Berlin’s techno bender is back with Mayday, an LP with a title that matches the carefully constructed chaos that lies within. Alex Rihda, better known by his stage name, Boys Noize, is notorious for his genre bending tracks that meld dark techno and electro basslines for beats that are as mesmerizing as they are dance floor-ready. Such is the case with Mayday, a hard-hitting, 13-track party that shows off his signature style while showcasing an impressive list of cameos including names like Minneapolis-based synth-pop band Polica, rapper and songwriter Spank Rock, Fool’s Gold’s Remy Banks, TNGHT collaborator Hudson Mohawke and many others. This list of guest artists is a testament to Ridha’s unique approach to techno. His punk and indie links make him one of the genre’s most compelling acts, and his newest release reinforces his reputation for nonconformity.
“MAYDAY is my warning signal against blind categorization and conformist synchronization,” says Ridha. “A call for individuality and diversity – and a tribute to outsiders.”
The result is a cohesive hodgepodge of tracks, each one just as energetic as the last. The LP kicks-off strong with “Overthrow,” a track whose vocal samples chime the anthem “I can break it down like this,” setting the tone perfectly for the next 45-minutes of heart-pumping grooves. The driving industrial sounds of the album’s title track reminds us of what Boys Noize does best before Mayday begins to really surprise the listener. Benga’s guest vocals add a melodic touch to the otherwise dark sci-fi beats of “Dynamite.” The bouncing electro-bass on “Rock the Bells” makes this a standout track, despite the fact that it’s the shortest selection on the album, clocking in at less than three minutes long. Polica’s Channy Leanaugh lends her haunting vocals on “Starchild,” making her one of the most memorable guest stars on the album, but, truthfully, it’s hard to find a single that doesn’t stand strong on its own. “Birthday,” which features Spank Rock’s vocals and the upbeat swells we’ve come to know from Hudson Mohawke, allow the LP to end on a brighter note than it began. Overall, Mayday listens like a tight little package.
My one complaint: I just wish it were longer. An album this brash and bawdy deserves at least an hour to develop.
German DJ and Producer Boys Noize will debut Mayday live at Barcelona’s Sonar Festival on June 18th. He’ll also be performing live at a number of other venues and festivals this summer. For a full list of dates, see below:
05.25 – Paris, FR @ Le Gaite Lyrique
05.30 – Detroit, MI @ Movement Festival
06.03 – Offenbach, DE @ Robert Johnson
06.04 – Luxembourg, LUX @ Lenox Club
06.17 – Eindhoven, NL @ We Are Electric
06.18 – Barcelona, ES @ SONAR (LIVE)
06.24 – Paris, FR @ Solidays (LIVE)
06.25 – Scheessel, DE @ Hurricane (LIVE)
06.26 – Neuhausen Ob Eck, DE @ Southside (LIVE)
07.01 – Arras, FR @ Main Square Festival (LIVE)
07.02 – Marmande, FR @ Garorock (LIVE)
07.09 – Lisbon, PT @ Alive Festival
07.10 – Aix Les Bains, FR @ Festival Musilac (LIVE)
07.14 – Bern, CH @ Gurten Festival (LIVE)
07.15 – Graefenhainichen, DE @ Melt! Festival (LIVE)
07.16 – Ostrava, CZE @ Colors of Ostrava (LIVE)
07.17 – Dour, BE @ Dour Festival (LIVE)
07.19 – Nyon, CH @ Paleo Festival (LIVE
07.23 – Regensburg, DE @ Zuckerbrot & Peitsche
07.29 – Montreal, CAN @ Osheaga (LIVE)
07.30 – New York, NY @ Studio E (LIVE) w/ Health, Polica, Venus X
07.31 – Fontana, CA @ HARD
08.05 – Salmo, CAN @ Shambhala Music Festival
08.08 – Madrid, ES @ Mondo
08.12 – Budapest, HUN @ Sziget
08.17 – Vienna, AUT @ Frequency
08.20 – Inverness, UK @ Groove Loch Ness
08.25 – Zurich, CH @ Zurich Open Air (LIVE)
08.26 – Dublin, IRL @ Opium Room
08.27 – London, UK @ SW4 (LIVE)
08.28 – Haarlemmermeer, NL @ Mysteryland