Jeff Mills

Jeff Mills. Cinemix for Fritz Lang's Woman in the Moon. Coronet Theatre, London. 28th April 2016

About 10 or so years ago I saw Mills introduce a screening, with his soundtrack, of Fritz Lang's best-known movie Metropolis. It was great, but the selling point of this was Mills actually performing live.
It was quite wonderful. It's an incredible film: technically complex, lyrical, but making some interesting early stabs about the scientific reality of space travel amongst the fantastic elements.
Despite styling myself as something of a Lang buff, it made me realise how poorly I understand his work. It's easy to buy into a narrative where he hones his style in arty German cinema then hits his stride in Hollywood reinventing the crime movie. When you look at the both the scale and the aesthetic precision of this movie you can see how much film noir actually downscaled his vision. Who else was making 3 hour sci-fi movies in the 1920s?
Mills' music was perfect for it. All those slightly discordant strings and fuzzy pads. Even if I did have to cope with this idiot behind us, whooping and shouting "C'mon Jeff" every time he heard a bass drum. Recommended, although if some loud Manc bloke who thinks he's Russell Brand comes and sits behind you, move.

The audience is extremely excited for Jeff Mills to take to the stage. This DJ has gained quite a CV over the years that he has been in the music scene, with over twenty-five albums to his stage name “The Wizard”. It’s quite a spectacle to see this man perform live, and this congregation this evening is completely aware. What he can do with three decks and a drum machine is pretty spectacular.
Walking out to the helm of his setup, he receives a huge amount of applause, bringing the house down as he launches into a slew of the best work from his latest album “The Chronicles of Possible Words”, a highly anticipated album of 2013. The atmosphere is seriously wild with not one person not dancing. “Solar System Context” has some very catchy moments, with large hooks that reel the listeners in, and then release them with the largest drop imaginable. The drops of this set have recurring theme with their minimalistic charm. It sounds as though there is a bass drum playing four to the floor with what sounds like a cowbell playing an “off beat cuban rhythm”, whatever it is, it’s working!

Amazing production, great venue and the combination of the BBC Philharmonic orchestra and one of Techno’s pioneers was something to behold. A cinematic musical experience.

I only hope that the Barbican centre puts on more performances like this that bridge two very different music genres and draws in a crowd that is quite diverse.