Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2010

Some DJs acquire a mythical status as much for their elusiveness as their music. The first visit in eight years by DJ Harvey will provide Tokyo turntable-spotters with a chance to see if the man lives up to his billing.

Hailing from Cambridge, Harvey Bassett acquired his cult-like following by being one of the first British DJs to bring house music to the UK. His name calls to mind formative late-’80s parties in Cambridge and Brighton, where he would blend disco, hip-hop, house and rock in epic sonic journeys.

After holding down the after-hours residency at London’s Ministry of Sound in the ’90s, Harvey eventually washed up on the US west coast. In recent years, the craggy-looking DJ has been holding occasional Harvey Sarcastic Disco warehouse parties and running the associated Sarcastic Clothing, as well as producing and remixing for the likes of Ian Brown. Judging by his live band Map of Africa and his latest mix for online dance music store Beatport, Harvey remains well on top of the latest styles in electro, minimal and disco punk.

With his old-school ability not only to select tracks but to host a party, the charismatic Harvey should make Rainbow Disco Club—held on a two-level ferry terminal overlooking Rainbow Bridge—a day to remember. And if you’re not able to make it, there’s another chance to catch Harvey at Eleven next weekend.

Rainbow Disco Club features several other heavyweight guests in the form of New York DJ Darshan Jesrani, who, as part of the Metro Area collective, has been influential in the nu disco movement; DJ Nick The Record, who’s been bringing soulful grooves from the UK to Japan for more than a decade; and techno stalwart Matt Edwards, a.k.a. Radio Slave. A slew of other imported and domestic DJs and a Funktion One sound system are only added bonuses. Bring your own deck chair…

For those looking to squeeze the last drops out of their Golden Week, Module in Shibuya will be banging into the wee hours of Wednesday with a mysterious German DJ making his first Japan visit.

Little is known about the actual identity of Redshape beyond the fact that he’s based in Berlin. Concealing himself behind a red mask, the DJ has found tracks from his recent album The Dance Paradox on playlists of the likes of Laurent Garnier. With a sound steeped in the minimalist atmospheres of Detroit techno, this should come as no surprise.

Redshift will be welcoming the sunrise with a live set at Module alongside domestic DJ Keihin, who is known for mixing house, techno and industrial in releases for the Almadella label.

Harumi Boat Terminal
Rainbow Disco Club. DJs Harvey, Metro Area, etc. May 2, 10am-9pm, ¥6,000. Harumi. www.rainbowdiscoclub.com

Eleven
DJ Harvey 2010 Tour of Japan. House, disco: DJs Harvey, Garth, etc. May 8, from 10pm, ¥4,000 w/1d. Nishi-Azabu. Tel: 03-5775-6206. www.go-to-eleven.com

Module
Redshape Japan Tour. Techno, house: DJs Redshape, Keihin, Gonno, etc. May 4, from 10pm, ¥3,500 w/1d, ¥2,500 with flyer. Shibuya. Tel: 03-3464-8432. www.module-tokyo.com