Golden Week: Tokyo, 2011

Clubs

Friday, April 29

Womb Next: 11th Anniversary party
Womb's resident DJs have been stretching themselves thin around town recently, which might be what prompted them to do something a little different for the 11th birthday bash. Rather than just assemble a bumper lineup and let the numbers do the talking, they've attempted a spot of musical matchmaking. This means techno godfather Ken Ishii will be pairing with up-and-comer Yusuke Suga, electro doyens Dexpistols Soundsystem with Flying Lotus-esque beat masher Eccy, drum'n'bass veteran Aki with recent covert Ymasa, and so on. If nothing else, it'll be fun to see if people start fighting over who gets to put the next tune on. For further details, click here

Ikareteru Erekiteru
When German native Boris Brejcha describes his music as 'hightech minimal,' it's really just a way of setting himself apart from the arid, stripped-back sounds peddled by many of his countrymen. Last year's My Name Is album was both tougher and a whole lot squelchier than you'd expect a minimal techno record to be – and, yes, it was all the more fun for it. On his first trip to Japan, Brejcha will be rubbing shoulders with local dancefloor veterans including Ree.K (whose husband Masa is spinning in the other room), with lighting by the ever-dazzling Yamachang. For further details, click here

Saturday, April 30

APMT Night
Designers, artists, tech geeks and web soothsayers will be descending on Tokyo for the sixth APMT, a conference organised by 'creative portal site' CBCnet. As fascinating as all that sounds, we're honestly more excited about the after party. APMT Night features some of Tokyo's more interesting electronica artists alongside performers more associated with the austere world of sound art. Keiichiro Shibuya will be reprising his ATAK Dance Hall project with Evala, while media artists Norimichi Hirakawa and Kumiko Noguchi unveil their new collaboration, Typingmonkeys. You'll probably have to rewire your brain before you can dance to laptop duo Dub-Russell, but bass scene heroes Nerdz Era and Quarta 330 should be a safer bet. This being a designer-friendly event, you can also expect visuals from W+K Tokyo's Genki Ito, Setagaya-based design team Metaphor and others. For further details, click here

Cabaret
It's common practice for DJs to branch out into producing their own music, but far rarer are the people who go the opposite route. Honorary Detroit native Daniel Bell was already widely feted for his live techno sets – first as Cybersonik and later as DBX – before he began to show much interest in playing other people's records. These days, it's his DJing for which he's best known, although he dusted off the old gear in 2008 for a two-year string of DMX gigs that finished at Unit. Almost a year to the day later, Bell returns to the Daikanyama club for a special long set, with Cabaret resident DJ Masda in support. He'll also be playing at Freaks Music Festival '11 on May 7 (see below). For further details, click here

Shangri-La 28
'Black Ball Returns' scream the posters for Asia's largest gay club event, the 28th edition of which was originally due to take place on March 19. Resident DJs Sawa, Chu* and Saru will be doing their thang in the main arena, and there'll be go-go boys and drag queens galore, plus a zone devoted to J-pop goddess (and gay icon) Namie Amuro. All genders and persuasions are welcome, although ladies won't be allowed to venture into the outdoor marquee, where the folks behind Shinjuku Ni-chome's monthly thirtysomething bash 30-Dai De Nai To are holding what they describe as 'a blind date revelry of 3,000 hunks!' Brilliant. For further details, click here

Deep Space
There can be few more comforting presences on the Tokyo club scene than François K. As seasons change, you can always count on burly old François Kevorkian to come rolling through town – and after the past couple of months, his arrival feels all the more welcome. Though he's most closely associated with the New York house scene that he helped create, Monsieur K. dabbles in a far wider range of genres. Hiroshi Watanabe (pictured) – better known by his Kompakt alias Kaito – is joining Kevorkian for the ride at Eleven this time around, fresh from releasing a new album under his own name, Sync Positive. For further details, click here

Midori na Yoru
Japanese BMX crew 430 named themselves after the date on which they first joined forces, way back in 1996. For their 15th anniversary, the pedal-pushing posse's five original members – Kotaro Tanaka, Akira Okamura, Takashi Ito, Akio Kotani and Hiroshi Uehara – will be performing together for the first time in over a decade, accompanied by beatboxers Sharlee and Nob. BMX barminess and voice percussion? Sold. While that promises to be the highlight of the night, the rest of the lineup is also pretty strong, featuring DJ Krush's old wingman Muro, turntablist DJ Baku, and Hifana's Keizomachine and Juicy. For further details, click here

