COBRA CUT @ DISCO FIASCO
With Dinamo Azari, Assless Chaps. Thu, May 15. The Social, 1100 Queen W. Free before 11pm, $5 after.
As is evident almost halfway into 2008, disco is (once again) the sound of now. Whether we’re talking classics, punk-funk disco à la the DFA Records roster or the delicious, darker cosmic disco pioneered by the likes of Lindstrøm and Todd Terje, disco is the shit. Promoter/DJ Dinamo Azari of Automatt knows it, having hosted numerous disco-themed events over the past while. For his second Disco Fiasco, Azari is joined by both Assless Chaps and local cosmic disco DJ/production duo Cobra Cut. The two demo tunes posted on their MySpace are smoking. Expect to hear more. 

ANDY WILLIAMS @ VARIATIONS OF TIME RELEASE PARTY
With Clifton Joseph, Billy Bang, guests. Sat, May 17. The Trane Studio, 964 Bathurst. $20.
For decades now, people have asked, “What is jazz?” Montreal-based DJ, long-time record collector and community activist Andy Williams offers his interpretation with Variations of Time, a 13-track compilation featuring artists who span the decades and geographical regions including Africa, the Caribbean and North America. The UK-born, Jamaica and Toronto–raised Williams curated the collection for Public Transit Recordings and will DJ at its release party, alongside dub poet Clifton Joseph and NYC violinist Billy Bang, both of whom are featured on the comp.

MEGASOID @ GET RIDDIM
Sun, May 18. The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen W. $5.
Montreal’s Megasoid bring the bling, the boom and, most of all, the bass. The DJ/production duo of Speakerbruiser (a.k.a. Sixtoo) and Robert Downey DJ (a.k.a. Hadji Bakara of Wolf Parade) are notorious not only for their glitchy and unique remixes of artists such as Dr. Dre, but also for throwing illegal parties under bridges, on rooftops (including the roof of their van) and elsewhere. With a legit remix of Thunderheist on the way and an album of originals in the works, Megasoid are set to further spread their brand of rap and reggae influenced weirdo electro.

THE DEATH SET
With Bonde Do Role, DJs Gorky, Rory Them Finest, A.D/D. Sun, May 18.
The Social, 1100 Queen W. $10 advance tickets at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Ticketweb.ca.
They’ve been compared to Devo, Black Flag and Suicide, but to my ears Montreal’s Duchess Says and Les Georges Leningrad are the closest musical relatives to Australia-born, Baltimore-based act The Death Set. The amorphous, noisy, punk-electro-a-go-go group have just released their debut album, Worldwide, on Ninja Tune sub-label Counter and are currently touring as openers for Brazil’s Bonde Do Role, who’ve recently gone through some lineup changes, adding Ana Bernardino and Laura Taylor to replace the departed Marina Ribatski. Expect stage antics galore as both bands play live, with Bonde’s DJ Gorky also spinning alongside some T.O. talent.

PAUL VAN DYK @ FREEDOM
With Eddie Halliwell, Mark Oliver, Erick Morillo, Bad Boy Bill, more. Sun, May 18. The Guvernment complex, 132 Queens Quay E. $30-$45 advance tickets available at Rotate This, Sonic Temple, Ticketmaster.
Once a reigning prince of trance, Germany’s Paul Van Dyk remains one of the most popular DJs on the big-room circuit, but has steadily expanded on his sound. 2007’s In Between album saw him delving into pop, collaborating with the likes of David Byrne and Jessica Sutta (Pussycat Dolls). Here, he headlines the Guvernment’s annual Freedom fest, which also features electro, house, tech, breaks and drum ’n’ bass DJs throughout its many rooms.

Email us at: LETTERS@EYEWEEKLY.COM or send your questions to EYEWEEKLY.COM
625 Church St, 6th Floor, Toronto M4Y 2G1