Out-Machine'd >> A Review of NB2

It's always good to subject yourself to new experiences, right? Especially in the world of electronic music, "I don't like it" is a forbidden phrase. The negative opinion on close-mindedness in music is exactly what got me interested in attending NB2 - An event that carries the torch from the early 2000s heyday of industrial music. Grandbaby of the C.O.M.A Festival that took place from 2004 to 2007, the event is two nights of all different genres of music that would be considered underground, or fall under the industrial umbrella in today's electronic music culture. The other big plus? Save for the headliners, all of the talent performing at Bar le Ritz for the two night celebration are from Canada, mostly from Quebec.

I walked in for |e_Ça playing their track "soylent_sys". I wish I had remembered that they were playing so I could have been there for their entire set. They were the group with the most aesthetic, and it was very welcome. The Facebook event described the ambiance for the evening as 'genetic laboratory', but the venue itself was just Bar Le Ritz - everyone in plain clothes. The frontman of the group wore a plague doctor mask and an old television displayed their song titles along with fuzzy clips of pharmaceutical experiments gone awry and their signature mask logo.

After I realize that the song they're playing is one that I previewed on my own radio show two days prior - something strikes me - mostly everything is live. After seeing so many producers play DJ sets, and after seeing so many DJs use nothing more than a USB controller, the live music element is refreshing. Not to mention, that the performance is perfect, and goes off without a single flaw. The words "Venlafaxine XR" pop up on the group's television screen and the the syrupy, dark beat takes me away. The unfortunately small remainder of |e_Ça set is timed perfectly with the night, descending in to darkness while the last rays of sun disappear from the sky outside. 

When they finish, it surprises me that they do a tear-down, and the next act sets up. Live music - who knew! The music played in between the sets was something similar to psytrance, with a more grungy feel.

Apoplexia, the next DJ, manages to convert me to a fan of drum n' bass within 20 minutes of starting his set. The bass is deep, fast and clears my mind completely. In its' repetitiveness rhythm-wise, I suppose that DnB is kind of like trance. I wonder why nobody is dancing while I fight myself to stand still - maybe it's because people aren't messed up on drugs? Maybe because nobody wants to look silly? I ponder on how else to show the DJ that I'm paying attention to the music and enjoying it without dancing, but not for long. A woman comes and dances next to me - this is great. Apoplexia's set continues to be amazing. Streamlined and effortless, dynamic and fun.

But the bass is loud - and my ears are already buzzing. I stand further back after a short breather outside. I find that there are two camps in the room. Either stand at the back of the bar and freeze from the air conditioning or at the front and have your ear drums blown out.

Nonetheless, Apoplexia's ending has people dancing and is heavily applauded. Sub Sonik starts right away, dissonant and psychedelic with visuals to match. It's drum and bass with too much and not enough bass at the same time. It's Breakbeat and much like Frenchcore, DarkPsy, and all of the genres I've had to learn to love - it's an assault on my untrained senses. I go outside again to let my ears recuperate from the massive sound system and crushing rhythm, wondering what I'm going do for the rest of the set; trying to avoid my disappointment at the fact that my open-mindedness has a limit. 

Similar to a rave, there's always a group of people chatting outside, but it's more difficult to socialize because I've never seen any of these people before in my life. I don't really want to stay outside, but I don't particularly want to be inside either. I give up trying to buy time for my ears, and head back inside

To my surprise - I'm able to digest the music more easily. There's people dancing, albeit in a standing kind of way. Totally different from what I'm used to seeing in my usual haunts. After awhile, the number of dancers increases to almost everyone in the room, so I decide to join in until the set ends. I'm pleasantly surprised by Sub Sonik despite the overall loudness and eagerly await LCEDP.

When he starts, all kinds of sounds start whipping by at breakneck speed, loud to the point of being indistinguishable. The people who are dancing are fast and borderline epileptic. Behind the artist on stage is a panel of flashing strobe light. Combined with the blaring sound system and the blaring AC, the performance is overwhelming. I wonder if anyone is going to have seizures. I hope it won't be me.

Despite the volume of the sound system, the music is good, and I don't want to leave. Only when I leave the assault of flashing lights, blaring bass, and air conditioning do I find a good place at the back of the bar. I feel bad about not being more active, especially because of the speed of the music, but I can't barely even look at the seizure-inducing stage. Fifteen or so minutes of the et is something I can only describe as noise jazz, and it's difficult to digest with the distortion of the sound in the bar. I feel defeated by the AC and the music, but I never lose hope.The set picks up in its last 5 minutes, and I mean gets really good. Trance-y dark and offbeat - music after my own heart. 

All in all, I'm not disappointed, but I am injured. I've seen a host of amazing sound engineers and artists in the few short hours I've been at the bar. I want to see Iszoloscope, but I feel like I may lose my hearing if I stay for the remainder of the event. Ten musically amazing minutes pass by, enough to taste the intro of the set and feel the intimate crowd's anticipation. I know that Iszoloscope is going to be amazing. I smile and head for the door.

--What will you hear when The Machine Stops? Find out every Friday at 9 AM with your host DJ Thinkbox, only on CJLO!