Their psychedelic voyage through the intricate world of krautrock grooves and industrial electronica is bringing experimental Canadians Suuns to our parts for the third time. This time, we’re looking forward to a live presentation of their latest release, last year’s album Hold/Still, characterised by even more ambitious flirting with the dance floor. They’ll be supported by local shoegazers Haiku Garden, whose good tunes made it even to Seattle’s KEXP Radio.
On their third album Hold/Still, Suuns, protégés of Secretly Canadian, remain masters of stacking and looping basic sounds into dizzying neo-psychedelic expeditions. Compared to its predecessors Zeroes QC (2010) and Images Du Futur (2012), however, Hold/Still ventures a step farther from the pop airiness that characterised the group in its beginnings. Sharp guitar cuts, a tense electronic pulse and carefully measured vocals swirl into a heady blend, echoing Liars or late The Notwist and sinking its hooks deeper and deeper into the listener.
Regardless of where it takes its sonic experience, the Canadian four-piece under the guidance of Grammy-winning producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, The War on Drugs, Sleater-Kinney) remains grounded in what it can confidently play live. What it can deliver raw, mighty and convincing, as proven with its first gig in our parts, at Barakafest 2011 in Ljubljana, then reaffirmed two years later at Kamfest. In the meantime, the quartet had the honour of curating the Sonic City 2012 festival, inviting Swans, Tim Hecker and Demdike Stare, then was in charge of part of the programme of popular Dutch festival Le Guess Who?. Now it’s time for Šiška to experience the group’s unique sonic hypnosis as well.
Ljubljana four-piece Haiku Garden breathed fresh air into the Slovenian scene a good two years ago with their walls of floating guitar riffage, catchy melodies and beautiful atmospheres. They first drew attention opening for Mile Me Deaf, then continued developing their stage skills at the Radio Študent Club Marathon, Trnjefest, INmusicMENT, Velvet Festival and so on.
After an inspired performance at this year’s MENT Ljubljana, they headed off on a successful tour of Eastern Europe, then did a great job warming up for LVL UP after returning home. Meanwhile, proving that the band’s good tunes travel far, Kevin Cole of cult Seattle radio KEXP declared ‘Rosetta’ Song of the Day.
Organisation: Kino Šiška.
