While Berlin prides itself on its status as the European and perhaps world capital of techno and electro – drawing DJ and producer talent from around the known universe into the vast black hole of the city’s clubland – it’s sometimes worth remembering that creativity remains elsewhere on this vast planet of ours. Hence: Worldtronics at Haus der Kulturen der Welt – a showcase of global technology-produced or influenced music.
This year’s fest (Nov 30-Dec 4) opens with a night exploring the Swedish funk-synth-loop phenomenon of skweee on Wednesday, November 30.
8-Bit & Chiptunes on Thursday, December 1 delves into the wide, wacky world of computer sound effects and old-school Nintendo handset melodies – remixed into every genre from gabba to dub.
On Friday, December 2 sees an invasion of Ghanaian Hiplife – curated and introduced by New York-based Brian Shimkovitz aka Awesome Tapes from Africa (interviewed Exberliner’s 100th issue).
December 3 is devoted to the musical diversity of the Colombia capital Bogotá – with bands flaunting vallenato and cumbia, gaita and salsa, rock and hip hop styles.
The concert program is rounded off with some intellectual musings on the state of global music: the Postcolonial Piracy conference on December 4 explores global cultural practices of “piracy” and deals with them in the context of aesthetics, originality and authorship.
Worldtronics, Nov 30-Dec 4
