NIGHTDRIVE @ Toldi Klub

[ 0325 ] Friday — NIGHTDRIVE

HARVEY SUTHERLAND

"Like Arthur Russell wearing John Oates's moustache while making love to Cat Stevens circa Izitso" - Three Thousand, 2013

A one-time session player and behind-the-scenes man, analog synthesist Harvey Sutherland emerged from Melbourne’s bubbling underground with a cassette tape in hand. 2013’s Nexus EP on This Thing Records - a trip through lo-fi boogie and Roland house music - was a cult hit amongst dancefloor aficionados, priming listeners for a lauded EP on Echovolt Records and the best-selling ‘Brothers’ on Voyage Recordings.

Harvey’s one-offs and remixes have appeared on Plastic World and Voltaire Records and some may recognise his early production as Mike Kay with the digger’s favourite ‘Low Altitude’ via People’s Potential Unlimited. His music has been played and appreciated worldwide, with support from tastemakers Bradley Zero, Tom Noble and Motor City Drum Ensemble.

He was named one of FACT Magazine’s “Australian Electronic Artists to Watch in 2015” and made his European debut in May 2015 with an 11-date club tour.The latest 12” ‘Bermuda’ finds a welcome home on the legendary MCDE Recordings; two modern disco cuts that reflect the tastes of the label’s eponymous selector, but are undeniably Harvey.

Sutherland’s improvisational live show - equal parts 808 rattle and double disco clap - is an evolving, synthetic boogie exploration. Manning the controls of the mighty Juno 60 synthesizer, Harvey sweats it out with the crowd, looping new phrases and modulations, pitch-bent solos and the occasional Janet Jackson cover into a heavy four-to-the-floor throwdown.

His latest live formulation is a futurist disco trio he calls "Bermuda", featuring Melbourne musicians Graeme Pogson (drums) and Tamil Rogeon (electric strings).

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