Moderat @ Randomland
WITH GINGY, FILTHY GORGEOUS. FRI, MAY 29. CIRCA, 126 JOHN. $15 TICKETS AT PLAY DE RECORD, ROTATE THIS, SOUNDSCAPES, SLINKY, TICKETWEB.CA, WANTICKETS.COM.
Moderat is German electronic music duo Modeselektor and solo artist Apparat. The three producers released an EP in 2002, but were then immersed in recording separate, acclaimed albums. Now they’re back with a self-titled LP that might be album of the year, full of warmth, and vocals by Dellé, Paul St. Hilaire and Apparat himself.
More meets Mojo @ The Big Ticket WITH DJS AGILE, P-PLUS, SEAN SAX, BOOGEYME’N, FASE, MORE. SAT, MAY 30. REVIVAL, 783 COLLEGE. $15 TICKETS AT LIVE STOCK, PLAY DE RECORD, SHANTI BABA.
This night features some of this city’s top jocks spinning hip-hop, R&B, house and more on four decks. It also leads up to the Stylus Awards, so you know there’ll be friendly competition. DJ P-Plus represents Team Mojo alongside BrassMunk’s Agile and Soul On Ice main man Sean Sax, while Boogeyme’n gives us More alongside Fase and Jiggz.
Stylus Awards WITH HOSTS MATTE BABEL, ARISA COX, MORE. MON, JUNE 1. QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE, 190 PRINCES’, CNE GROUNDS. $25 TICKETS AT
TICKETBREAK.COM.
The fourth annual Stylus Awards and related SpinFest celebrate some of this country’s best “urban” DJs through four days of discussions, seminars and club events. The Awards will be given out to DJs nominated in 20 categories, with high-profile nominees including T.O.’s Wristpect, P-Plus, Montreal’s Payce, and Winnipeg’s Miss M. Check
www.stylusgroup.ca for details about the seminar, “It Starts With the DJ! 2.0,” the after-party and more.
Byetone & Alva Noto (LIVE) WITH ORPHX, MORE. MON, JUNE 1. THE DRAKE UNDERGROUND, 1150 QUEEN W. $10.
It’s a Raster-Noton day as the two label founders — Germans Olaf Bender (a.k.a. Byetone) and Carsten Nicolai (a.k.a. Alva Noto) — bring their minimalist approach to electronics, art and architecture to town. Bender is Raster-Noton’s main graphic designer, as referenced in the title of his excellent, hypnotic 2008 album, Death of a Typographer, while Nicolai explores the visual arts as well as glitches, crackles and subtleties in sound. The two participate in a free, public artist talk earlier that evening from 4:45pm to 6:30pm at OCAD’s Central Hall (100 McCaul).
Santigold WITH TROUBLE ANDREW, AMANDA BLANK. WED, JUNE 3. PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE, 410 SHERBOURNE. $23.50 ADVANCE TICKETS AT
TICKETMASTER.CA.
Brooklyn songwriter and vocalist Santi White had one helluva 2008. She followed the promise of her punk rock past — and the excitement that buzzed around early singles “Creator” and “L.E.S. Artistes” — with Santogold, a debut album that topped year-end lists and landed her tour spots alongside Björk, M.I.A. and Coldplay. Her more recent activities have included changing her artist name to Santigold (infomercial jeweller Santo Gold threatened legal action) and recording with both N.A.S.A. and Major Lazer (a.k.a. Diplo and Switch). Apparently she’s now squeezing in work on a new album between tour dates. P.S. Don’t miss Philly electro-rapper Amanda Blank, whose own debut album, I Love You, is due out in July.