Electrolist: Void+B6, the sound of the next decade

Electrolist, by Shanghai Ultra of the VOID crew, gives the lowdown on the Shanghai electronic music scene each week, with picks, tips, news, and other rumors.

Electrolist is back after a bout of mid-winter techno flu. This weekend sees most people back in town, including those who took extended trips over the new year. So its a good weekend to party before the next big holiday just around the corner, Chinese New Year.

This weekend is all about local flavour. Tonight, Electrolists own crew, VOID, welcome the one and only B6 to The Shelter for what promises to be a great night for all those seeking out the authentic. B6 is just back from a trip to Europe where he played on top electronic label Kompakt's radio station, and he appeared at the legendary TRESOR club in Berlin. If you haven't heard of Tresor, you will have certainly heard of their music if you have ever found yourself at a Void night in the Shelter, as they also run one of the most influential electronic record labels in the world.

B6 has come a long way since Electrolist first met him at the first ever Antidote night in Cs bar back in 2005. He's undoubtedly become China's leading electronic musician and has developed and matured his own style over the years, picking up a dedicated following along the way. Proudly Shanghainese, his music reflects the urban environment it was created in. His last album, Post Haze, contained diverse references such as ambient recordings outside The Shelter, lyrics such as "Shanghai is plastic fantastic" and a track dedicated to cursing in Shanghainese. Check out his latest music on his douban page.

B6 lines up alongside three other prominent figures from Shanghai's underground scene. Fellow Shanghainese MHP is one of the city's hidden talents. His edgy, sometimes dark music might lack the broader appeal of B6s sound, but its no less well put together. Have a listen to his stuff on his douban page.

Nat Alexander has emerged as one of Shanghai's best vinyl-only DJs. His sets are far more diverse and wide-ranging than the house and techno moniker suggests. Able to play a set of disco, house, hard techno, electro or dubstep, his lack of desire to hog the limelight means not as many people are aware of this man's talents as they should be. Check out some of his mixes.

Electrolist aka Shanghai Ultra is of course also appearing. But behind a mask, of course.

That's not all that's on tonight though. You may have heard of Baijiu Robot, a Dj collective playing all kinds of strange stuff at small venues around town. Well, Baijiu Robot himself dissapeared after one stupor too many. However, Electrolist hears that "Magic Cat" has emerged from Baijiu Robot's steaming nether regions and is at Dada tonight.

Magic Cat had this to say, in a rather creatively-flavoured press release, "In 2032, LifeCorp (the conglomerate merger between Google, McDonald's, Ikea, and H&M) developed a music production supercomputer that required no human input. They called this supercomputer Electrobeast. A self-aware machine, Electrobeast produced only formulaic electronic music with massive breakdowns, at exactly 128 beats per minute. When the fusion jazz community tried to shut it down, the paranoid Electrobeast launched an all-out electro banger attack on every continent. Electrobeast played its terrible electro songs so loud that the heads of both humans and cute animals exploded violently when the first beat dropped."

Aparently, due to his "lack of ears", Magic Cat survived this carbunkel and appears tonight at Dada to spread disco edits, nu disco, hip hop, and boogie.

So there you have it. That's all for now. On the long range radar is reggae / dub / techno act Rhythm and Sound, appearing at The Shelter in the first week of March. You heard it here first.

TONIGHT: Void presents B6@ The Shelter, No. 5 Yongfu Lu, near Fuxing Xi Lu 永福路5号，近复兴西路. 30 RMB on the door.
TONIGHT:Magic Cat 2071 - Electrobeast Meltdown @ Dada, 115 Xingfu Lu, near Fahuazhen Lu 请带我去幸福路115号. No cover..