Sam Prekop played Public Records

Sam Prekop played an intimate set at Public Records just before the release of his new album, Open Close.

This Friday, September 26, Sam Prekop will release his new album via Thrill Jockey and on Wednesday, the multi-instrumentalist came to Public Records in Gowanus and delivered a captivating set comprised of his whirling electronic compositions that mesmerized a devoted crowd. Taking to the stage and standing behind an oblong table holding his various electronics, Prekop slowly tuned in to his buzzing set-up and began manipulating various knobs and switches with the utmost attention to detail, crafting up gurgling beats and alien sounds that would've felt perfectly in place to score a '70s Sci-Fi feature before dialing directly into delicate and distinctly arranged tracks. Droning ambient tones set the scene with a chilling hum that radiated throughout the space as minor adjustments wove beats into place, softly finding a rhythm that would transport the night into more heady vibes. Slightly hunched over his equipment, his intense gaze cautiously moved across his boards as he made what appeared to be the most subtle adjustments, all of which seemed to translate into massive gains and changes in delivery as the momentum would suddenly pick up and, almost as if it was out of nowhere, new sonic structures would find themselves falling into stunning rhythms, each one getting the crowd slightly more engaged as the night progressed. The first time he dropped into a fully-formed track the room sprung to life and the crowd settled into the track with the utmost passion. Shaping the sonic frequencies and bending things into head-nodding grooves, it was an enthralling set to behold even with such a minimal approach. There was fixed lighting for the entirety of the set and Prekop never spoke to the crowd, but for just over an hour he hovered over his table and carved out musical wonder that needed nothing to add texture and shape to its already alluring elements. As he would seamlessly shift from one piece to the next, grooves picked up and brighter, poppier melodies began to shine through the percolating beats and the vibes started to spread throughout the audience as more and more people gave in to the mood, swaying from side to side and bobbing along to Prekop's enchanting tunes. The billowing energy from the stage bounced around the room and the rubbery bass notes mixed with skittering hi-hats invited more euphoric bursts of motion that enlivened the crowd and as the spinning tracks buzzed across the crowd, everything was swept up into a cyclone of bustling movements. To bring things home, or full-circle rather, Prekop dwindled things down one by one, taking the crowd down with soft, gentle care until everything slowly faded out in reverse of how the night began. A perfectly styled and dynamic set that delivered beat drops and suspended rhythms made for a tremendous set that found Prekop firmly in the pocket.