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You are here -> Live / Past Clubs Tuesday, 02 December, 2008
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Torture Garden Valentine's Ball
Torture Garden Valentine's Ball
15/05/2007
TORTURE GARDEN VALETINE’S BALL FEBRUARY 10 @ MASS, BRIXTON Torture Garden is a journalist’s fantasy island. It’s on nights like these that you wish that words were as elastic as the ubiquitous G-strings being sported across polysexual buttcheeks; that you could plunder a black hole in the universe of language where secret codes lurk to unlock the weirdest human experiences. You also wish that you weren’t so damned conservative underneath it all. That the sudden clutch of some bloke in a leather catsuit on your thigh as he leans into another bloke to administer oral pleasure at six in the morning after a heavy night on the greasy, feather scattered tiles doesn’t make you fantasise about a nice cup of tea. ‘There’s a bloke over there with tits,’ and ‘Fancy a spliff?’ have to be the two greatest understatements my fella Chris will utter all year. Pure hilarity, acceleration, intensity, unfettered imagination, scrutiny, hypersensitivity and the masterstroke: some truly decent beats. These were the invisible signposts I set up for myself about the club TG took over for the night - you try to attach what you are witnessing, what you can hear and what you’re being invited to join to something recognisable, wholesome? Wherever to start... The beauty of a fetish club like TG is that pleasure abounds in the most unexpected ways and places. Sure, gimp masks might not make for the kindest faces to have about the place, but did you ever expect to find a large transvestite fairy who gives stellar hugs skanking to The Specials? Or to get along famously with Alexis, a PVC clad stock broker, who chats to me as her wigged, nurse-uniformed boyfriend massages another bird they’ve just met. Some unseen thread entwines your path about the labyrinthine venue with certain other individuals’; a winding staircase that links assorted levels of sin seems to magnetise one guy wearing rubber Speedos, diving shoes and goggles. His movements are jerky and eager, but all of that energy is entirely focused on each inevitable step. Other regular passerbys are a girl with a bloody something like a cross between a cock and the head of a foetus protruding from her exposed chest, a guy dressed in surgeon’s scrubs about to roll into surgery, the hairiest man you have ever seen – these are no curly wurlies but hedgehog style static hair spikes all over his naked back arms and chest. His girlfriend’s eyes are bouncing about as if on chemically charged springs and her lunges in, uninvited, to kiss me are so miscalculated that she nearly falls over...To the dancefloor! As varied as the clientele is, the music is an inspired mash up of jungle, breaks, swing, ‘slut rock,’ ‘atmospheric;’ never did I expect to hear the exquisite melancholia of Anthony and The Johnsons’ ‘Hope There’s Someone,’ with the added percussion of people spanking each other. Speaking of spanking, in my early elated honeymoon state when a certain lady whispered to me as she slipped past, ‘I’ll be back to dominate you in a minute,’ I found myself stopped in the Dungeon Room laid face down on a leather operating table, waiting to be slapped about the arse. Five minutes later my buttocks are aflame and I’m wondering if there’s something deep inside of me that is irrevocably changed; whether it was an enraged or an enraptured glint I noticed in Chris’ eyes as I squeezed his hand. I’m at least losing my London Underground mentality that will only allow me to glance at another person; but then everything and everyone are so preternatural you have to look at least twice to trust your very vision. Six hours in and the tightrope I’m walking between laughter and tears is tilting a little too frequently to the sadder side. Enough is enough. My eyes have been wrenched right open but my claustrophobia has finally sealed up my mind; I’m rammed into a fleshy sex fest and if I feel even the unintentional brush of one more alien body I might just need to be spray cleaned by the local kebab chef as soon as we hit home. Never before have I enjoyed the bus journey East so much; never has buying a pack of Rich Tea biscuits on the walk back felt this liberating. TG means a hell of a lot to numerous people; first it’s a friendly place full of unique characters in creative outfits. Sure there are no real boundaries between these consenting adults, but for me the magic of the night is to discover where my personal boundaries lie. This time there’s an internal ticking bomb that explodes after precisely six hours. My brain is fried, my fishnets are ripped and I need to get to bed before the Hollyoaks omnibus starts. Alright, let me get one final thing off my chest: where were all of the beautiful people?! So not only am I Jo Ordinary but woefully shallow as well. But the good thing is that I did need to go to TG to learn that; you think that by getting onto the guest list you’re automatically super advanced, way more daring than any of your mates and built to deflect shocks of the violent kind. And what’s on next weekend for this taste-making Princess Of The Edge? Supersize popcorn (salt mixed with sweet, thank you very much) and a central seat in the cinema, next to my man. Whether sticking your toe – or any other body part you feel like flexing – into fetish culture allows you to discover new fixations or serves to weld you closer to your enduring object of love, emotions will assault you thick and fast; more than anything you are alive to the fact that you are a thinking, feeling human, which makes you just like everyone else, nipples clamped or not. Ask me if I’ll ever go again once the flashbacks have stopped...Here’s Chris’ take on the wildness... “Take off your shirt and it will stay off!” was the first thing I heard; there you were naked (apart from kilt and workmens’ boots) with hundreds of fellow, also naked Londoners (apart from leather straps and PVC). The regular staff were totally untroubled by the fact that Steve from last weekend was now Stacey. Well nearly. Some choose to be chained to huge wooden apparatus to be abused, some rock up, get a little high and chat to randoms like your typical Friday night. Why some men choose to don a skimpy pair of PVC pants and crawl around in the dirt is still beyond me, but when was the last time you went to a club and EVERYONE was loving it? ‘People don’t dance no more...’ TEXT: LUCY WILSON AND CHRIS SHAW
tags: | torture garden | more...
