MAX GRAEF at Wrongbar, Saturday, April 4. Rating: NNNN
Berlin DJ/producer Max Graef is barely into his twenties, and he’s already developing a dedicated following for his take on laid-back soulful house. For his Toronto debut at Wrongbar, he approached his set more like DJs of a much older generation, shifting smoothly between vintage underground disco and his own productions. It takes some confidence to drop jazzy tracks without heavy kick drums at peak time on a Saturday night, but he pulled it off.
Graef generally shies away from the glossy futuristic techno his hometown is more known for, but his set wasn’t a completely retro affair either. If anything, his dips into dance music history seemed more about showcasing his own music in a broader context. He doesn’t show off much on the mixing board, preferring to make track selection come before knob-twiddling. Even though he kept the tempo relatively low, the energy on the dance floor was consistently high for the entire night. The club might not have been packed to capacity, but you can be sure anyone who caught him will be coming back next time he hits town.
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