Sunday, May 1

Line+
He started DJing at the age of 14, and by 19 was a resident at Dijon's legendary l'An-Fer club, alongside a certain Laurent Garnier. So why isn't DJ Tonio better known? The Frenchman had the misfortune of starting his international career just as Berlin was emerging as the techno capital of the world, and minimal establishing itself as the flavour du jour. You won't hear much of that in Tonio's sets, which tend towards a much more propulsive sound, with elements of (gulp) trance. Just the ticket for a Sunday evening where half of Tokyo is still debating whether or not to bunk off work the following day, in other words. For further details, click here

Tuesday, May 3

Enter the Labyrinth
With the 2011 edition of boutique techno fest Labyrinth now confirmed for September 17-19, organisers Mindgames are getting people in the mood with a wee pre-party at Unit. Belgian techno doyen Peter Van Hoesen, the brains behind last year's stellar Entropic City album, will be the star attraction – appropriate, seeing as how he's appeared at the last four Labyrinths. While he'll be hogging the decks for a solid four hours, there'll still be time for a warm-up slot by Eric Cloutier, a resident at New York's Bunker club who shares Van Hoesen's predilection for slowing his kick drums down to a narcotic amble. For further details, click here

Danny Kravit
On April 5, Danny Krivit teamed up with some of his old compadres – Joe Claussell, François K., Kim English, et al. – for a Japan benefit gig in New York. Now the indefatigable house DJ is bringing the party to Tokyo – well, it's not like he was going to go for more than a few months without visiting the capital, is it? Krivit has played here more times than we'd care (or be able) to count, including his regular Body & Soul outdoor parties with Claussell and K., but he's never at risk of outstaying his welcome here, such is his well-honed ability to work a crowd. His wingman for the night this time around is Tomo Inoue, who recently relocated to Tokyo after a lengthy stint plying the NYC club scene. Should be an ideal match, then. For further details, click here

Moveltraxx Japan Tour
There's a faintly nostalgic air to a lot of the parties going on during Golden Week this year, as a slew of dependable, big-name DJs return to Tokyo for the umpteenth time to do what they do best. Fair enough, but if you're craving something a little less predictable, you could do a lot worse than heading to Module when the Moveltraxx Japan Tour rolls through town. Started by Parisian DJ Big Dope P, the Moveltraxx imprint has already established itself at the vanguard of the ghetto bass scene, be it juke, bounce, dubstep, or stuff that sounds like early Diplo on a sugar high. Big Dope P will be presiding over the party, though we're honestly more excited about the prospect of seeing DJ Rashad, one of the leading lights of Chicago's suddenly fashionable juke/footwork scene. Will there be any attempts to replicate the insane dancing seen in Rashad's hometown? Here's hoping. For further details, click here

Distance
If you like your club nights to be suave, sophisticated affairs, look away now. If, on the other hand, you consider the era of superstar trance DJs to have been the high point in the history of dance music, get ye to Ageha. It's been nearly a year since Mother Productions hosted their last party here, an orgy of psychedelic light displays and faintly cheesy trance and progressive house. Their latest Golden Week bash stars Germany's D-Nox and Beckers, who'll be performing a live set based on tracks from their new album, Distance. The Teutonic tag-team will also be performing separate DJ sets: Beckers gets the pool area, while D-Nox is doing a six-hour monster in the main arena. Also look out for live sets by Israel's Atomic Pulse and Japanese taiko group Gocoo. For further details, click here

Wednesday, May 4

Rebirth JAG
You can be 'street' and still do charity, dig? That seems to be the thinking behind Rebirth JAG, an offshoot of the JAG Project, a Japan-based initiative to support African AIDS orphans and ex-child soliders through creative arts. Some of the Project's original members – and we're talking big names like DJ Krush here – are now ganging up to help out victims of the Tohoku quake and tsunami, starting with an evening of beats and footwork at classy Omotesando venue Cay. Krush himself is acting as master of ceremonies, with sometime collaborator, tapdance wizard and Sendai native Kazunori Kumagai in tow. The bill also features percussionist Keiko Okumura, Detroit techno heavyweight Gerald Mitchell, and Tokyo-based DJs Juzu a.k.a. Moochy and Koyas. For further details, click here

