From the window seat of an airplane is my favorite vantage point from which to put into words my thoughts on music. Timing and dineros doesn’t allow this scenario to be a convenient one, but on this fine Thursday morning as I fly over the buildings of downtown Denver, the circle of water that is City Park, and even my own block in the Cole ‘hood, it’s really something to know that the swirls, bleeps, heartbeats, periodic vocals and consistently addictive rhythms were all born here by Denver creatives. Compiled by Peter Black in preparation for the Denver AfterDark music festival that takes place August 26 on Larimer, this promoter, DJ, artist and cat herder has always had an ear and a passion for Denver talent.
The array of tracks on Denver AfterDark, previous Analog Space compilations, and a long-standing record for producing packed-out soirees over the years is proof not only of this, but of the fact that Denver’s place in American music, especially in the realm of dance and electronic genres, grows deeper and wider as each year passes.
Alert’s “Lemegeton” actually started my morning, before the sun had made itself known, moving slow and precise, twisting ‘round the crisp air and the welcoming smell of coffee grinds. “I Lost My 808 (Cacheflow remix)” by Architect took me through the train to the terminal, jerking with a stop and start while drowning out the idiotic parents making incessant choo-choo sounds for their stroller-bound little one to imitate, by which she caught my eye with a look that seemed to say, “What did I do to deserve this?” Read my mind kid.
The mystic, cerebral sounds of Parallel Light took me through the terminal, the perfect place to observe the human condition, viewing an array of people, all different yet all the same, waiting to fly to their destination; places I couldn’t imagine visiting, let alone paying to visit, like El Paso.
“I Need the Sun” from the angelic Married to Berdichev danced over the clouds as I looked out of the plane, evoking the chorus as green land turned to Burnt Sienna, complete with large cracks in the earth and shadows from the puffy formations above.
Force Publique and HOLLAGRAMZ both cause the heart to beat a bit faster, urging the brain cells to sit up and take notice. Repeat. Repeat. And then embrace wide-awake eyes with Ieungliss and Man Cub before taking a surprise trip to the beach with The Drums via SAUNA’s “Glitter Party.”
The lead female vox from Pina Chulada is far more compelling than much of what we see in the summer festival circuit, having more in common with P.J. Harvey than whiney female singers wearing granny dresses, which for whatever reason, seems to be in vogue for the last few years.
And Vitamin’s “Vimanas” were the songs for the late night flight back to Denver, followed by the PDR BLK (yes, it’s Peter Black) “Hypnotic Swag” track, where became one with my window seat, letting my ears be enveloped by the layers of samples and sounds that come from another universe, all while watching the sun set on another trip to my lovely San Francisco.
News from Black is that Pictureplane and Pina Chulada, who had originally been slotted to perform at Denver After Dark, had to cancel due to scheduling conflicts. In their place are local acts that will have no problem filling in the gaps, including Gauntlet Hair, Dynamic and Real Magic.
Analog Space Presents: Denver After Dark by Kaffeine Buzz
Denver AfterDark Block Party Schedule & Details – August 26, 2011
Tix and Info: http://larimerlounge.com/event_details.cfm?blogid=469
Doors open at 7pm | $6.00 ADVANCE!!! at TWIST & SHOUT RECORDS with no service charges.
$12.00 day of show
Meadowlark Stage
12:45 – 1:40 Ben Samples (Fresh 2 Death)
11:55 – 12:45 PDR BLK
11:10 – 11:55 CacheFlowe
10:25 – 11:10 Hollagramz
9:40 – 10:25 Narky Stares
8:45pm – 9:40 London Dungeon
8pm – 8:45 Chase Dobson
7pm – Doors
Meadowlark Outside
8:00 – 8:30 DJD Trio
8:45 – 9:20 Mombi
9:35 – 10:05 The Parallel Light
Larimer Lounge
1am – Force Publique (30-45 min set)
12am – Gauntlet Hair (30-45 min set)
11pm – Vitamins (30-45 min set)
10:15pm – ManCub (30 min set)
9:30pm – Nyota (30 min set)
8:45pm – School Knights (30 min set)
8pm – Sauna (30 min set)
7pm – Doors
Flobots Stage Inside
8:00 – 8:30 Married In Berdichev
8:45 – 9:15 Dynamic
9:30 – 10:00 Iuengliss
10:15 – 10:45 Real Magic
11:00 – 11:35 Safe Boating Is No Accident
