Maceo Plex at Motion, Bristol

US born Eric Estornel, better know as Maceo Plex, first established himself on the European techno scene in the early naughties under the moniker Maetrik. Maceo Plex was named reserved for his more ‘festival-friendly’ house-influenced productions. The Maceo Plex project first released music in 2009 with Estornel’s debut record ‘Life Index’ paving the way for another decade of incredible underground dance music. 

Although his recent more aggressive and intimidating form of techno is just as good as Maceo Plex’s earlier productions, we can’t help but wonder what happened to the Balearic influences and bucket loads of funky groove that made his debut  record such an amazing listen. 

Even though the DJ/producer has taken a new direction with his sound it has not changed his impressive DJing technique or high energy live performances. Bristol’s super club Motion hosted the forty-year-old DJ as part of their Perpetual series which has seen a number of big names play at the venue. A very full room was presented with an extra long extended set from the American with a broad range of self-productions as well as tracks from other DJs. 

As far as genre goes, Maceo Plex played through a well-orchestrated set that included some harder hitting Berlin-style techno, as well as more bass focused funky tech/house. Something that resembles his earlier productions under the current moniker. Listening to this style of electronic music live is mesmerising, specially from someone as talented as Maceo Plex. If you’re not careful it may leave you in a solitary daze. In a good way.