The rains might have arrived in force for the third and final day of Movement 2010, but the occasional storms and persistent drizzle failed to wash away the party vibe the still strong masses were creating in Detroit’s Hart Plaza. Echoes of the final beats from techno originator Juan Atkins’ set with his iconic band Model 500 were still reverberating off the concrete as the tired, soggy crowd began to file out with another three days of intense bass and driving rhythms now in the rear view mirror.
Early afternoon thunderstorms temporarily silenced several stages, but everything was back up and running a few hours later, and after a bit of delay German electronic innovator Moritz Von Oswald and his Moritz Von Oswald Trio (who were actually a quartet) took to the Red Bull stage for a seasoned set of smartly crafted tracks. The snapping beats and washing atmospheres were cleanly put together and ideal for the time and place.
Next up DJ Koze stepped to the decks, getting right into the party mood with deeply set tech house maximalisms that began to draw a crowd to the stage up until the skies once again began to pour. Some of the crowd pressed in under the tent, and those who could not fit headed to other stages, such as the underground set up where Punisher was finishing up a set of winding techno grooves that had a packed arena screaming for more.
Back at the Red Bull stage Kompakt boss Michael Mayer was now on stage taking the set up from DJ Koze and driving even deeper and somewhat harder without losing site of the need to have a sliver of soul in every mix and every beat. But with the rain now steady for some time, this thoroughly wet reporter retreated to the hotel in search of dry clothes and a chance to watch a period of my hometown Blackhawks playing for the Stanley Cup.
Upon returning to the plaza, the Red Bull stage was found to be a madhouse with Simian Mobile Disco conducting the chaos on the tables. The stage proved to be one of the most crowded places at the fest for the rest of the night with packed masses treated to the sounds of live sets from Pretty Lights and then Booka Shade to close out the weekend. The former played first with chopped up beats, while the later finished things off with solidly rhythmic musical endeavors.
Meanwhile more straightforward techno offerings were in store for the crowds choosing to finish up their weekend over at the Beatport stage. First Radio Slave set forth with rattling drums, buzzing beats and plenty of space to breath between each bang. Then Chris Liebing stepped up to provide a merciless send off with his mixing spot on as the thick pounding beats raged until the soundsystem went silent.
With no cover from the rain, the main stage crowd was the soggiest of the lot, but that dedicated crew was treated to a full on Detroit finish to the weekend. Techno funnyman Kenny Larkin delivered live with soulful bursts up top of hard stomping beats and grinding basslines that scraped the floor of the concrete amphitheater to lift the dancers’ tired feet.
But it was up to Juan Atkins, the man regarded as techno’s true originator, to deliver the final beats. Performing with his band Model 500 who released their first records 25 years back, Atkins and crew stood behind their synth stations, dressed in Star Trek uniforms and slammed out the classic breaks and beats that brought soul to the machines all those years back. The heavy basslines behind the electro breaks came through with just as much power today as they did in the 1980s and a smiling Atkins couldn’t stop telling the Detroit crowd how much he appreciated the love.
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