What's that funny smelling smoke in the air? Where are all these fractals coming from?
Oh, that's right! Shpongle is heading to Revolution Live, and bringing all the funky goodness from the far reaches of other realities with them tonight.
We're gonna get mad trippy while grooving to the electro-fusion grooves of this psychedelic British duo. Their unique flavor comes from combining traditional musical elements and instrumentation with the super-hip sounds of electronic gadgetry and dance rhythms.
But they're not the only guys making analog and digital worlds collide. Check out these ten other artists bridging the gap between human and machine.
10. Daft Punk
These guys are basically the human-meets-machine grandfathers. It's kind of their entire theme. They incorporate guitar, keys, vocals, and all kinds of awesome shit into their music, besides the obvious drum machines, synthesizers, and, y'know, robot suits.
9. Justice
This French filterhouse duo are the direct protégés of Daft Punk, and they also bring a fusion flavor to their work behind the decks. Formerly metal-heads, these guys worked a lot of guitar and piano into their second album Audio, Video, Disco. They even break out the keys in their new tour rig, and it's quite exquisite.
8. The Bloody Beetroots
Also coming from a punk rock background, Italian badasses the Blood Beetroots bring the motherfucking pain. Known for their high energy music and live performances, they round out their electronic noise with live guitar, bass, drums, keys, and vocals, depending on what kind of show their doing each night.
7. Break Science
These Brooklyn boys love to bring the big beat, and they ain't about no half-steppin'. Part of the appeal to this duo is the element of live drums, which really help to kick out the EDM jams. Add a bit of live keys, and you've got yourself some Grade-A fusion funk.
6. Michael Menert
A member of the Pretty Lights Music label, this Colorado maestro has been making ill jams his entire life, growing up working on all kinds of instruments, genres, and styles. Now, as an electronic music composer and live DJ, he incorporates everything he's learned and sounds from around the world to create a really colorful experience.
5. Big Gigantic
Another Colorado wonder, these two work together to make some beautiful music, and they both bring some old-school instruments to the table! While Dom lays down the funky beats on his laptop, Jeremy lays down the fat beats on his live drums. But the real kicker? All that sexy sax Dom be laying on top of the whole thing. Kenny G has nothing on this.
4. Beardyman
Well, maybe this UK monster doesn't have live drums or a guitar, but he does build his music around one of the most organic intruments on the planet -- his own body. An incredibly talented beat boxer and creative noise producer, Beardyman lets shit rip into a mic and loops it to astounding effects. How's that for working with what you've got?
3. Emancipator
Yes, Emancipator is one guy, namely Douglas Appling. But when you see Emancipator live, he's joined on stage by violinist Ilya Goldberg, because his music mashes up organic sounds and traditional instrumentation with his digitally-formed beats and melodies. The result is something both warm and inspiring, capturing both old and new sounds for music lovers of many backgrounds.
2. EOTO
They've got a big sound, but it all comes out of these two guys with a background in jam bands and kicking ass. Creating everything live, the duo relies on Ableton live as well as midi controllers, keyboards, five-string bass guitars, a shiny Les Paul classic, and even a mandolin.
1. Beats Antique
This threesome from California is one of the most exciting electro-fusion groups on the scene right now. Besides the next-level digital productions, they add live drums, violin, guitar, keys, and almost anything else. Classically trained musicians and dancers making beautiful music together are the future.
Shpongle. 9 p.m. on Tuesday, October 23. The Revolution Live, 100 SW 3 Ave., Ft. Lauderdale. Tickets cost $33.25 plus fees via ticketmaster.com. Call 954-727-0950 or visit jointherevolution.net.
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