- When describing Gerard Hanson's music, people often reach for the language of science fiction. Synths are comet trails or glittering nebulas. Elastic basslines cut through the air like jet engines. Many of his song titles reference some aspect of space travel, but when he plays live, either as Convextion or E.R.P., Hanson does more than just evoke sci-fi imagery—he transports you to another world. Last Friday, during a rare London live set at The Pickle Factory, it was as if the club's slatted wooden ceiling had opened and I was dancing among the stars.
Hanson, who has been putting out immaculate techno and electro records for the past two decades, enjoyed a banner year in 2016. He released a new album as Convextion and, as E.R.P., a pair of more electro-focussed EPs that perfectly balanced grace and grit. On Friday, he took up position at 1:30 AM armed with only a laptop. He began with a swirl of swampy dub techno chords before throwing in some pummelling kick drums and ricocheting percussion. His melodies ranged from plangent pads to dramatic chords, while an array of mutating basslines lent the set a sustained energy that ensured people never stopped dancing.
The set had a nice pace to it, touching on tender rhythms, trance-inducing techno and bouncier Detroit fare before ending with a sequence of razor-sharp electro. These last few tracks were some of the best, each whipcrack snare and tunnelling bass shift drawing dancers deeper into the groove. Every so often, warm synth lines made way for frayed electronics and sinister shards of melody.
Hanson packed a lot into an hour, and even he seemed surprised when it was suddenly over. Having spent the performance staring stonily at his laptop screen, bobbing in time with the beat, he suddenly broke character. As the final track faded out, he started beaming at the audience, punching the air and doling out high-fives.
Photo credit /
Enrico Policardo