Bugged Out! @ Sankeys, Manchester
Bugged Out! @ Sankeys, Manchester
09/05/2007
FRIDAY 18 APRIL : Something of a Brit rave institution, Bugged Out has teetered from venue to venue over the years, setting up residence in some of the most infamous party destinations this country has to offer. Whilst arguably the most renowned of these junctures was their tenure in Nation in the late nineties, Sankeys was where the legend first brewed and their recent return on a monthly basis has a certain air of charm about it, even if the venue's new modified image is slightly at odds with the viva la acid house manifesto so intently pursued by the Buggers. One other area of change is the music policy, where genre-bending musical versatility defined them previously there's now a more partisan dedication to the sweltering electro-tech of messrs Alkan, Tiga and Kitten, reflected in the unilateral line-up tonight. A necessary evolution in light of the way the club's moved forward, but being a veteran of the three-pronged carnage they used to whip up at Nation, a slightly sad one. That said, tonight's line-up is boastful of just exactly where the club is now heading, with old fave Justin Robertson accompanied by man on the tip of everyone's tongue, Claude von Stroke. Stroke's chunky funky blend of scattershot techno and warped house is keeping the crowd grooving intently, the standard template of house hissing and fizzing with the hallmarks of a man with a very unique identity. Whilst not the most impressive DJ technically, Stroke’s measured grapple of the groove means that his wide ranging leftfield palette of samples breathes new found life into the four-four chug, and it's not hard to see why the producer with his tongue so firmly in his cheek seduced clubland last year. By the time the mournful chords of his ever growing melancholy monster 'Who's afraid of Detroit' close his set it's another growling notch on the CV of a man continuing his stratospheric rise. Justin Robertson follows on, notching the intensity up and blasting through some fine electro, but he's usurped not only by Stroke, but by the pretender to the throne who follows afterwards, Brendan Long. Brendan Long has made the mythical progression from flyer boy to resident DJ in little over three years, and on tonight's evidence it not hard to understand why. Blasting an octane charged blend of Teutonic techno and earth shattering electro, Long leaves no prisoners in a sweltering barricade of filth which rounds off the evening and confirms why the Buggers hold him in such high regard. The crowd are a sea of smiling, sweaty and downright chuffed dancers, spilling out onto the Manchester streets a little roughed up from their evening’s fun, which is exactly what they should be. Viva la Bugged Out! Words: Jimmy Coultas
tags: | bugged out! | more...
Simian Mobile Disco @ Chibuku, Liverpool
Simian Mobile Disco @ Chibuku, Liverpool
12/04/2007
SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2007: 'O, the times they are a changing,' Dylan once sang, and it couldn't have been proved better than at tonight's Chibuku Shake Shake. Allegedly once a place where Charles Dickens would read to a learned crowd, the theatre of the now Liverpool Barfly is one of the best places in the North to get your rave on. Now, decades later, it’s a little more than literary lines that the student strong crowd are interested in. The renowned loyal crowd that Chibuku captures appeared to have flocked southwards on this occasion with their hard-earned towards London’s Herbal - where yet another party was going on in association with Leeds’ Back2Basics. This made way for a new breed of clubber to infiltrate the Liverpool constitution. Nu Rave Klaxon-ites were out in full glory, armed with glow sticks and big scarves, weaned on a diet of Ibiza Rocks style tunes. The traditional crowd that has been with the club since its birth might sniff at this, but it can only be a good sign for the venue. New kids are now taking note of its eclectic teachings. Coming at us more frequently than 'London Lite' distributors, Chibuku's parties continue to thrust stellar line-ups upon us. Just as we were recovering from their traditional January residential mash up, tonight’s offering of breaks, electro and drum n bass proved too much to resist. Anyone in attendance that had wondered what Leo Sayer was up to following his sharp exit from the Big Brother house, need not have looked beyond tonight’s headliners Simian Mobile Disco. Not really. One of them just looks like him. Anyway, after the consistently good Justin Robertson, a good dose of electro house was welcomed with open - albeit slightly sweaty - arms. Revellers wound up either by the result of the Liverpool vs. Everton match that day or Simian Mobile Disco's manic set was happily sedated by their dreamy, concluding rendition of 'Pure Imagination' from that classic Willy Wonka film. Apparently, scientists say that nostalgic tunes have a calming effect on rowdy youths. We're not quite sure if that really works when Aphex Twin's 'Windowlicker' comes after it, but you know, the kids were actually alright. Words: Lauren Tones Photography: Nik Torrens
tags: | more...
