The creative domain probed by DJs and producers is penetrated by an element of risk when they plug in their manmade tools to recreate whole tracks verbatim. Live sets have been fetishised for some years now, with some of the biggest players in the house and techno game carving out their whole careers based on their improvisatory prowess. Ibiza is a hotpot for the masters of off-the-cuff electronic fodder, with some of the deftest dismantlers laying out their gear on multiple occasions – good news for you and us. We've got over 50 artists landing on live performance duties this summer, but we can't list them all, so here's our top 10 picks for 2016.
Surgeon & Lady Starlight, Onyx at Space, 27 June
Surgeon, a figurehead for British techno for almost 20 years, famously performed with Lady Starlight in an opening set for Lady Gaga's #ARTRAVE tour back in 2014. It was an unexpected billing that no doubt had a few techno noses turned up in an act of snooty revolt, but it was a dynamic pairing that, in Surgeon's words, was a valuable opportunity to "provoke people and force them to asses their ideas on the connections between different styles of music." They refused to water it down and pushed the kind of raw, real techno that had doubters sitting up and taking notice. Surgeon is Starlight's techno hero and he's called her "the techno sister that I was separated from at birth." Surgeon is rarely seen on the island, making this an exclusive appearance for diehard techno zealots.
KiNK, Cocoon at Amnesia (terrace), 4 July
It would be punishable not to have KiNK taking a spot in this list after he scooped up top position in Resident Advisor's Top Live Acts of 2015. KiNK is an artist who is resolutely dedicated to his craft and he's damn good at it. Last year it seemed thousands more beat chasers sat up and paid attention to his wizardry, so this season we predict he'll be one of the main names on any house and techno fiend's hit list. If you miss this date, he's also playing at Cocoon on 15 August in the main room and both the Paradise opening and closing at DC-10.
Stimming, Paradise at DC-10, 6 July
A mainstay on Solomun and Adriano's label, Diynamic, the Hamburg-based producer has gained notoriety for his immersive live sets which combine the German producer's penchant for poignant tracks with a welcome dose of fun. All continents have seen his eclectic prowess, and as a performer who said he is “neither afraid of showing my emotions nor afraid to include them in my music”, you can be certain that his house cuts will move you beyond a purely physical level.
Paranoid London, Mosaic at Pacha, 19 July
Paranoid London, the UK-based DIY duo, emerged in 2007 with a single-sided 12″ and a direct, no-nonsense mission statement that left no questions as to what they were doing: ‘We Make Acid'. They've been suitably described as a "refreshing punch to the nuts" with their modus operandi being rooted in pure acid and early Chicago house. At Amsterdam's Dekmantel festival, Pitchfork rode along for the ride and found a live set experience that was "less clinical, more chaotic," and we do like a little bit of music-led chaos on Ibiza. You can also catch the acid house honchos on 4 September at Sundays At Space.
Caribou, HYTE at Amnesia, 20 July
Caribou, the Canadian machinist, also got a favourable look in on Resident Advisor's live poll. In 2015 he hit the road with his Grammy-nominated album, Our Love, and embarked on a strenuous world tour with a four-piece band. Manipulating his fresh batch of anthemic tracks affirmed his status as a true craftsman who has over 14 years in the game. This one's not to be missed.
Henrik Schwarz, Solomun + LIVE at Destino , 28 July
A long time veteran in the German deep house scene, Schwarz is known for his eclectic musical approach to composition and sound design. As well as a deft hand at pumping out banging techno, he actually has a background in jazz, and is well-known for cavorting with classical music. That's some musical base he's got to pull from, and to have him giving us the live goods in one of Ibiza's most visually gorgeous venues is going to be something that we readily say will be special.
Black Asteroid, Materia at Vista Club (Privilege), 28 August
Black Asteroid´s techno formula is nothing short of punishing. If you´re not already familiar with his career this far, it´s been a rather interesting one. The Minneapolis raised DJ. producer and live performer started off working with Prince as an sound designer after the pop veteran saw him performing as part of industrial-rock band, Haloblack. From here Black went on to form Motor, a project born out of a desire to tackle the staling of the techno scene. This desire to innovate and challenge was also rooted at the centre of Black's solo project, Black Asteroid. He´s another exclusive entry into Ibiza´s clubbing calendar this year with only one gig lined up, so battle in for a rare appearance.
Mathew Jonson, Warriors at Sankeys, 4 September
At the age of just nine - thanks to his father's work with sound technology - Johnson was let loose on a synthesiser and as a young teen, he was recreating electro-based hip hop beats on his own rudimentary setup at home. Considered very much a live artist, he's earned himself a reputation as being one of the best in the live field, with his jamming sessions looking and sounding completely effortless. You can also catch Johnson cutting his craft at Paradise (DC-10), Solomun +LIVE (Destino), and Afterlife (Space).
Recondite, Cocoon at Amnesia (Terrace), 12 September
Lorenz Brunner, aka Recondite, broke through in 2013 as one of Resident Advisor's most exciting live acts, before he went on to claim top position in the same chart just 12 months later. He plays live exclusively with the approach of a DJ through his methods of selecting from more than 100 of his own productions, and when he doesn't have the right track for a certain situation, he's back in the studio making one. His studio productions drive his performances and vice versa. The moment he steps into the booth, he brings the crowd into his own sound world, constructed by shapes, edges and tone. Expect him to get dark, dynamic and dramatic.
Afterlife at Space, Sunset Live sessions
This party deserves a mention all of its own, because we're in for some dynamite electronica action courtesy of Tale Of Us' Thursday residency at Space. The Italian duo have curated a rather delicious Terraza lineup, but the action actually begins at 9 PM on the Sunset Terrace where one artist is set to go live every week. Plucking just one of the 13 live acts was a task we couldn't complete, so we're giving you a series of new picks for this new techno kid on the block. Stephan Bodzin, the veteran German DJ and techno producer, is back on the scene big time with the release of his first album in over seven years and an Essential Mix submission on BBC Radio 1 dropping earlier this year - catch him on 14 July. The following week, on 21 July, we've got another German craftsman in the form of David August, whose musical expression in the booth is best served live. Howling, the electronic outfit comprised of Frank Wiedemann of Âme and Ry X of The Acid Release, will be transporting our senses to euphoric levels with what will no doubt be a truly immersive live show on 28 July. Further ahead in the season on 1 September Norwegian producer, Todd Terje, will be laying down the gauntlet, and on 8 September it's the turn of Sailor & I, a producer whose made a name for himself with deep, ethereal productions. Miss one at your peril.
WORDS | Aimee Lawrence