When: 8pm on Sunday 25 May 2014
Where: Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester M1 1DF

We’re delighted to be bringing Venetian Snares, the godfather of IDM, back to Manchester.

Aaron Funk (aka Venetian Snares) hails from Winnipeg in Canada. Since his debut 12? in 1999 on a small Minneapolis label he has risen out of the drill’n’bass/breakcore mire to become one of the most astonishing (and popular) musicians working in the experimental electronic sphere (alongside Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and Boards Of Canada).

Each new album from Aaron brings with it a new sound, a new atmosphere, a whole new world – he never repeats what’s gone before. Chocolate Wheelchair, his 10th commercially available album, is his most hook-laden opus yet – five out of the ten tracks include a vocal performance (of some description). It could be described as a mutant post-punk ragga-jungle pop music for an alternative reality. Aaron just calls his music surrealism.

For those who enjoyed Higgins Ultra Low Track Glue Funk Hits 1972-2006, this is the stylistic follow-up. Full-on punk-rave jungle breakz with lots and lots of pop sampling attitude in 7/8 (and 5/4). As well as the classic single Einstein-Rosen Bridge, with its funk guitar, sci-fi vocals and salsa trumpets, the album is also choc-full (ho) of other poptastic delights. Such as the shouty post-punk vocal hooks of Abomination Street whose melody is based on the TV theme of a well known and long-running Manchester soap opera; or Too Young – a glitch-hop reworking of the Motley Crue hit. Hand Throw – in which a gruff (Belgian) MC shouts out to ‘Antwerp massive’… or Epidermis in which another more tremulous post-punk chanteuse pairs up with spooky drexciyan chords, titanium breaks and a buzzing reese bass. The album concludes with Aaron’s most daring de-construction of the amen break yet: Herbie Goes Ballistic, with a guest performance from the little VW beetle who cared.

‘Venetian Snares is to Music what Satan is to Christianity: a profoundly malevolent force who looks great, intimidates a lot of boring people and is, despite everything, insanely popular… It’s like experiencing The Empire Strikes Back on 3D IMAX on LSD’ – NME

‘Funk’s second LP this year, this is his fullest and finest work to date… these endlessly inventive acts of musical vandalism balance pleasure, pain and stoopid-fresh wit. Genius’ – NME

‘Both inspirational and infuriating… relentlessly inventive (in his) approach to structure’ – The Wire

Support comes from Scrubber Fox, an electronic musician and audiovisual artist hailing from Wigan. His creative output ranges from sophisticated smash beats, glitch and dance floor killer tracks to experiments in electronica. Previous music work has been released on Skam, Tigerbeat 6 and Merck records and full length LP on Parisian label Musik Experience. More recently, Scrubber Fox has been an in-demand re-mixer, producing top quality re-workings of original tracks.

Buy tickets now. Tickets are also available from Common (no booking fee), Piccadilly Records, Vinyl Exchange, Seetickets.com, WeGotTickets.com, Ticketline.co.uk and on 0871 220 0260.

Attend on: Facebook | Last.fm