Concert Thu Mar 15 2007

Who Says That Drum Machines Got No Soul?

When it comes to getting old school, some lessons are strictly fundamental. Foundational building blocks is what I'm talking about. Case in point: The L.A.-based producer Egyptian Lover, who was a pioneering figure of the early West Coast hip-hop scene. Back in the mid-80s, he laid down such tracks as "Egypt, Egypt," "Freak-a-holic," and "What Is a DJ If He Can't Scratch?" which became archetypal classics of the electro-funk canon, ranking right alongside cuts by the likes of Kraftwerk, Soulsonic Force and Newcleus. Chances are you know the sound very well -- that pop-locking bump that's all saturated with synthetic bells, 808 kicks, vocoderized imperatives, and plenty of clappity-clap punctuation. And back in the day, Egyptian Lover's first several joints were as integral to breakdancing battles as super-wide laces and Puma sweats.

The archeology, however, doesn't end there. While recent interest in all things booty-bass and ghettotech related has sent hipsters scrambling to seek out those essential Egyptian Lover tracks, few seem to know that he's continued recording and producing throughout the years, most recently popping his head up with the 2006 LP Platinum Pyramids. The fact that his current material sounds just as fresh as ever says something about the cyclical nature of retro-chicness -- that (maybe) if you stand in place long enough, things are bound to come around full circle.

Egyptian Lover will be appearing at Tini Martini on Saturday night, doing a set with cohort and collaborator Jamie Jupiter in what will be his first ever performance in Chicago. Jimmy Edgar will be rolling in from Detroit to spin a guest DJ set, as well. Edgar is of the latest generation of Detroit techno producers, one who owes no small debt to Lover's influence. His album Color Strip, recently released on the Warp label, is a polyglot exercise in groove sytlistics, one that blends classic techno and electro elements, and even includes a bit of Prefuse 73-styled IDM jump-cuttery for good measure. Transcid of Dark Wave Disco will also be on hand to make sure that the beat don't stop. 2169 N. Milwaukee Ave. The party lasts from 9pm until 3am, and admission is $10.

[video]: The Egyptian Lover - "Keep It Hot" (2006)
[mp3]: The Egyptian Lover - "Egypt, Egypt" (1984)
[mp3]: Jimmy Edgar - "Jefferson Interface"

— Graham Sanford