The Mole^CA

With eclectic and psychedelic beats pureed in a satisfyingly smooth tech-house processor, it’s easy to get lost in the magic of ‘El Molito.’ From British Columbia all the way to Neukölln, Berlin, Colin de la Plante’s catalog of fired-up, oddball disco cuts have been ambushing unsuspecting audiences for the past two decades. Rather than completely shift groove gears with every new release, this prolific musician has made timelessly funky, left-of-centre electronic loops his winning trademark.

Victoria native Colin de la Plante, aka The Mole, is one of the most accomplished yet low-key Canucks who’ve relocated to Berlin. After a solid decade in Montréal that saw him perform legendary live sets (his 2004 MUTEK set being a career highlight, singled out by The Village Voice) and hold down a seven-year residency at the mythical, recently shuttered Main staple Laïka, this laid-back purveyor of kaleidoscopic tech-house collages patched into the German capital in 2007. De la Plante, a longtime member of the now-defunct Wagon Repair stable, also contributes to the free-ranging Modern Deep Left Quartet alongside fellow countrymen Mathew Jonson, Danuel Tate and Tyger Dhula. Over the years, De La Plante has released countless soulful edits and infectiously perky patchworks on labels such as Kompakt and Ostgut Ton. Since releasing his debut album As High as the Sky (2008), The Mole has collaborated with Mathew Jonson and Hreno as Units and Measurements, as well as launching his own label venture Maybe Tomorrow (yes, a Littlest Hobo reference). De La Planet (2017), his latest LP, reaffirms his knack for wry, artfully arranged loops and cheerfully punchy techno.

Thrilled by the reactions of audiences he sets in motion, he excels in the groove-art of perfectly calibrated percussive surprises, sampled adventures and disco drama. The Mole has a long and storied history with the festival, so we’re eager to welcome back this hometown hero to showcase his brand new live set.

With eclectic and psychedelic beats pureed in a satisfyingly smooth tech-house processor, it’s easy to get lost in the magic of ‘El Molito.’ From British Columbia all the way to Neukölln, Berlin, Colin de la Plante’s catalog of fired-up, oddball disco cuts have been ambushing unsuspecting audiences for the past two decades. Rather than completely shift groove gears with every new release, this prolific musician has made timelessly funky, left-of-centre electronic loops his winning trademark.

This set is a tribute to the film Re-animator. Like Herbert West, De la Plante tries to bring the dead back to life. With mixed results.