The man headlining this whole thing is one of techno music's founding fathers: Robert Hood, one of the original members of Detroit's Underground Resistance record label and artist collective (alongside Jeff Mills and Mike Banks). Describing Hood's contributions to techno and electronic music in general is impossible in such a small space, but suffice it to say that, over a career spanning some 25 years, he has never been more well-regarded than in the present moment. Hood's minimal, hard-driving, melodic, and deeply spiritual techno has been all over club dancefloors for the past couple of years, driven by his anthemic "Never Grow Old," in which an insistent synth melody chimes on over a sample of Aretha Franklin's crystalline, searing voice. It's an electric tune, encapsulating all of the transcendental power of techno in a single eight-minute piece. When Hood plays it — and he almost assuredly will — be warned, because the roof of Public Works might just come down.
Co-headlining is Andy Stott, a Brit who has been quietly producing some of the world's most innovative electronic music for the past decade or so. He turned heads with We Stay Together/Passed Me By, a sludgy, moody double EP, but his 2012 album, Luxury Problems, launched him to international stardom. It's a masterpiece, leavening the darkness of the EPs with warmer melodies, female vocals, and the occasional breakbeat. His just-released album, Faith in Strangers, is more obviously rooted in the house-techno continuum but is no less experimental. He's a superb live performer, presenting new tracks alongside reworked older ones with an eye on the dancefloor.
He's joined by an array of superb DJs, one of whom (Kowton) will be making his debut San Francisco appearance. Gerd Janson leads the pack; as head of one of the world's best and most diverse record labels (Running Back), his taste knows no bounds. Kowton is one of England's most mind-bending producers, channeling the raw, gritty spirit of dubstep and grime into a techno paradigm. There's a whole parade of New Yorkers: Joey Anderson, one of the city's finest deep house practitioners; Anthony Parasole, who produces and DJs no-holds-barred techno; Galcher Lustwerk, a dubbed-out deep house producer with a mesmerizing voice; Young Male, who produces "working-man's techno," simple, heavy and melodic; and Contakt, resident DJ at NYC monthly party Turbotax. Up-and-coming Canadians Pender Street Steppers and Hashman Deejay will be deploying their woozy, new-age house and disco, and similarly-minded compatriot Maxmillion Dunbar, from D.C., will join them. Last but not least are Bostonians John Barera and Will Martin, two new producers making a splash with their sample-heavy deep house, who will be performing live.
Then there are the locals: Icee Hot residents DJ Will, Shawn Reynaldo, Low Limit, and Ghosts on Tape are joined by Honey Soundsystem's Jason Kendig and Jackie House, and Matrixxman & Vin Sol will be making an appearance as well. Set times will be announced shortly before the party begins on Saturday so partygoers can plan accordingly. Stay hydrated, stay caffeinated, and stay till the bitter end. Goodbye, Icee Hot.
Icee Hot's 5-Year Anniversary & 28-Hour Final Goodbye Party runs from 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, until 2 a.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Public Works. For more information, read the online interview with Icee Hot DJs Shawn, Ryan, and Will.
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