Shoeless Thomas Melchior Plays Stellar Live Set in New York

Shoeless Thomas Melchior Plays Stellar Live Set in New York

22 June, 2008 | 3.17PM

• Written by: Amanda Connon-Unda
• Filed under: Music News: melchior productions, perlon, thomas melchior

Thomas Melchior, a musical pioneer, played a well-crafted set last night to a room full of New Yorkers at an event presented by BLK|MARKET MEMBERSHIP at Bar 13.

Playing Ableton Live on a laptop plus two drum machines (the Korg Electribe MX and Korg Electribe ER-1), Thomas was wearing flip flops and later took them off to play in bare feet.

He was the quintessential bohemian techno hippie.

His MySpace page cites the quote “Love is the message” and in fact this nicely ties into the way his music is – filled with warmth and depth and nuanced intricacies.

He’s a pioneering artist who once produced acid house, trip hop, and the first sounds of minimal tech-house at a time when few artists did.

As a producer and DJ, but also an astrologer, masseur and sculptor, Mr. Melchior is full of character.

With years of experience and phenomenal skills evident in his live performance, Thomas exudes a very humble demeanor.

Many people at the club would not have likely known some important historical trivia about this man.

Alongside Aphex Twin, Black Dog (Plaid), Autechre, Global Communication, Orbital, and others, Thomas’ seminal project Vulva/YONI toured the club circuit and was putting out records on San Fransisco’s Reflective and Germany’s Source Records.

Later, around the year 2000 with his label Aspect Music, his sound went on to garner support from Daniel Bell, Luke Solomon, Ricardo Villalobos, Akufen, and Richie Hawtin.

Melchior Productions has since gone on to be released on the Perlon and Playhouse labels in Germany.

Melchior’s sound at Bar 13 proved to be one part German minimal swagger, but the additional drum machines he played added depth and body to his sounds, with a more percussive layered sound that few other artists could have pulled off.

His set started with an only half-enthusiastic crowd, and by the mid-point, he had the whole crowd plugged into his set, watching and listening intently, and dancing to the enticing rhythms.

At the end of the night, a hard working and tired Thomas Melchior was seen promptly being ushered out of the club and back to his hotel.

After all, with a home in Berlin and another in Brazil, and a busy tour schedule (New York, and then London and Montreal in succession), this man needs to save his energy for what he’s always focused on:  the art of, and love for, his music.

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Photos taken by Peter Jay / NYEX.

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