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Authentic Techno

Authentic Techno

Author: Damian Yoko
Date: 2016-04-22
In an age with millions of producers and countless DJs it really takes something special to stand out. Some people opt to go for some kind of persona, wearing funny clothes or even swearing a lot in their songs. Others may lean towards buying fake followers on Soundcloud. Without question however, the most respected in my opinion, are those who play their music live, without the aid of computer programs or even DJ controllers. Going up in front of a crowd of people and improvising an hour or more of music using only analog synthesizers, drum sequencers and effects units takes immense skill and courage.

One such act is Austrian Apparel, an act whom I had the pleasure of watching live for the first time this past weekend in Cape Town. The duo of Tominik Draun and Sebastian Wasner from Vienna Austria, performed without a doubt at the best nightclub I have ever been to on the African continent: ERA is located in Loop Street, Cape Town.

Sebastian and Tominik met on a movie set, and both being sound engineers they soon became friends and began producing and performing music live.

Their set up is purely analog. Making use of multiple synthesizers, effects and looping machines. After spending some intimate time with them in the studio and asking them how they cope in the modern world, which is saturated with music and DJs. They simply stated that the way that they play their music live, sets them apart from the ordinary DJ. And I must agree. What I would add to that (and possibly what they were too humble to say themselves) was that the quality needs to be there, and it was, supremely.

And all you have to do to confirm their skill is to ask anyone who was there when they played. The whole club was vibrating at such a high frequency that I am pretty sure I saw someone levitating due to the beats that were being thrown down. I asked one of the crew what they do with all the dead bodies of the people who died due to bass overdose and he told me the staff drags them outside where a hearse will collect them in the morning. I have long been an adamant promoter of German techno music, and I thought I had heard it all. But I was very mistaken indeed. Remember the name Austrian Apparel, you will be hearing of them in the future I am sure.

To hear some of their music check their soundcloud: soundcloud.com/austrianapparel