'Miss Kittin Live at Sónar', recorded at the 2005 Sónar festival, will be available in shops from the 30th of January.Since the release of her debut solo album I Com in 2004, Caroline Herve (aka Miss Kittin) has been on a mission. A global mission of shaking ass, spinning great music, getting on the microphone and turning dark boxes into sweat-filled dancefloors of euphoria. One such DJ moment was perfectly captured on a late sunny afternoon in Barcelona, June 2005. With people spilling out of the tent even before she was set to play and many more desperately trying to squeeze themselves in, Miss Kittin simply did what she does best and most of us spent the rest of Sónar talking about it. Now the experience of that amazing sun drenched evening with Miss Kittin at the helm on both decks and microphone including a special guest appearance from her long-time partner in rhyme, The Hacker can be shared the world over.
Aware of her status as a musical referent, the French artist accepted the challenge with the intention of offering a conceptual but refreshing set, one that is personal but also bi-directional. Adding her already classic voice to each piece, Miss Kittin is a clear paradigm of this most organic edition of Sónar.
In no way is
'Miss Kittin Live at Sónar' a cd-mix. And yet, there is something classical about this session, something reminiscent of masters of ceremonies, of a time when interaction with the public was part of the entertainment. The desire to communicate thus acquires a deliberately transcendent role, resulting in a voluntary flight from perfection. In her own words:
"Sometimes you want to be so good, give something so special, you go against Nature and you pay for it. You're not into the moment, but into the next record, the mistake that may happen, the next knob to turn. That's exactly what this mix is about. Surrender. Humility. In the age of computer cutting and digital perfection, it could be a manifesto to the Truth”
From the opening electronic atmospherics of Tim Hecker to the futuristic Kraftwerkesque stylings of Arpanet, the deliciously warm funked up bass of Aphex Twin’s Window Licker, the cool minimalism of Sleeparchive, Ricardo Villalobos’s twisted dark grooves and plenty of re-worked live versions of her own tracks and collaborations (including technical screw-ups and Miss Kittin engaging with the audience) we witness Caroline Herve providing impromptu new vocals to her classic catalogue before closing with the aural bliss of Boards of Canada re-wiring Boom Bip.
Miss Kittin at Sónar 2005 was one of those special moments that will forever burn in our memories. Of course you can never really capture the exact atmosphere, feel, sound, sight and smell that thousands witnessed and felt that long hot afternoon but this snapshot is a wonderful reminder of that beautiful day.
'Miss Kittin Live at Sónar', recorded at the 2005 Sónar festival, will be available in shops from the 30th of January.
More info:
http://www.sonar.es/portal/eng/home.cfm (source: SónarMusic) 
