Music

PREMIERE: Infinite Poolside slows down R.E.M. into a dreamy drone

by Jesse Locke

Toronto-via-Winnipeg’s Kristel Jax is a tireless writer, activist, and experimental musician. She tunes into broadcasts from beyond as her solo alias Brigitte Bardon’t, occasionally contributes to AUX, and recently launched a coalition dedicated to ensuring safer spaces in the local music scene. Their first event, NASA (Noise Against Sexual Assault), takes place Sunday, July 10th at Double Double Land.

Alongside all of this activity, Jax winds down with the aquatic drone therapy of another project called Infinite Poolside. This mix series and monthly radio show on TRP (Toronto Radio Project) finds her re-imagining music to sound like the bleary stereo system of a swimming pool. Previous subjects include Dolly Parton, David Bowie, and Disney princesses.

Now, R.E.M.’s “Nightswimming” – the band’s swoon-inducing ode to late night pool hops from 1992’s Automatic For The People – gets a DJ Screw-inspired slowdown to 1/8th speed. Take a dip into the 30-minute dream drone below:

Jax will perform a three-hour Infinite Poolside set on the lakeside terrace of Toronto’s Power Plant Gallery as part of the takeover from underground dance collective It’s Not U It’s Me. The event runs from 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday, July 9th.