ARTSzENTERTAINMENT

 

Bringing on the BTs
BT — Richard’s on Richards (August 25)

Vince Yim, OP Contributor

In support of the upcoming album This Binary Universe (scheduled to hit Canadian music
stands September 5), breakbeat/trance artist BT took to the DJ booth at Richard’s on Richards
to spin a high-energy dance mix. Despite the fact that BT is not primarily known as a DJ, he
creates a solid mix from start to finish, worthy of the best clubs in Europe. But, given that
this is Vancouver’s nightclub scene, BT fills and rocks the small-capacity space without effort.

After the delayed admittance time (much later than what the ticket read as 9:30) and the
warm-up act (which had few people on the floor...myself included), BT took to the DJ booth
for a two-hour set. Aptly named “The Laptop Symphony,” BT eschews the traditional DJ
turntables in favor of a Mac Powerbook, a mixing board, and a pair of headphones. While it
may not be nearly as dynamic to watch as rapidly switching back and forth between vinyl, the
net result is the same.

BT is a highly versatile artist, tackling multiple genres of music within his own albums,
movie soundtrack scores, and now as a DJ. Aficionados of BT’s music will be well familiar
with his DJ skills, which were well displayed in his previous remix albums Remixed and Rare and
10 Years in the Life. Beat-matching seamlessly between tracks, the set list shows an evolution of
sound, providing respite whenever necessary before going back into heavy pounding beats.

Casual BT listeners, only familiar with his work appearing on video games and movie trail-
ers (with radio-friendly tracks such as “Never Gonna Come Back Down’’), will likely miss out
on some of the experience. Even for long-time BT listeners, the vast majority of the set-list
was unfamiliar territory, with only a few select singles from previous albums appearing in the
mix, such as “Sonambulist” (from Emotional Technology) and “Flaming June” (from ESCM). As
it stands, they are so heavily remixed that they are barely recognizable. However, he certainly
keeps the crowd moving any way he can.

Well-removed from the rave scene, the show was largely free of candy and pacifiers
(although one or two club-goers did have glow sticks), which makes for a slightly more grown-
up show (although that really old and gross guy that tried to pick up my older sister came close
to ruining the experience). Still, it is not necessarily intended for aging raver’s intent on recap-
turing their wasted youth, with the crowd being a mixture of age groups.

Still, BT liked to have fun with the crowd and did his best with the small venue, not only
by playing his well-known tracks, but by throwing in a few surprises as well, such opening the
set with a heavily remixed version of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” or tossing a bootleg of
Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” over a jacked-up techno beat. While old-school grunge
fans might protest, those already hopped up on the beat didn’t care, moshing and/or dancing
in accordance.

| @ fee renters)

1 2 THE OTHER PRESS SEPTEMBER 14 2006

 

 

 

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