- Music
- 28 Mar 14
The humble bell has always held a special place in the heart of German techno producer Henrik Weber, aka Pantha Du Prince. You could say it has become an obsession.
Remove the sound from tracks such as 'Lay In A Shimmer' and 'The Splendour' and PDP's much-lauded 2010 release Black Noise would probably descend into mid-table mediocrity (at bit like St Pat's this season - League of Ireland correspondent).
Given all of that, hooking up with Norwegian percussion outfit The Bell Laboratory for their Elements Of Light release seemed a natural progression for Weber. Although the album didn't set the world alight, their live shows have been the talk of electronic communities across Europe. Tonight we see why. There's something deeply spiritual and ritualistic about the sound of chiming bells. Weber draws on these emotions, the gentle flutterings and minimal beats casting a hypnotic spell. As the deep bass penetrates your bones you wonder: can live music get any better?
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Techno is not renowned for its theatricality. But, with old-style lab jackets and aprons, Weber and chums are as visually engaging as the music is sonically entrancing. The result is a performance to remember and one that is more than worthy of this prestigious venue. More of the same please NCH!