As a critic, it's easy to bemoan a festival that invites a similar lineup of acts year on year, as does Yokohama's annual leftfield electronica romp Wire. But critics don't usually buy tickets to festivals (free passes are one of the perks of the job), so frankly, who cares what we think? If the punters weren't happy, it wouldn't sell; and since Wire, now in its 11th year, is usually packed, one must assume its cohesive bill and party atmosphere are enough to ensure the return of revellers and artists alike.
Take for example Ellen Allien, who this year makes her fifth appearance at the festival. The Berlin artist is typical of Wire regulars in that she makes hard-to-classify minimal techno with a European flavour. Her own BPitch Control Records enjoys its 10th anniversary this year, so expect Allien to be in the mood to celebrate.
Detroit's Jeff Mills is another Wire regular. The self-confessed exhibitionist DJ plays with three decks and various extra devices — sometimes a drum machine, sometimes a CD player, sometimes a whole orchestra — to put on some of techno's most inspired shows. His set at Wire is his first in Japan since 2005 and will include exclusive new "space-themed" tracks and visuals apparently created especially for the occasion.
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