On & On present 1984: A Synth/Wave Dance Party feat. Traxx (Nation, Chicago)

1984 is a Philly-based vinyl-only dance party presented quarterly since 2015 by DJs On & On, featuring roots and offshoots of 80’s underground synth/wave genres. For our third 1984 of the year, we provide a rare opportunity for Philadelphia lovers of the raw, gritty and ecstatic edges of modern dance music to witness a presentation by one of the world's most sought-after selectors, Traxx. Join us for a memorable night.


On September 29th, a screening of "Panoramic Coloursound" by Chicago's Creative Technology Consortium (CTC) will be hosted by On & On as part of their quarterly installment of 1984: A Synth/Wave Dance Party, featuring Traxx from Nation Records, Chicago. The music for the film, itself conceived as cinematic in the first place, comes from the eponymous April 2023 album by CTC on Dark Entries Records (SF). CTC comprises Cooper, Jason Letkiewicz and Andrew Bisenius, who according to Bandcamp, "forged the CTC during the depths of pandemic isolation", and created "Panoramic Coloursound ... inspired by film and television music of the 80’s/90’s, armed with a mighty array of vintage analog and digital synthesizers...exploring heists, vices, and catastrophe." It's brilliant and absorbing music, a fresh but retro take on Berlin School-style experimental soundscapes, filtered through the perspective of artists steeped in a certain Chicago tradition of directness and rawness. The film is a unique audio-visual experience, soundtracked by all 25 songs from the Panoramic Coloursound album. The screening will be a two-hour-plus collage of film and tv clips old and new, an exploration of vintage synth-created dystopian FM and decaying digital soundscapes. A one-time feast for the senses and east coast debut, the event will take place from 5-8pm in Cambridge Hall at Warehouse on Watts, including the film from 5-7:30pm, followed by a post-film discussion until 8pm, ahead of the start of 1984 at 9pm. Food and beverages will be available on-site, and audience members are encouraged to bring portable seating and other comfort items for the 3-hour audio-visual experience. Admission is $15, or $5 for 1984 event ticketholders.