Following his debut last September for the KEY Vinyl night, Kaiser returns to headline Altær. His cultivated, visceral techno carves out immaculate shapes and draws on lineages of mesmerizing, hypnotic elegance. But Kaiser pushes the form with his well-honed range. On his own K S R label, he explores pockets of melancholic pathos, driving menace and twisting, bleep techno alongside some of the best names working today. Tresor resident Stephanie Sykes returns for her second Altaer. Sykes’ reverberant, depth charge techno shimmers with hallucinatory depth. Her recorded output and DJ sets feel like pulsating environments, which breathe with intoxicating menace. Altær organizer Auspex’s ferocious, elemental power sets the standard for the night. Shaun J. Wright returns to STUDIO to bring the true spirit of Chicago. Raised in the birthplace of house, Wright’s history as a singer and dancer brought them into contact with Hercules and Love Affair for “Blue Songs.” Wright’s vocal contributions are some of the album’s most outstanding moments, evoking some of the great house divas like Robert Owens and Andy Caine. Wright’s DJing extends that lineage with unerring grace and searing aplomb. Mutualism has become a repeat presence in STUDIO. The Buddy Buddy co-founder is a major force in the queer underground in her hometown of Buffalo, NY. A Mutualism set is a riotous blend of spunky, funky house, with a classic flair and a leftfield twist. Jek returns to the room. The Earth Dog co-founder’s flair for the hypnotic, tripping and even psy-inflected hits a sweet spot between the sinister and euphoric.