Techno 'god' set to turn tables in town

• Source: Global Times
• [14:52 July 02 2010]
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Ken Ishii. Photo: Wikimedia

By George Wyndham

Today local resident techno lovers are blowing the dust off their glow sticks in expectation of the arrival of Japan's most innovative and respected techno producer and DJ Ken Ishii. For the man himself, who once graced the cover of Newsweek, this will be just another visit to Shanghai as he has already spun the turntables in the nightspots of these fair oriental shores a number of times. Even so, his appearance tonight will be an important date in the diaries of the city's dance music lovers.

Ishii's music can be basically categorized as Detroit style techno with its dance floor orientation. However he manages to draw on a wide range of influences.

Ishii first broke onto the scene in 1993 on Belgium's R&S label with a 12-inch record entitled Garden on the Palm. The record was a hit among techno fans and earned Ishii the debatably complimentary nickname of "Asian Techno God". After releasing the album Jelly Tones (1995), the music video accompanying the single "Extra" was especially popular. It was created by Koji Morimoto of Akira fame and featured a mind-blowing animated sequence set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo.

"When I debuted, I wasn't a good DJ. Technically, I was OK, but I didn't watch the crowd. But now I'm confident that I can play to anyone anywhere, and make any kind of crowd dance," Ken Ishii told Japan Today.

While many Shanghai clubbers are undoubtedly looking forward to the visit of Japan's techno premier with anticipation, there are those who disagree with the promoter's choice of venue, M2. "Judging by past experience, the venue will be packed, sweaty, and no one will be able to get a drink," says 23-year-old DJ Justin Marvel from the US. "Because the new M2 is at the commercial end of the clubbing scene, most of the potential dance floor space is given over to tables."

As far as Ken Ishii is concerned as long as he plays to receptive crowds, he doesn't care. "I play for many kinds of people — some are musically educated, some are in new territories, some are in commercial clubs. I don't really mind as long as they have fun." he says.

Time: Tonight, 10 pm

Venue: M2, 4F, Hong Kong Plaza, 283 Huaihai Road Central

Admission: 100 yuan