[Album cover from Nguzunguzu's Warm Pulse EP] Rock n Roll, Shanghai. I’m writing to you from the mean streets of Hong Kong as Sunday night I made the pilgrimage down south to see legendary Japanese psych band Acid Mothers Temple. The band got denied visas to play Shanghai and Beijing due to their cult-like tendencies, which forced me to share a last minute plane ride with a tour group of 70+ Shanghainese ladies looking to drop some HKD’s on new Iphone6’s and pearl cream. Well if Acid Mothers Temple is a cult then pass the Kool-Aid because I’m a believer. The best thing besides watching these grey haired Japanese rockers smash guitars while throwing lazer bolts into the crowd was the independent nature of the show. Put on by local record store White Noise, the show was devoid of any branding or marketing campaigns, which seems increasingly rare at Shanghai music events. Now I’m no hippie. I wear Vans shoes and drink just as much Budweiser or Heineken as the next guy, so if they want to throw cash to put on local and international artists then take the money and run. But one has to wonder the long-term impact on our music scene when such a large percentage of music events are organized with a focus group leering in the background. Does having alcohol and power drink brands behind the wheel discourage local kids from organizing independent gigs? This week we heads back to the semi-underground with Footprint bringing in German tech-house/electro producer Martin Eyerer to Arkham on Friday. Then Saturday at Shelter, Chinese music website Wooozy brings in LA R&B x Grime artist Nguzunguzu. Let’s all drink the Red Bull & Jägermeister Kool-Aid and get ready for some weekend fun down in the club.

Martin Eyerer

hails from the Black Forest of Germany, where he calls Stuttgart his home and making solid techno music is his trade. This is no amateur hour shiz – Martin has two labels under his belt. First off is the tech-house and minimal label Kling Klong, which features artists like Koletzki, Namito, and Babicz whom have been making waves the past few years. Then there is his more underground label Session Deluxe that focuses on a housey cerebral form of electronic music. On top of that Eyerer has been a DJ for over 20 years and runs one of the most respected production studios in the game, mastering hip hop, pop, and electro songs on a daily basis. Having releasing his first electronic track in 1992 on VooDoo records, Eyerer makes a point that it’s a long journey paved with hard work if you want to make it as a working producer. Using a mixture of gear like an old Moog synth, classic 303 (also bought back in 1992), and Lexicon reverb combined with new digital production techniques, Eyerer combines new and old resources to produce the best tracks. Having graced Chinese decks a few times in the past five years the return of Martin Eyerer will surely go down well with all those tech-house heads in Shanghai. Look for him in the big room at Arkham on Friday playing with not one, not two, but six local DJs playing back to back sets. Yvonne Chen, one of Footprint's foot soldiers, arranged all these B2B sets to highlight the people who bring you music every weekend – not just those big names coming through for 24 hours. The B2B sets include Max Shen (S.T.D/Molly House) B2B SSOSO (S.T.D/Space Waves), Carlos Gibbs (Rainbow Disco Club) B2B Stanley (Space Waves), and Eden (URVC) B2B DONN (Bassis/YoBanfa). Here's some tracks from Martin. Martin Eyerer & Oliver Klein - Kathmandu Martin Eyerer – Kling Klong DJ Mix

Nguzunguzu

Saturday night sees one of the best bookings this year – LA's Nguzunguzu, brought to your doorstep by the Chinese music website Wooozy. The Los Angeles based production and DJ team, made up of Asma Maroof and Daniel Pineda, blend UK Bass, reggaeton, R&B, pop, grime, house, Chicago juke and more, and the tracks have high re-listen value. They build a bridge between American R&B and UK Grime, taking influences from British MC Wiley whom they cite as an important figure in their musical career. You can also see Nguzunguzu's production talents in the remix arena, taking on everyone from Nicki Minaj to the more obscure Rainbow Arabia. One of the production duo's more notable projects is working on fellow Fade to Mind label mate Kelela’s album CUT 4 ME last year. Critics have remarked that the production work on that mixtape overshadowed Kelela's vocal work but I find the whole album to be solid. Here's an Nguzunguzu-produced track from that: Having released a number of EPs and mixes, LA’s alternative dance darlings are still putting the final touches on their debut LP which hopefully will be out soon on Fade To Mind, the sister label of the UK label Night Slugs. Here's one of their mixtapes that blends the overground and the underground: But don’t expect this Saturday’s show to be a pop friendly event. Nguzunguzu are infamous for taking the dance floor into a dark place which should fit right in at Shanghai’s dampest basement spot. I haven’t heard much about this show on the old blogosphere, which is sad because probably one of the best bookings this year, so make sure to tell your friends about this. Although good luck trying to pronounce "Nguzunguzu." Rainbow Arabia – Without You (Nguzunguzu remix) Nguzunguzu - Harp Bell Luckily I’ll be back in town to catch both these gigs. But for now I’m following up a lead on some Cantonese psych pop records in Kowloon for a follow-up to Far Out East. ***