much-awaited eclectic and refreshing performance for the third night of MUTEK’s Exp\u00e9rience series. It was their Canadian premiere and it\u2019s safe to say they did not disappoint!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blending their gritty DIY influences with traditional Anatolian instruments made for an excitingly refreshing performance: improvised club music with live instrumentation. The night kicked off with a delightful sample of the Turkish ney flute over a thumping beat. Bass kicks in, very funky, with liquid acid lines weaving underneath. LED displays of cats framed them on either side of the stage, a cute nod to the emblematic critters of Istanbul. Their faces stayed clad in carnivalesque masks throughout, preserving the identity of both musicians, who perform anonymously as a collective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jumping, sexy beats really let the hand percussion samples take the lead. It was as if they were translating the energy of their on-stage presence and injecting it directly into the music, making for an infectious groove as the intensity kept climbing. Both artists danced on stage as hypnotic acid lines and flute samples kept the crowd on their toes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The duo went from strength to strength, with a savant blend of live electro composition while simultaneously shredding on the saz, which was greeted by consistent cheers from the crowd, MUTEK veterans and younger festivalgoers alike. Oscillating, hypnotic sound pierced through the drum patterns and mashed itself with choppy, distorted vocal samples. The punchy 909’s steady thump never relented, making for a non-stop high-energy set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After going full throttle, there was a brief period to catch your breath as they slowed the tempo down, total control over a crowd of dancers that kept swelling by the minute. Just as it seemed things might settle, the audience was treated to another session of live saz, building into a crescendo as the crowd roared and applauded while the musicians took one final bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By far my favourite show of MUTEK’s program so far, to the point I wish they got to play a second set. There is not a doubt in my mind that they gained a few fans that night – myself included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n