Michael Mayer Will Kompakt you

By Johnny Loftus in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 24, 2009 6:15PM

Michael Mayer makes dance music, but it's not necessarily of the pedal-down, pit-sweat variety. Co-founder of the celebrated Cologne, Germany-based imprint Kompakt, Mayer's work as both a producer and DJ, like much of his label's output, favors pristine swoops and melodic washes bundled with the considered, stylish beats of micro-house and other incarnations of what's known generally as minimal dance music.

Make no mistake: Mayer will move you. He's no stranger to pop overtones, either, as he proved with Save the World, his cheeky 2007 collabo with fellow Kompakter Superpitcher. But whether he's spinning the minimal hits that made his label's rep or a raft of wild and velvety stuff from various dancefloor tastemakers (expect a mix of both at this event), it's always a breeze to tap a foot to his jams.

So buckle your well-tailored ankle boots, order a cocktail in a graduated cylinder, and listen for ghost whispers from old Pet Shop Boys records as Mayer makes Wrigleyville sound like a cathedral city. Is that the Rhine or the Red Line?

Michael Mayer, DJ Shift, Andrew Kevins, and Easy Lee perform tonight, April 24 at Smart Bar, 3730 N Clark, 10 p.m., $10 before Midnight / $15 after, 21+ (Text message special: $5 before 11 p.m.)

BY: Johnny Loftus