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Dublab and Program 12 Gallery present DIY series
2 October 2001

This June, the Los Angeles based DIY collective/Web radio station known as Dublab released the first CD-LP volume of its Dublab Presents series on Emperor Norton records. Titled Freeways, the extremely eclectic set brings together work by 13 self produced LA area artists—who, for the most part, assemble their music in singles or in pairs using home studios.
    This month, Dublab in connection with the Program 12 Gallery in LA’s Chinatown presents a series of 3 multimedia DIY events featuring many Dublab artists, including several that appear on Freeways. The middle event will be Dublab’s two year anniversary party/fundraiser. See below for details.
    But first, here’s more about the CD.
    Artists on Freeways include, among others, Buenos Aires natives Marcos and Alejandro performing as Languis; solo artist Daedelus, who is also a Dublab DJ; renowned techno producer and Vienna, Austria native John Tejada aka Mr. Hazeltine; experimental artist, producer, and Plug Research Records chief Allen Avanessian aka Mannekin Lung; and Exist Dance Records founder Tom Chasteen aka Skull Valley.
    Many of the pieces on Freeways pursue a minimalist, experimental, assembled-in-layers approach. And despite massive changes in available technology over the past 20 years, despite influence by all that’s gone on in the world and in music over those decades, and, in all fairness, despite plenty of true evolution here, several of the pieces evoke a distinct sense of déja vu for those familiar with such late ’70s and early ’80s artists as Fad Gadget, Basement 5, The Flying Lizards, Tuxedo Moon, and Young Marble Giants. A déja vu not at all unwelcome, but definitely unexpected and curious.
    The overall feel on this record is mellow, dreamy, other-worldly, and solipsistic. As with most (good) minimalist work, musical interest increases with repeated listening. If this is your first exposure to tracks such as these, don’t be surprised to find yourself rushing to conclude it’s ephemeral fluff. But you’d be so wrong. Give it half a chance and these songs will certainly take root and blossom in your heart. Three bites out of five.

Rockbites ratings  5: life changing, 4: stunning, 3: captivating, 2: amusing, 1: annoying.

Here are the details for the Dublab/Program 12 series this month

6 October - Program 12 Gallery, 8 pm until 2 am (Los Angeles)
Free drinks for those over 21.
Artists include Wolfgang (Sofa Surfers from Vienna, Austria), Tom Chasteen (aka Skull Valley), Brock, Cooperative Espionage, Dex, Rudy, Megasoul, Flynn & Morpho, and Troy & Chad.

13 October - Program 12 Gallery, 6 pm until 2 am (Los Angeles)
Dublab 2 year anniversary and fundraiser
Free drinks for those over 21.
Artists include Nobody, Derelict, Jun, Logic, Simon James, Dr. Rock, Megasoul, frosty, Languis, James, Jimmy aka Dntel, Rudy, Al Jackson & Stanley Swinger aka Soul Children, Carlos Nino, Daedelus, Allen Avanessian aka Mannequin Lung; plus special guests, 'visual hynotism' by Vidayoh.com, and debut of East meets West art installation: Raid Projects vs. the Group NYC; plus indie discs on sale for $1 each from Emperor Norton, Exist Dance, Jive Electro, Ninja Tune, Plug Research, and other labels.

20 October - Program 12 Gallery, 8 pm until 2 am (Los Angeles)
Free drinks for those over 21.
Artists include the complete Umoja Soundsystem with Daz, Tomas, Jun, Stevie G, and Cokni O'Dire; the Dublab Soundsystem with frosty, Daedelus, Dr. Rock, J Love, plus special guest Vanka from Stellar Trax Soundsystem in San Francisco. Visuals mixed live by Vanka.

All events at Program 12 Gallery & Showroom, Chinatown, Los Angeles
Jade Pavillion
686 N. Spring St. at Ord St.
(+1) 213-687-8685

The Dublab page on the Emperor Norton Website has links to artist Websites for Languis with Fer Chloca, Mia Doi Todd, Mannequin Lung, Yesterday’s New Quintet, Damon Aaron, Nowhereman, Skull Valley, and Adam Rudolph. | Dublab | | Dublab on Emperor Norton | | top of page |

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