HiFi’s Guide to Electric Zoo 2010

Cecilia Doreng-Stearns / September 03, 2010

With Electric Zoo Festival only a few days away, we over at The HiFi Cartel are prepping ourselves in every way possible for what promises to be a truly epic weekend brimming with colorful adventures into the world of electronic music – our favorite kind. While constructing outrageous outfits and buying lot’s of sunscreen are definitely high on our list of to-dos, there is nothing more important than ensuring that the most is made of the incredible array of talent that the good people over at Made Event have blessed us with. With the festival featuring two full days of the best DJs and producers from around the world, navigating your way through this delightful beat driven wonderland can be a bit daunting to say the least, and if you’re anything like us, fear of missing out can quickly become crippling paranoia without a little organization. With that in mind, we’ve put together a brief guide featuring our favorite must-see artists to help you maneuver through the madness. Take a deep breath, here we go…

Day 1 – Saturday

Martyn – 12:00pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Martyn‘s unique interpretation of dubstep has simply been dubbed “Martyn Music” by his legions of fans and admirers. Rooted in all things bass, the sound draws influence from everything from Detroit techno, Chicago house, hip-hop, and drum & bass. Martyn began 2010 with the release of the landmark 50th edition of the esteemed Fabric Mix series. As expected, the mix was met with critical acclaim and showcased the entire scope of Martyn’s sonic abilities, whetting appetites for his upcoming second LP. His label 3024 is a genre defying platform for music from the likes of Flying Lotus, 2562, and of course, Martyn himself.

Martyn – XlR8R Podcast 125

Paul Kalkbrenner – 1:30pm, Sunday School Grove

Berlin-based Paul Kalkbrenner‘s status as a Techno MVP is cemented by more than 15 years of experience as a producer and live act, starting with the 1999 release of his “Friedrichshain” EP, a series of singles and two full-length albums (“Superimpose” and “Time”), plus continuous live performances. His third album “Self” (2004) marked his affinity for melodic, grand emotional gestures, and “Gebrünn Gebrünn”, released one year later, became a crossover hit. He’s also the star and soundtrack composer of 2008′s Berlin Calling, a film about a musician in Techno City during the new millennium, now a cult classic.

Paul Kalkbrenner – Aaron

Claude VonStroke – 3:00pm, Sunday School Grove

Raised in the suburbs of Detroit before relocating to San Francisco, Claude VonStroke always had a knack for music. Since his first original production “Deep Throat”, his studio work has always been met with worldwide acclaim. As a DJ, Claude is known simply for having fun, and insists that he does not scowl or frown while providing worldwide audiences with his distinct interpretation of techno and house. In 2005, he formed the label dirtybird which is now celebrating its 5th anniversary with a 3CD release of the labels favorites. Claude himself has put forth over 25 releases, as well as two artist albums and an edition of the Fabric Mix series.

Claude VonStroke – Who’s Afraid Of Detroit (Audion Remix)

Paco Osuna – 5:45pm, Sunday School Grove

With a precise technique, Paco Osuna constructs and produces a beautiful and complex sound through his highly influential interpretation of electronic music. In a continual evolution he has been able to redress the purest minimalist sounds, recreating them and adding his personal touch: depth, darkness and intelligence. Last year saw him taking on a highly ambitious world tour that lead him from Latin America to Japan, Miami to Argentina, London to Berlin, and Australia to Central America. Paco’s dedication and musical skills have led him to be an indisputable part of the Plus8 ranks, releasing EPs such as Crazy (2007), Obeat (2008) and Lemon Juice (2009).

Paco Osuna – It Wasn’t True

Flying Lotus – 7:15pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Flying Lotus is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier abstract and experimental artists. Hailing from the city of angels, Flying Lotus is a prolific music producer, DJ, and laptop musician with several acclaimed LP’s and EP’s to his credit. His work manages to cover a dizzying amount of musical soundscapes while staying true to dance floor ready percussive beats. Flying Lotus can also claim fame from his work on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, as well as remix work for Radiohead’s In Rainbows album. There is no doubt that FlyLo, is the undisputed leader of a groundbreaking new wave of experimental dance music.

Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong (Flying Lotus Edit)

Richie Hawtin – 8:45pm, Sunday School Grove

As an artist, DJ, conceptualist and ambassador, Richie Hawtin has relentlessly proved himself to be a true innovator. The one-man mogul behind acclaimed techno imprints Plus 8 & Minus sends signals out all over the world from his HQ in an old fire station in Windsor, Ontario. The signals are constantly evolving: his Plastikman persona gave techno a unique face with a series of four ruthlessly minimal albums of skeletal beauty, while breathtaking live festival sets at Glastonbury and Tribal Gathering helped to invent stadium techno. His “Decks, EFX & 909″ album released in 1999 expanded the concept of a DJ mix album beyond the imagination of most DJs.

