- "Deck the House"
Force Inc. Music Works was undeniably one of the most important electronic music labels of the last 15 years. Between 1991 and the label’s demise in 2004, Force Inc. and its myriad of sublabels brought us such records as Wolfgang Voigt’s legendary Mike Ink and Love Inc. releases; early releases from Porter Ricks, Ian Pooley, and Stewart Walker; and Luomo and Donnacha Costello’s debut albums. Its Mille Plateaux sublabel created and defined the contentious “glitch” and “clicks & cuts” movements and in 2002 Force Inc. released notable debut albums by two Canadians: Akufen and Mike Shannon.
Force Inc. is sadly no longer with us, but thankfully the artists they helped bring to worldwide attention, like Akufen and Shannon still are. Important players in Montreal’s thriving electronic music scene, with Akufen in particular taking the world by storm, a crowd at Tokyo’s Club Yellow recently experienced a double bill of Force Inc.’s legacy.
Mike Shannon’s two-hour DJ set started out hard, driving 4/4 beats hammering the dancefloor. Tracks by artists such as Donnacha Costello set a rapid pace, and the energy level of the crowd quickly picked up. This part of the set was a joy for lovers of solid 4/4 techno; at times the set almost seemed to yell, “Force Inc. isn’t dead!”
As if in awareness of the upcoming funkiness of Akufen, the second half of Shannon’s set began to swing its hips just a little bit more, softening the hardness of his earlier tracks, giving the crowd a respite from the “four to the floor” opening.
Akufen’s two-and-a-half-hour DJ set started in a style many may have expected from the acclaimed experimental electronic artist, starting with a definite German “nu-house” sound, with interesting yet dance-friendly tracks by artists such as the Wighnomy Brothers.
Soon, however, Akufen began to set his own agenda. Many listeners of Akufen’s music focus on the experimental nature of the tracks, such as his famous micro-sampling technique. Equally important, however, is his love of funk, even in his most cut-up tracks. It was this love of funk that came to the fore in his DJ set, as he firmly targeted the collective booty of Club Yellow with a series of funky, jazzy, booty-shakin’ tracks. The crowd was happy to oblige Akufen’s hip-swingin’, booty-house tendencies, and the atmosphere of Yellow changed from a dance club to an actual party. The unrelentingly positive vibe of the tracks put a smile on everyone’s face.
As Akufen finished his set, he was soon joined by Mike Shannon, and the two DJs began to tag-team for the next two-and-a-half hours. Shannon’s presence brought a slightly harder, more driving feeling back into the tracks, while Akufen ensured that the funky vibe remained. The party atmosphere continued, even increased, as Shannon would run out onto the dancefloor whenever Akufen would take control of the decks, only to run back when it was his turn again.
As the set wound down a solid core of 30 or so clubbers were still on the dancefloor, clapping and cheering for just one more song before being finally shooed out by the staff. It was obvious: no-one wanted the party to stop. Force Inc. may be dead, but in the hands of Mike Shannon and Akufen the party lives on.