While Platform and FW bring in a lot of great underground and big name techno names, Box of Kittens has almost come to a complete halt, Zero Percent has been slowly starting to make a name for themselves by throwing stellar techno parties since 2010, usually every few months or so until recently where they've turned up the frequency and started bringing in a Dynacord sound system to that dark little basement on College (Li'ly). Tonight's event promises to be a doozy!
In a city flourishing with every type of music possible, sometimes the purity of a genre can become diluted and misguided amongst the crowd. The term "techno" is often victimized, being carelessly thrown around by artists and listeners alike. Toronto's premier promotion company, Zero-Percent (established in 2010), is one of the only organizations in this city aimed at preserving the integrity of the genre.
Techno is a term that is widely misused, either as an umbrella term for electronic music or to inaccurately describe other genres such as deep house. In Toronto, Zero-Percent serves to correct the misnomer. Their events are about creating an outlet for techno to be heard as it should be: stripped down, hard, edgy and dark. Although they do feature DJs who play varying genres, the promoters consistently require artists who are booked for their parties to play hard and dark techno. Such a practice is unheard of in the city of Toronto, where most would describe techno as melodic and groovy. However, such a description is truly a perversion to the internationally-renowned genre.
The type of music that Zero-Percent aims to give Toronto is reminiscent of Germany (the techno capital of the world) and New York City, where creativity and innovation within the genre is abound. Germany (especially Berlin) specifically is a source of inspiration to many, where releases from labels like CLR, Perc Trax, Electric Deluxe and Stroboscopic Artefacts are regularly heard in clubs such as Berghain, Tresor and Watergate. Attempting to bring this kind of sound to a Canadian city is no easy feat. Zero-Percent is successfully tackling this task, with impressive international bookings such as Sasha Carassi (check out his set from this event here) and Subfractal along with a regular roster of local techno DJs who are committed to the edgy, dark sound.
Besides the fact that Zero-Percent is booking the right kind of talent, they give priority to providing proper sound at their events. This occurrence is especially notable in the city of Toronto, which has long been plagued by events with lackluster sound. Even at a club like Footwork, party-goers often are subjected to mud-like, distorted beats by internationally-known artists. Zero-Percent assures their supporters that this will never happen on their watch. At their parties thrown at Li'Ly, they bring in a Dynacord system. For larger events, they use the Alieninflux sound system.
For the techno-lover in Toronto, Zero-Percent has made their presence known and serves as salvage from the many obstacles that this city presents. With a focus on quality at both the level of bookings and sound, respect is obviously in order for this promotion company. Techno is a genre that deserves to be preserved and nourished. With Zero-Percent on watch in Toronto, devotees of this music can finally feel reassured.
Zero-Percent's next event (Sektion 2) is set to occur on Friday, August 10th with Measure Divide (Subfractal) headlining at Li'Ly in Toronto. For more information regarding upcoming events, like their Facebook page, join their group or visit their website.
Listen to a couple of live recordings from local talent that Zero-Percent has booked to get an idea of the sound characteristic of these parties:
Sektion 2 goes tonight!
Sasha
i shall be there tonight :)
patpicos
quote:
Even at a club like Footwork, party-goers often are subjected to mud-like, distorted beats by internationally-known artists.
:rolleyes:
So when are we going to see guys like......Alan Fitzpatrick? :)
Bummed that I missed Sasha Carassi
Guest
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samhouse
quote:
Originally posted by devnull
:rolleyes:
So when are we going to see guys like......Alan Fitzpatrick? :)
Bummed that I missed Sasha Carassi
that would be bloody awesome!
feelgood
Zero percent events have always conflicted with something on my schedule. I gotta make it out, one of these days.
kotsy
quote:
Originally posted by devnull
So when are we going to see guys like......Alan Fitzpatrick? :)
Give them time to build their name and their wallet ;) They have a very long list of names that they want to bring to Toronto.
Nicolas Oliver
These guys are doing it properly! Much respect to Brandon, Alex, Frank, etc.
PivotTechno
Salvaging Techno in Toronto? Pfft. More like more of the same, different packaging. Every Berlin-(un)inspired set at the same tempo, kick-clap, kick-clap, kick-clap, all the way through.
And are seven, one hour sets and "no tracks over two years old" really salient selling points for a club night these days? Really? How about meandering, interesting and engaging 2-3 hour journeys and good music, without giving a toss as to when it was released?
quote:
Dear Toronto Techno, Please, for your own benefit, stop acting like Berlin is the be-all and end-all of electronic music. You used to have such a distinct identity while at the same time drawing diverse influence from North American cities like Detroit, Chicago, New York and Philly, as well as from a wide range of across-the-pond places like the U.K. and Japan. Now it seems like you can't forge a lineup that isn't focused around someone who's either from Berlin or has transplanted themselves there. All this has done is created a largely uninspired, homogenised sound, with nearly every aspiring producer and DJ in this city trying to emulate it in hopes of joining the herd, rather than working to set themselves apart from it by finding their own voice.
When was the last time you heard a Toronto DJ play an extended set that incorporated everything from tracky to chuggy to melodic to minimal, to the many shades of House (funky, hard, acid, booty), to proper Electro, to older classics that defy category but somehow still fit into the mix? When was the last time you heard a Toronto DJ play an extended set that effortlessly swayed in and out of a 10+ BPM range, rather than maintaining the same, nodding tempo all the way through?
I get the angle that most promoters are simply booking what everyone wants to hear, and if trend-following is your M.O., then more power to you. That said, we could certainly stand to see a few more innovators and taste-makers up in this place.
...and the "article" is more like an advertorial; reads like the writer is friends with the promoters.
Adam420
Man I wish I was from Toronto and my opinion mattered haha. This guy is right though ^
MSZ
best techno in last 2 years
LightsOut
quote:
Originally posted by PivotTechno
Salvaging Techno in Toronto? Pfft. More like more of the same, different packaging. Every Berlin-(un)inspired set at the same tempo, kick-clap, kick-clap, kick-clap, all the way through.
And are seven, one hour sets and "no tracks over two years old" really salient selling points for a club night these days? Really? How about meandering, interesting and engaging 2-3 hour journeys and good music, without giving a toss as to when it was released?
...and the "article" is more like an advertorial; reads like the writer is friends with the promoters.
They're trying. let's at least give them credit for that. Regardless of if it's your personal 'style' or not, they're using underground spaces and are giving spots to locals that aren't playing the usual 'circuit' places.
