Body Language Review: A Haven For House And Techno

In the heart of Downtown Tempe, Arizona, Relentless Beats and RBDeep magnetized techno and house enthusiasts of all kinds to speak messages with only their body at the first-ever Body Language Festival. Not your usual headbanging, bass-heavy show, Body Language's goal was to attract audiences for 36 hours of perpetual dancing. Enticing ravers with the temptation to communicate with only their bodies, Relentless Beats' inaugural Body Language begs to be relived in hopes to see this underground festival become an annual event. 

Dynamic Movement at The Mirage Stage  

The Mirage Stage began the celebration as the largest outdoor stage placed on Mill Ave & 5th with artists Kaskade (Redux), Malaa, Wax Motif, Kyle Watson, VNSSA, and Alaskan Franks. Attendees eased into the uncharted waters of house by rushing to see Kyle Watson in action. Following Watson, Wax Motif livened the blood in hearts, lungs, and ears with his G-house style as he played hits like “All Black Everything'' (with Scrufizzer) and “Keep Raving (Qlank Remix)” from his newest album, House of Wax. Malaa increased ravers' intensity, and everyone at the Mirage Stage transformed into Malaa’s puppets in unison to his change of tracks before Kaskade's Redux set. For many, Kaskade was a DJ on their list that they probably have seen repeatedly, albeit seeing Kaskade was like an eighth wonder of the world. He shared earlier tracks from his discography, added some disco, and even performed the fan-favorite hit "On Your Mind" for his encore.  

Day 2 presented Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Eats Everything, Township Rebellion, and Teenage Mutants. Carl Cox unleashed a magnitude of acid house and techno waves, a complete contrast from the previous day circulating around house. Techno tourists dressed in bucket hats, friend groups matched in monochromatic black outfits with futurists sunglasses, making it apparent that Carl Cox summoned them for techno time as their movements synced with the steady tempo and sharp change in tracks.

Day 3 encored with Boris Brejcha, Claptone, Lee Foss, Kasablanca, SOHMI, and Avitas. Kasablanca performed as an afternoon delight with cotton candy clouds preluding to a Lee Foss dancing marathon against the smoke machine. Patiently waiting for high-tech minimal fixes to be satisfied, Boris Brejcha ended Body Language with an overdosing influx of flirtatious movement. As promised in his exclusive iEDM interview ahead of Body Language, audience members danced without rest or interruption for the entirety of his set.

Bold Movement at The Labyrinth Stage

Day 1 featured Michael Hooker, Rebuke, Hannah Wants, Ida Engberg, and Patrick Topping, while Day 2 highlighted Anatta, Westend, Drezo (B2B BIJOU), Shiba San, and Drombresky B2B NOIZU. Drezo returned to his home state prepared to flaunt tracks like "Sinister," "Guap," and "Afterlife," exposing new listeners his iconic dark and sinister sound. BIJOU was spotted onstage, removing his letterman jacket and keeping his signature square black shades on while joining Drezo with a surprise B2B set. Manipulating the crowd with their unexpected yet supernatural combined sound, many stayed for the entire set. After Shiba San, it was time for shufflers to hoard the back of the stage during Drombresky B2B NOIZU. Von Gold, LUCATI, Gene Farris, Gordo, and Walker & Royce amplified the audience's lust to dance on Day 3. Like most festivals, the final day can provide soothing music for the lack of stamina, but Gene Farris revived the crowd's aching bodies with hits like “Nursery” and “R U.”

Determined Movement at The Abyss Stage

Day 1 consisted of sets by Soulece, Jeff O’Neal, Orenda, JUR, Bellamor. Day 2 followed with performances by Nicohlas Williams, Kody Black, Hitta B2B Swave, Disco Zombie, and Ico Soundz. Hitta and Swave's B2B set implored everyone to dance in the most secluded area of the venue. Boundless just as an abyss, security at the front of the stage danced as well as this was the set that demanded to be indulged. Disco Zombie maintained and the momentum of vivacious body movement in the darkest part of the festival grounds. Day 3 finalized Zule, Elwer, Clawz, Lance Fairchild, and Justin Irby B2B Mustache Sweat. Clawz, the woman behind neo-acid techno, exposed her own genre to hardcore techno-enthusiasts with gory visuals and red lighting to create what felt like alluring 90’s cinematic horror. Lance Fairchild and his disco experimentation broke the pattern of the usual tempo that techno often contains.

Out Of Body After Parties

Body Language kept the party rolling late into the night with their official Out Of Body After Party series. Hosted at local nightclubs Sunbar and Shady Park, Body Language lined up Malaa, Rebūke, Adam Beyer and Walker & Royce to headline. After the transcendence of Boris Brechja’s high-tech minimal heaven on Sunday night, Walker & Royce performed a notorious three-hour groove-heavy set to end the weekend.

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