Live Review: Machinedrum

When forward-thinking, underground dance heads heard the news that two of EDM's most influential names were playing at The Bakery, it wasn't an easy task to contain the excitement. But before this could happen, a host of privileged supporting acts were lined up, first-up being Rok Riley, delivering consistent belters, including sounds from Lone's upcoming Galaxy Garden LP, in which Machinedrum heavily features. Meanwhile, in the almost unheard of 'Green Room', OniCa$h played some slow wonky numbers, as well as some early James Blake gold.

Ylem and Rachael Dease combined forces on the main stage to produce an eerie performance that at times almost sounded like a more minimal sounding Portishead. Their cover of Kavinsky's Night Call was a highlight, which was slowed down and coupled with Rachel's droning vocals, producing a unique and beautiful spin on the original. Nik Ridikulous and Ben Taaffe teamed up to lay some bassy foundations for Mr Greene, playing a variety of twisted electronic melodies and rhythms for what was quickly becoming an animated audience.

Hailing from Montreal, future garage sensation Jacques Greene found just the right balance between his own productions and other artists' work, which were always mixed together with calculated finesse. His own Another Girl welcomed chanted “hoo's” from the audience at the track's spine tingling build up when Greene turned the track down at just the right moment.

Towards the end of a phenomenal set that included several inclusions of Greene's Glasgow-based buddy Koreless, Machinedrum hopped on stage to set up and was greeted with a hearty hug from Greene, who then pointed at him and nodded as if to say “this guy is the fucking man”. Machinedrum began with the delicate and glistening vibes of Where Did We Go Wrong?, which did nothing to foreshadow what became a dangerously hard-hitting set. Incorporating his uniquely hypnotic voice in tracks like Sacred Frequency and Come1 gave a special touch to an already remarkable performance that had people bouncing and shuffling to the almost awkwardly fast tempo that is Machinedrum. A wailing noise washed over the audience momentarily before Machinedrum shut his laptop and walked off the stage to conclude a night to remember from some of EDM's most exciting and innovative advocates.