Len Faki
He's coming straight from the centre of the techno universe, you know. Len Faki is one of the original resident DJs at Berghain, Berlin's insanely influential – and notoriously decadent – temple of techno, which was voted the best club in the world by DJ Mag in 2009. A staunch adherent to the 'big-room' sound, Faki is also a generous supporter of his fellow musicians, releasing tunes by himself and others on his labels Figure, Podium and Figure SPC. The roster for the former imprint includes Japan's own A. Mochi, who'll be performing a guest live set alongside his pal and mentor. Loud One, the brains behind Eleven's CrossGate parties, rounds out the bill. For further details, click here

Friday, May 6

Un-Go
It's being pitched as a 'disco dub' night, which apparently means that any music with a solid groove and a bit of delay will be allowed through the door. Un-Go unites the talents of a few of Japan's more interesting nightlife luminaries. Representing the techno fraternity is DJ Mayuri, best known as the driving force behind the Reboot parties and the annual Metamorphose festival. Holding a candle for weird beats is O.N.O., the musical boffin behind venerated hip-hop group Tha Blue Herb, whose sample-mashing solo excursions are often a lot more interesting than the grooves he supplies for his crew. Cranking up the low end is Goth-Trad, just back from a US tour to remind the Tokyo faithful why he's still the nation's most famous dubstep export. Add to that list Wrench vocalist Shigefumi Wada (moonlighting in his DJ capacity) and fresh-faced prog-tech-minimal peddler DJ Saimura, and you've got the makings of a varied night. For further details, click here

Tribute to Bob Marley
May 11 marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Nesta Robert Marley, felled by cancer at the tragically young age of 36. A few representatives of Japan's burgeoning reggae scene – which, let's be honest, owes its entire existence to Bob – will be marking the occasion at Eleven, led by the Likkle Mai Band. The pint-sized singer has drifted in a slightly poppier direction since her time as vocalist for dub-roots group Dry & Heavy, but remains an infectious live performer (even if we're not sure what to make of her new blonde bob). Mind you, she'll have some stiff competition from Rumi, the equally diminutive MC who stole Time Out's heart after her fiery performance at last month's anti-nuclear march in Koenji. Liquidroom regular Moodman and former Audio Active member Masamatix also feature. For further details, click here

Sterne
We've lost track of the number of overseas artists who have cancelled their Japan dates due to 'earthquake-related reasons' since March 11, but spare a thought for Dusty Kid. The Sardinian producer (whose press shots make him look worryingly like the techno answer to Justin Bieber) was supposed to play Takkyu Ishino's Sterne party back in February, but had to cancel because of computer problems. Ah, those were the days! Dusty will be making belated amends at the latest Sterne, alongside regulars Ishino and Ten, while VJ unit Devicegirls boggle minds with their visuals. For further details, click here

Saturday, May 7

Roni Size
Womb's drum'n'bass party 06S turns ten this month, and they've got a special guest in tow. Roni Size was one of the leading lights of the jungle scene that ran parallel to Bristol's trip-hop movement, and replicated the success of local heroes Portishead when his group Reprazent earned the Mercury Music Prize in 1997 for their tastefully jazz-inflected album New Forms. All ancient history, of course, but much like his junglist contemporary Goldie, Size has been relying on former glories a lot lately: he reconvened Reprazent in 2008, touring a heavily edited 'deluxe edition' of New Forms, and is apparently working on a new album with the group. Here's hoping that his latest Tokyo date doesn't spend too much time rehashing the past; if it does, just head to the Womb Lounge area for a percussion-heavy samba party with the Super Carioca Brothers instead. For further details, click here

Real Grooves
Real Grooves is one of those parties that's been around for so long, you have to stop from time to time and remind yourself how good it is. One of Tokyo's most consistent techno nights, RG returns with a familiar face in tow: Germany's Steve Bug, who will be making his fifth appearance at the event. The minimal house maestro is joined by one of his signings, Vincenzo, whose new album Wherever I Lay My Head is due out via Bug's Dessous Recordings label in June. For further details, click here

Freaks Music Festival
If you're looking to finish Golden Week with a bang, this should do the trick nicely. Freaks Music Festival is a new daytime fest that's being held on May 7 at Sagamiko Resort in Kanagawa, not far from Mt. Takao. It's hard to know what to make of a dance music event that finishes at 8pm, but the line-up is solid enough to quash any initial misgivings. LA resident DJ Harvey – the star attraction at last year's Rainbow Disco Club – presides over a varied bill that ranges from the synthesizer experiments of Logic System to the African-influenced psychedelic jams of OOIOO, via Radio Slave's techno and Washed Out's chillwave pop. For further details, click here