Max HeyraudThis week’s Mix Of The Week is a power hour of screaming, thundering live techno from Mav, recorded at Dublin’s Tengu for the Sonic Exploration club night.
Mav is as staunch an advocate for live, real, and honest techno as you’ll find in the storied techno hub that is Dublin City. Beginning her journey in the 2000s, her path has been rooted in the belief that things should be done properly. Shortcuts aren’t part of her vocabulary; craft is. That dedication defines her approach, a long-standing commitment to the process, the machines, and the art of live performance. Analogue synthesisers, particularly modular systems, have become central to that expression.
In an era where imitation and “fake it till you make it” approaches can often be rewarded, Mav has stayed firmly in her own lane. And that lane is one of haywire, rumbling techno, a sound built from patience, experimentation, and a deep respect for the craft. This latest live recording captures that ethos perfectly.
There is almost no let-up throughout the hour. A pounding, close-fisted low end remains locked and loaded from start to finish, while screaming synth lines, ominous drones, and metallic rhythmic percussion tear through the space. At times, it feels beautifully chaotic and almost uncontrollable, and that is exactly where the magic lies. The set carries the sensation that, at any moment, it could completely self-destruct, yet it never does. That tension is the mark of an artist who can harness frenzy and shape it into a focused, relentless techno force.
This is a live set built for a packed Gashoulder: full-throttle from the opening seconds, overflowing with energy, and delivering exactly what Mav does best: beautiful, uncompromising carnage.