What to Do Tonight: Daedelus

Daedelus is the perfect stage name for Alfred Darlington and his musical imagination. As an inventor of unusual electronic contraptions, his muse is similar to the original Daedalus, mythological Greek craftsman of human wings. “My aspiration is totally to be not unlike one of those gentleman inventors of old, but with music and not so much telegraphy or steam locomotion — but a steam laptop would be pretty ace,” says the DJ and producer. “My fight is to have emotions in electronics. That is my great wish and what keeps me making music.” Daedelus has been experimenting with sampled sounds, laptop ballads and sentimental cyber-mixes ever since he started DJing his “Entropy Sessions” on Los Angeles’ experimental electronic Internet radio station dublab.com. Since 2002, he’s released a record every year on labels like Ninja Tune, Warp, Mush and Friends of Friends (his latest is Friends of Friends Vol. 1), building lifelike instrumental androids that fix hip-hop, dance and IDM with joy, drive and passion. Onstage, he dresses like a Victorian dandy (colorful suits, top hats and long locks of black hair) while playing what’s called a Monome — a bizarre box of flashing lights plugged into a laptop, which allows him to push samples like a mad pianist. Daedelus has even started his own label, Magical Properties, which has released awesomely interesting acts like tourmates Jogger. Add Nosaj Thing (an oddball West Coast hip-hop instrumentalist) to the live mix and you have the best electronic bill to hit Cleveland this year. “Get us onstage, and each and every one of us is a monster promised,” says Daedelus. “Why do you think I dress the Victorian dandy if I couldn’t have a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde every so often?” The Magical Properties Tour featuring Daedelus, Nosaj Thing and Jogger hits the Grog Shop (2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Hts., 216.321.5588, grogshop.gs) at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17. Tickets: $10 advance, $12 day of show. — Keith Gribbins