iNSiDEaMiND @ SCATTERPOPIA ALBUM RELEASE
With LAL, Peter Project. Thu, Nov 6. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor W. $8 advance tickets at Rotate This, Soundscapes.
In the three years since Professor Fingers and Steptone formed the core of scratch band iNSiDEaMiND, the two turntablists have grown by leaps and bounds. They’ve long been musical thinkers, creating original electronic hip-hop from records altered on the fly. But their debut album, Scatterpopia, proves that iNSiDEaMiND are composers as well. Released on Public Transit Recordings, Scatterpopia is an incredibly coherent, compelling and atmospheric work. Contributions from Laura Barrett, Sarah Sayeed and fellow sonic warrior Ghislain Poirier add much, but pieces like the stonerrific “Sunset Sorcery” stand strong on their own.
OSUNLADE @ SOLID GARAGE VS THERAPY
With DJs jojoflores, Groove Institute. Sat, Nov 8. Revival, 783 College. $15 before 11pm, $25 after.
When not touring the world with his 10-piece Yoruba Soul Orchestra — as he did here this past June — Osunlade spends his time in his home in Greece crafting deep, soulful house. He tours regularly as a DJ, and works with like-minded promoters and jocks. It’s appropriate, then, that Osunlade performs at this event co-hosted by Toronto’s Solid Garage resident DJ crew Groove Institute and Montreal DJ/producer, birthday boy and creator of the award-winning Therapy parties, jojoflores.
MIKE SHANNON @ MEMORY TREE TOUR
With DJs Jamie Kidd, JAP_, Matic. Sat, Nov 8. The Basement, 178 Bathurst. $10 before 11pm.
Kitchener-Waterloo native Mike Shannon has spent his career blurring the lines between dancefloor and left-field approaches, releasing on labels including his own Cynosure, Force Inc, and ~scape. Shannon is now based in Berlin and has just released the strongest album of his career, Memory Tree, on Plus 8 Records. Here, Tempo hosts Shannon’s homecoming gig, making up for an aborted release party scheduled at CiRCA this past August.
CROOKERS @ RANDOMLAND
With The Count & Sinden, Dusty Kid, Nasty Nav. Fri, Nov 7. CiRCA, 126 John. $15 advance tickets at Play De Record, Wantickets.com, Ticketweb.com.
This is a rip-roaring monster of a bill, headlined by Italian fidget-house favourites Crookers. Making sleazy, bass-heavy music together since 2003, the duo have gathered a legion of fans through a few original EPs and remixes of artists including Armand Van Helden, Moby and Kid Cudi. Their debut album is coming soon so we’re hopeful they’ll be testing out new tracks here. Also playing are innovative Brits The Count (a.k.a. Hervé) and Sinden (who blew up with their single “Beeper”), fast-rising tech producer Dusty Kid and T.O.’s own Nasty Nav.
DJ SEGA
With Dirty South Joe, Dougie Boom. Sat, Nov 8. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen W. $10 advance tickets at Play De Record, Rotate This. $10 before 11pm.
Philadelphia’s DJ Sega and Dirty South Joe have done a lot to unite the Baltimore, Philly and New Jersey club scenes. They record both for Diplo’s Mad Decent label and their collaborative Ol’ Head offshoot. 21-year-old Sega is particularly prolific, having already produced hundreds of remixes, released originals on the Hollertronix 8 EP and reworked many hip-hop classics to create the forthcoming DJ Sega Saves Hip Hop EP. Judge for yourself as he mixes mainly his own material.