In a world where any auld chancer can grab himself some cracked software and get a few easy releases on Beatport it seems the number of genuine characters in dance music are few and far between. One of the rare exceptions out there at the moment is a Frenchman known as Mike Levy. He has made his mark however as the altogether more impressive moniker of Gesaffelstein, a revelation in the techno game of late. His menacing offshoot of techno that has been steadily garnering mass attention over the past 12 months and now it appears his status is about to reach a wider plane.
A man who seemed to slip mysteriously onto the radar he comes with a confirmed pedigree. Releases on Tiga’s Turbo label as well as a tight relationship with The Hacker (father of electroclash) mark him out as someone of quality and substance. His manager Manu Barron also represents the likes of Yuksek and Birdy Nam Nam and has a known eye for talent. Alongside compatriot Brodinski Gesaffelstein is seen as the new driving force in the French electro techno scene and someone who continues to peak interest in what until recently was a dying niche.
His music is hard hitting, it’s dark and it’s entrancing. Early interest in him peaked through EP’s like Viol and Rise of Depravity. They fuelled his dark image but also established a distinct style. Recent remixes for the likes of Lana Del Rey and Ducksauce have also showed that the Frenchman wasn’t afraid to mix it up and try something different.
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2013 marks the release of his debut album in the form of Pursuit, an LP which has already captured the attention of music lovers everywhere, its teaser video clip garnering over half a million hits in the first two days. The album will well and truly establish Gesaffelstein as a name to be reckoned with in electronic music and its somewhat of a privilege for Dublin’s dance music fans to get an advance preview just 10 days before the album hits shelves everywhere.
Playing alongside them will be our very own Irish techno wizards The Japanese Popstars. A recent resurgence marks them out as someone to be reckoned with in 2014 with a smasher of a new album on Bedrock and what seems like a distinct direction finally. Having streamlined to just two members (Gareth Donoghue and Gary Curran) the Japstars will be the ideal compliment to the hard hitting cuts of Gesaffelstein
The final name on the poster will be JACK resident David De Valera fresh from numerous performances on the White Isle this summer (most notably alongside Felix Da Housecat at Clandestin, Space). His trademark grooves will provide the perfect compliment to the driving techno forces also present on the night.
