whatido_formeforyou

the new deal - technobeam (live at camp bisco x)

no joke, :26 in this recording was one of the greatest live music experiences i’ve ever had. right then, i felt like i was in on something deep, on top of what the canadian trio on stage had been creating within themselves for more than a decade, but also with every crowd they’ve unified with grooves around the world, a euphoric bond that i’m lucky to have been able to sense and embrace. this is someone else’s recording; i was on the other side, around the same distance from the front. this was their third-to-last song i think, and this video starts after a gradual build that must’ve been drawn out for almost ten minutes. the background organ chords at that drop were thoroughly rewarding and exactly what i’d been waiting to hear. their set began with some technical (mixing) issues, but got some momentum after a few tracks and was totally on point for the last five or six songs. this was their final camp bisco, after many many years as regulars at the fest, and one of their last few shows ever. the emotion of the occasion really picked up towards the end, mutually between the performers and the crowd, and it’s showcased here; ‘technobeam’ is a staple of theirs, representative of their uniquely propulsive fusion of electronica stylings, and was delivered in way that was clearly special to jamie, dan, and darren. it’s hard to see here, but the knowing glances and grins shared on stage did find their way into the music. they achieve musical cohesiveness to a extent rarely seen in one’s typical musical explorations, within the jamtronica realm or otherwise. 

i would almost describe the crowd here as tame, because it was an early-evening set on the first night of the festival, with everyone just starting to get warmed up. still, good vibes all around, and a beautiful show of appreciation after this and the tracks that followed. this is the mellow jam that followed, transitioning into ‘gone gone gone.’ pretty incredible that my first experience with them was a missed set at langerado in ‘08 (stuck in line, what else is new), a friend’s enthusiastic commentary the morning after, and a downloaded soundboard recording with no track names. now i’ve seen them three times, was with my ex-roommate when he described their bear creek 2010 set as “one of the greatest experiences, musical or otherwise, of [his] life,” and can truthfully say that they were one of the main reasons why i felt so compelled to trek across the country two weeks ago. the rest of their set was pretty distinct from their other shows i’ve seen, with some more dubstep and funk added to the mix (they specifically mentioned that they were going to throw in some extra dirtiness), and a pretty satisfying setlist overall. no ‘glide’ though, unfortunately. regardless, i wouldn’t call their swan song (for me at least) disappointing in the least.

here’s another recording of the same track, from another show. RIP dudes. looking forward to seeing you on your reunion tour in 15 years.