The ever-innovative imprint MethLab look set to level up again in 2019 with the launch of their largest, most ambitious tour and album project in their short, but active history: The SENTINEL tour tour.
Running from January to May, with select festival dates in the Summer, the tour comprises a selection of well known MethLab artists and a collection of kindred spirit guests. The full tour line-up is as follows…
Allied, Audeka, Barbarix, Balatron, Broken Note, Cause4Concern, Culprate, Current Value, CZA, Datacode, Dayle, Disphonia, Disprove, Exept, Grey Code, Hypoxia, Inward, Hanzo & Randie, Merikan, Missing, Optiv, Silent Witness, Subp Yao, Skynet and War will all be performing and the eye popping experience concept goes a little something like this…
METHLAB // SENTINEL Teaser from MethLab on Vimeo.
As you might expect from a collective whose key characteristics include experimentation and invention, this is no standard tour. The start of a yearly series, each tour concept, starting with SENTINEL tour will focus on the work of a carefully selected visual artist whose art will help define the visual aesthetic of the season. Their art in combination with bespoke visuals of the kind that MethLab are increasingly renowned for will be used by MethLab’s own VJs who will be present on every tour alongside integral label affiliate and pioneering AV artist Datacode. He will be present to deliver an opening AV show at most events.
For MethLab’s inaugural tour with SENTINEL the work of rising Belgian visual artist and architect Joris Puteneers will help define the events visual aesthetic and immersivity. A 23 year-old architecture student with an interest in the algorithmic and data driven approach to architectural systems, his art has been exhibited in New York NoMA and London’s Sketchbook Festival and has powered stark futuristic visuals for the tour like this…
Tour dates will be revealed in the coming months and will eventually lead to dates further afield including US, Australia and New Zealand with varying line ups depending on Visas. The tour will also include a full V/A LP release, also called SENTINEL, featuring exclusive tracks from each of the touring artists. This is expected in March 2019 and will come in physical formats, vinyl and CD, too.
“This is the next level of our label events,” the MethLab founders explain. “With heightened control over all aesthetic and technical elements of the show, from the visuals, to lighting and sound, bringing the kind of sleek and cutting-edge experience that people are coming to expect from MethLab to life.”
Beyond the tour, MethLab has also come to life this year as a community. The label has developed a loyal fanbase under their Inner Core program where monthly and annual subscribers are given VIP status with releases two months ahead of the general sale, special merch gifts and a private forum where releases and plans are teased and discussed way in advance. Some very significant LP projects are also set for release in the next months from Broken Note, Balatron, Allied and Datacode, all hinting towards breaking new sonic grounds for the label across drum & bass, dubstep, techno, IDM, halftime, future garage and breakcore as well as continuing experimental audio visual releases.
MethLab have also developed another new project called Creative Core where producers who follow and support the label are set to be provided with a monthly sample pack designed by many of the MethLab roster. With a reputation for high spec creative samples dating back to their Datsnaretho pack three years ago, if you’re a producer looking for creative inspiration MethLab’s Creative Core comes highly recommended. Keep an eye on the MethLab socials for more info in the coming months.
Full details on SENTINEL tour dates, available line-ups and album release will also be revealed in the coming months. Follow them: Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud / Website