Steve Bug & Richie Hawtin – Low Blow

The Chemical Brothers – 9:30pm, Main Stage

The Chemical Brothers need no introduction, as they have been pioneers at bringing the big beat electronic dance genre to the forefront of pop culture. They are known for their high-quality DJ sets and accompanying live visuals that create an all around incredible sensory experience. The Chemical Brothers just released their seventh studio album, Further, on June 22, 2010 on Freestyle Dust/ Astralwerks. As well as an eight-track album, Further is the band’s first proper partnership with long-time visuals collaborators Adam Smith and Marcus Lyall. Visuals for Further have been created to correspond with each track on the album and have been planned during the recording of the record.

The Chemical Brothers Feat. Kele Okereke – Believe

Day 2 – Sunday

Dixon – 12:00pm, Sunday School Grove

The multi-talented, multi-tasking Dixon earned his stripes from the underground dance scene of Berlin during the early 90′s. His sets have long been known to start slow and unfold towards a peak, then another and another in order to find the exact point from which the crowd gains that lasting experience. Now, he is a globetrotting ambassador of everything techno, deep house, and beyond. Dixon is also the accomplished head of the renowned label Innervisions, which he created along with Âme to bring the sounds of deep, soulful and sexy house back to light in a world made up of minimal sounds.

Ben Klock – In A While / The Voice From Planet Love (Dixon Edit)

Jon Hopkins – 1:00pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Sonic perfectionist Jon Hopkins is known for his brand of big and bold electronic music productions compiled of smooth synth sounds, harmonic melodies, and amorphous basslines. He has been dubbed a musical innovator by esteemed peers such as Brian Eno and Herbie Hancock, and has been called upon by international superstar act Coldplay for production work, as well as tour support. Jon is known to transcend the traditional parameters of electronic music, drawing influence from his classical piano upbringing, as well as is early experimentation with four track tape recorders and old school computer programs.

Jon Hopkins – Light Through the Veins

DJ Mehdi – 4:45pm, Redbull Music Academy Radio Riverside Stage

Ed Banger crewmember DJ Mehdi has worked with the best of the best in French electro and hip hop: Daft Punk, Busy P, MC Solaar, Cassius and Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay, just to name a few. The first single “I Am Somebody” from his debut album Lucky Boy features the vocals of Chromeo’s Dave 1, and is a perfect example of the animated bassline and synth-heavy sound that make Ed Banger DJs legends in their own time.  He’s put the French electro golden touch on remixes for Miike Snow (“Burial”), Erol Alkan and Boys Noize (“Death Suite”), and Etienne de Crecy (“Out of My Hands”).

DJ Mehdi Feat. Chromeo – I Am Somebody

Marco Carola – 6:30pm, Sunday School Grove

Over the last decade Marco Carola has emerged as one of the world’s most influential purveyors of techno and electronic music. He is responsible for the seminal techno labels Zenit, Question, Design, 1000, and Do.Mi.No, as well as countless releases on virtually every important techno platform. Carola’s unique style draws on his influences in the golden age of Italo-House to the underground techno sound of Frankfurt and London. Marco Carola has mastered a sound which has brought him headlining spots at events and clubs from Tokyo to New York and everywhere in between.

Marco Carola – Plaster

Chris Lake – 7:15pm, Hilltop Arena

Globally recognized as one of the most exciting, forward thinking and cutting edge producers on the scene, Chris Lake’s rare ability to create tracks that fuse elements of house, electro and techno has not been lost on his fellow peers. His innovative productions continue to receive wave after wave of support from such luminaries that include Sasha, Danny Howells, Justin Robertson, Sander Kleinenberg and Carl Cox, whilst Pete Tong leads the way in championing the unique sound that has established Chris as one of the world’s elite.

Chris Lake & Deadmau5 – I Thought Inside Out

John Digweed – 9:30pm, Sunday School Grove

John Digweed is the very embodiment of a “DJ’s DJ”. He is a globetrotting performer, successful label owner, forward thinking producer, and all around dance music icon. On any given day he can regularly be seen headlining the world’s premier clubs and festivals, sometimes visiting places where no other DJ had ever played before. His two decade career can only be described as groundbreaking. With successful mix compilations on Renaissance, Global Underground and Fabric, beloved residencies, classic studio production, and a million plus followed radio show, the name John Digweed brings immediate association with dance music of the highest quality.

John Digweed & Nick Miur – Aquatonic