- Mysteries Of The Deep began three years ago as a podcast dedicated to ambient and immersive sounds. The second edition of their event series, for which they brought in a custom, quadraphonic soundsystem, took place in an industrial space of a type familiar to New York partygoers. But instead of a cavernous, concrete expanse, this warehouse was tricked out with rows of chairs and benches that came in handy during the more contemplative half of the evening.
Surrounding the audience were four tremendous speaker stacks. Though the towers were so powerful they could dry your hair, the volume was never overwhelming. The crowd was friendly, made up mostly of the kind of music fans who take equal pleasure in chin-stroking and dancing. Anticipation of Aleksi Perälä's set brought many a Rephlex head out of the woodwork.
A massive screen behind the performers displayed otherworldly surfaces filmed by Abbi Echiverri using microscopic photography. Above the crowd, two mutating wireframe constructions of the event's logo, designed by Seva Granik and Eryk Sarniak, were projected through mesh, transforming them into three-dimensional talismans floating above the floor.
Leading the evening was a roster of artists all known for their methodical sonic explorations. Borne opened with a series of mighty tonal rumblings. Anduin's live show involved field recordings that sounded especially lush on the quadraphonic system. By the time Neel, the party's last-minute headliner, took to his modular, the crowd had fully embraced the meditative vibe. As a result, the transition from his restrained performance to Aleksi Perälä's IDM set felt jarring, but all was forgotten once he hit a groove, performing at the center of the room. Patrick Russell took the reins for the final chapter, leading us through hours of mind-warping dance floor experiments.
Moments of technical difficulty, like a projector amusingly rattling out of place by sheer force of the bass, were easily forgiven in light of the extraordinary effort the Mysteries Of The Deep team had put into the event. Throughout the evening, organizers scurried around in white lab coats. Those who stayed until daybreak will remember a few of them letting loose on the floor after a long night's work.