Dark techno producer Richard Haig to perform live on Lower Grand Radio this Thursday

Toro y Moi presents "MAHAL," instant contender for the Bay's album of the year; Madre Guía drops three furious underground dance tracks; new D&B from Soeneido

Next up on White Crate’s show on Lower Grand Radio: Oakland-based producer Richard Haig!

Haig—who also makes music with Beyond the Black Hole and Kurtz & Bomber—helps hosts the monthly Perfect Strangers party at F8, which focuses on the more synthy, Italo, darker side of dance you would hear more often in Germany than you do in the US. At last month’s event, Haig performed music from Sepulchre, his latest EP of all original tracks, and now he’s bringing the live set to White Crate on Lower Grand Radio. Expect deep, goth-glazed darkwave and delectable techno.

Tune in Thursday, May 5 at 8 PM PT on Lower Grand Radio.

Peace,
ronny

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PSYCHEDELIC SOUL, PURE LOVE

“It feels good to be here, so I’m going to try to stay.”

Take a ride in a Jeepney around the Bay and you’ll experience everything from the winter blues to spring sunshine to summer fog. Pass all the Teslas on the Golden Gate Bridge, cruise by your favorite underground studio in Oakland, and then maybe later show off your fancy new website—sparkling with GIFs, primary colors, and big blue underlined hyperlinks—to all your cool San Fran friends.

Finally, with a full heart, say hello to MAHAL, the seventh album from Chaz Bear as Toro y Moi, featuring collaborations with fellow Bay artist Salami Rose Joe Louis as well as Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Sofie Royer, and the Mattson 2. The album title means “love” in Tagalog, and that’s what it’s all about. Love of self. Love of one’s ancestors and descendants. Love of music, art, and magic. And, yup, love of the Bay. Read an excellent feature about the new album in KQED.

FURIOUS, RIGHTEOUS ACID TECHNO

Transmutation
of
Pain

Roadmapping
in
Silence

Emerging
through
Sound

Fire Szn EP is the second release of original music by Madre Guía, following last year’s Ancestral Frequencies, and it’s not just designed to set dance floors on fire. It’s also awake to the furies. While the middle track “Acid Groove” perfectly melds soulful house vocals with easy pulsing techno, the opener demands “Land Back” and the last one—deadpan and mocking—reaffirms that dance music is Black music, so if you don’t have any Black people in the crowd, then “Fuck Your Wack Ass Club.”

DYSTOPIAN DRUM AND BASS

“A visitation of some darker more dystopian and cyber punk themes.” Soeneido is on a tear. Following DEADLY VENOM WEAPON in January and DRUM N BASS 2000 in February, the Oakland producer returns in collaboration with Benito on Fallen Angels. Yet another four-track drum and bass stunner, this is the first EP released on Lo-Tek Oakland, Soeneido’s new jungle sub-label. Definitely looking forward to more.

BAY HIP HOP IS BLACK OWNED

Gotta get that regular dose of Bay Area hip hop. Up next: Berkeley rapper Gee Pop dropped Pop Shit, Vol. 2, produced by DREWBANGA plus features from Lil Bean, 22nd Jim, LaRussell, and Sonnie. The sound of 808s, dark piano chords, juicy bass, and gold bars.

PAIN, RELIEF, WARMTH, GLOW

“Words.. No amount of words can express how much pain I had to endure during the creation period of this record. I can’t even begin to expound the relief I feel, knowing that something I’ve been sitting with for 2-3 years is now yours.” Wrap yourself up in your favorite old blanket, grab a warm beverage of choice, and cozy up with Circmvnt, the fourth studio album from Oakland artist Elujay. Released in January and featuring guest appearances by serpentwithfeet and HXNS, the new work is honeysweet alternative soul, healing and freeing in the way that only comes after a painful breakthrough.

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How many Bay Area artists are playing at your favorite Bay Area music festival?