July 29th – BSMT254, Toronto. After last month’s show was right up my alley, I had to come back out for the 4th and (for now) final show in the vivid.to series before it starts back up sometime in October. I’m glad I did, as I was able to catch a cancelled performance from last month, discover a new gothic synthwave band (aka, dark wave), and buy a new record.

All photos by Ian Noble.

Different Dream

I arrived around 9:15 PM, just as Cole’s set began. Opening with a lo-fi retro-style soundscape, his project Different Dream delivered trippy syncopated beats and wacky effects alongside live guitar. At times, I couldn’t tell if the syncopated rhythms were intentionally stylised or if the timing on his MIDI controller wasn’t quite tight. However, I think the quantisation was working as intended, since the beats locked in consistently as the set progressed.

The performance reminded me of 90s and 2000s breakbeat. The inclusion of live guitar added an ambient chillwave dimension that evoked Tycho. Debuting several new songs written in the last two months, the set built toward an intense climax. Its second-to-last track introduced a four-on-the-floor beat (the first of the night, if I recall correctly). As it progressed, it quickly escalated into a driving club rhythm somewhere between house and industrial rock.

It was as if Infected Mushroom met The Algorithm, while keeping a distinct Goa-psytrance undertone. This was the performance he had to cancel last month due to lighting failures.

Towards the very end, I noticed some high-pitched feedback. It seems MacKinnon can’t escape technical issues entirely. This meant that the Radiohead, Gorillaz, Caribou, Chemical Brothers, M83-inspired vocals, which are “quite processed, electronic, and interesting,” deliberately, didn’t come across properly. (According to Cole, BSMT’s subs are behind the performer, so the vocal effects on his mic kept getting hammered by the loud beats behind him.)

But such is life when your music involves a computer; as I also know from experience.

Setlist:

61
48
64
54
Geppetto
61 (new single August)

(most are numbered until he officially names them)

Trying something new – gear info

Also, as part of my reviews and interactions with electronic (and other effects-heavy) artists moving forward, I’ll be asking them to share their gear lists. I hope this helps aspiring producers and helps lift some of the mystique surrounding so-called “EDM”. For Different Dream, Cole bounces between three “stations” on stage:

1. An electric guitar (w/ effects)
2. An An Akai MPD 218 drum pad, playing live beats
3. A Zoom G5 multifx unit for the vocals

Secret Sign

Next up: Secret Sign. This gothic synthwave outfit features Danny Alexander on bass guitar (who always commands an amazing and badass stage presence), Kaila Moon on vocals (who brought her own equally powerful yet distinct dark and haunting presence), Patrick Sherrard on keys, and Phil Baljea on guitar. From the opening notes, I knew I’d found a new darkwave band to follow.

(Side note: Danny seems like quite the prolific musician, as he was in last month’s show with his project “FORMING”.)

The contingent of goths in the crowd – I think there were only a couple last month – made more sense now.

I love this kind of atmospheric goth music so damn much. Kaila’s slow, haunting vocals were perfect for the style. Their second track built on a classic 303 arpeggiated foundation, then the set got grittier and darker—a cyberpunk bassline drove the vibe of their third track. I’d describe the band as if Siouxsie Sioux’s vocal stylings met Depeche Mode met VNV Nation: dance music that’s still atmospheric and haunting.

They showed great range, with their closing tracks adopting a slower, cinematic vibe. I think this was my favorite—the guitar solo, vocals, and underlying synth created something truly epic and emotional. Their final track was an intense dark synth piece suitable for the skankiest clubs of any cyberpunk setting. Before finishing their set, Kaila also took the time to hype up the following act MOONBEAN. Secret Sign and MOONBEAN go back—this was the latter’s third show with them.

Setlist + Gear

Setlist:

The World Asleep*
Lips*
O.M.S.R
Thresh*
Turn to You*
Visions*
C.W.I*

*unreleased

(By the way: I don’t usually get upset when something is unreleased, but damn, do I want one track in particular to be out sooner rather than later! “The World Asleep” featured a guitar solo that harmonised with the song so well that I want to shoot it straight into my veins. At least I recorded it on video — that’ll tide me over until an actual release.)

Secret Sign’s setup is straightforward: all the electronic elements are played back on a sampler, while the other instruments, vocals, bass, and guitars are played live.

MOONBEAN

Colin Harrington and Valentina Morelli rounded out the night. Their lighting program plunged the room into darkness between tracks, so the audience and performers alike used phone lights to see each other. The duo leaned more club-oriented than the previous act, with an upbeat sound and colourful light show. The smoke machine went into overdrive to the point where you could barely see them.

Their sound was more progressive house (though Colin mentioned electroclash?), with one track breaking into a half-time breakdown that delivered amazing sub-bass before ending. Their 2nd track of the night, “Let’s Go!”, made me feel like I was in one of those cool sci-fi clubs in media like Mass Effect, such as Chora’s Den or Afterlife. Others had a more hi-NRG, retrowave vibe, and their synths got nice and squelchy, reflecting an acid house influence. They made an impression with two massive tables of gear and glowing fluorescent mic cables.

I loved the lead singer’s fashion—both wore sequinned, sparkling outfits, but she also had chunky boots and cute curly short hair. Valentina gave me some La Roux vibes, and both of them reminded me of Chromeo.

They used a theremin, which is cool and shows an interest in the history of electronic music craft that I appreciate. Speaking with Colin and Valentina after the show was a delight; Valentina shared her background in jazz and her work with Guelph Jazz Fest. I really appreciated how they had two linked-up setups, allowing both of them to shape the sound through the performance as a duo, and not just one of them while the other sang.

Night Creature*
Let’s Go!
NOSTALGIAPHOPIA*
Look Sharp*
Psyclone Icon*
Driving Dream*
S Klub 7

*unreleased

Gear

Check out their instagram to find out more, where they’ve already posted a gear breakdown!

Colin’s gear:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MOONBEAN | Electronic Artist (@moonbean_music)

Valentina’s gear:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MOONBEAN | Electronic Artist (@moonbean_music)

Venue and Series

I really like how this series is building community, with recurring faces and bands staying to support each other through the night alongside the bar’s regulars. Cole mentioned that the far west end location of BSMT 254 has proven difficult to convince people to come out to. I just hope some of these current regulars follow the move to a new, more centrally-located, venue when VIVID starts back up in October.

Not sure if I mentioned this last time, but there’s a TV on the wall separating the bar from the floor. Useful, if the crowd is too packed or you’re waiting to order a drink; you can still watch the show. I also noticed a bigger crowd this time, with definitively way more than the modest 20 from last month.

Want more photos? Cole’s friend Jacob also took some photos and posted them on his Instagram.

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