»Live At Freeflow, Helsinki 16/07/03« by Lackluster

Courtesy of probably the most renowned artist on Monotonik, Finland’s pukka idm maestro Lackluster, late of DeFocus Records, Merck, Rikos, and a host of other labels, we have a rare treat - a full, hour-long live set recorded at Helsinki’s M-Bar in July 2003.

There, using a laptop running the great Ableton Live software, Esa ‘Lackluster’ Ruoho mashed up classic Monotonik tracks, remixes, and on-the-spot jams into a cohesive whole - highlights include a gorgeous unreleased track, the super-catchy Ceniq remix which formerly featured on seminal netlabel Milk, the splicing of some surprising breaks into the classic downtempo of ‘Bothersome (Mother Mix)’, and the final jazzy ambience of a cunning Proem remix, bizarre voice modulations and all. Much kudos to Lackluster for not only recording the moment, but allowing us to put it out for free - return the favor and pick up some of his vinyl or CDs when you have the chance?

Tracklisting for the set is as follows:

00:00 01. starcell u.k. (container foc350cd/lp deFocus) 07:07 02. in passing (wrapping foc369cd/lp deFocus) 15:05 03. (unreleased) 21:55 04. 14/07/02 (unreleased) 27:58 05. ceniq: gaylab (lacklustermx) (ceniq: gaylab ep/milk (mp3)) 34:42 06. ableton mashup 36:22 07. bothersome (mothermix) (container foc350cd/lp deFocus) 42:49 08. ableton mashup 47:47 09. cull streak (container foc350cd/lp deFocus) 51:46 10. proem: standard naming convention (80bpm rmx) (remixselection one cat#TBA/cd psychonavigation)

gear used: sony vaio grx-690 running ableton live 2
rme hammerfall dsp