Moondance NYE 06
Moondance NYE 06
27/03/2007
You might have seen various corners of the press banging on about ‘the return of rave’ to the UK’s clubbing landscape, to which the rest of us cried, ‘when did it ever go away?’ Legal raves though, those large scale underground music events which are the antithesis of glammed-up, mainstream club culture, have certainly decreased over the last few years. Thank God then for Moondance, who are helping to hold the rave torch aloft after 12 years of running successful events in the scene. I’m not alone in making the distinction between rave and club though – don’t think this is just some arbitrary exercise in journalistc pigeonholing. There’s that heightened sense of occasion and anticipation at a rave...the impressive scale and production measures...and if it’s staying true to the original rave ethos, it’s got that eclectic music policy which says, ‘at the end of the day, there’s only two types of dance music – good and bad.’ And this is something Moondance do very, very well. Old skool rave classics, liquid drum n bass, full-on drum n bass, classic and upfront house and electro, the full spectrum of hardcore, and even some of this hardcore breaks business (essentially the old skool sound updated for the 21st Century) are all represented. Moondance has always been about uniting different styles under one roof, right from their birth in 1994 – a time when the dance music scene was in the midst of the whole jungle/hardcore split-up. The vibe of those days is still very much alive at their events today. Rave veterans who were there the first time round are lapping up a taste of memorabilia as well as checking out the upfront beats, and young wide eyed types fresh to the dance music scene getting an education on the very same dancefloor. This mixing of generations mirrors the combination of old and new in the music, and helps to create that all inclusive atmosphere that makes these events such a joy to go to. The barren shell of the SeOne in London Bridge makes the perfect setting for this classically styled knees-up, and kitted out with cutting edge sound and lighting technology, it’s truly the best of both worlds. With so much to choose from, hard decisions had to be made, but sweetened by the knowledge that whatever room you were in, the DJ was sure to be smashing it. Chase & Status and Noisia impress with dark sets in the d n b room, and the old skool room threatens to explode as resident Squirrel takes control for midnight, accompanied by a seriously stunning light show. The LMP room sucks in all and sundry with its sexy house and electro. For myself and the other 2999 nutters in attendance, this party really proved that New Year’s Eve needn’t be an anticlimax as it so often is. Who needs nu-rave when old rave feels this good?
tags: | moondance | nye | more...
Trentemoller (live) @ Ministry of Sound, London
Trentemoller (live) @ Ministry of Sound, London
25/11/2006
With the nights drawing in, the weather turning nasty and the Christmas bombardment already kicking off, Notion was on the look out for a suitably arresting line-up to welcome in the cold dark months of winter. Following their packed out party with Danny Tenaglia in September, Clubclass returned to Ministry for the final chapter in its quarterly beat-fest with a stellar cast of house, electro, breakbeat and techno DJs providing the perfect soundtrack to ward off the winter chill. The main draw for the night was the exclusive appearance of electro-dub maestro Anders Trentemoller performing live. With Trentemoller’s sensational debut ‘The Last Resort’ being a revelation for this particular reviewer, as well as a regular fixture on the Notion office stereo, we approached the night with anticipation of good things, if a little apprehension over how Trentemoller’s dub-heavy sound may go down with the typically up-for-it crowd. With four rooms to choose from and over 18 DJs playing out to the heaving club, we were spoilt for choice. The bar was being held down in typical fashion by Breakpoint, with two of breakbeat’s heavyweights, The Drumattic Twins and General Midi, serving up a rapid delivery of dubbed-out, Fingerlickin’ styled beats and breaks.Progressing to the packed out main room, resident Paul Woolford was working up the crowd for Mr Trentemoller with a selection of minimal electro-tinged cuts that kept everyone moving. Trentemoller took to the stage at around 1am, and immediately showed the crowd just why he’s been feted as one of the defining talents of new electronic music. By keeping a fine balance between the layered minimalist sound that has recently become popular in many of the cities clubs, whilst providing epic sounding dramatics in the form of climatic breakdowns, Trentemoller satisfied lovers of both styles. Though maybe lacking the harder beats of some of his contemporaries, Trentemoller layered his set with some of the deepest bass, firmly rooted in the dub tradition, which created space in the set without drifting off into lesser atmospherics. The crowd seemed to love Trentemoller’s mix of darkness and light, and with the accompaniment of DJ T.O.M. the place was rocking, with both artists receiving a hearty round of applause after the end of their lengthy set. Following such an absorbing act would be a hard task for any seasoned DJ, but John Acquaviva pulled out a brilliant set, continuing the techno-infected sounds that Trentemoller had touched upon and keeping the crowd going until close. Text: Louis Cook
tags: | trentemoller | more...
The Warehouse Project @ Sankeys, Manchester
The Warehouse Project @ Sankeys, Manchester
17/11/2006
After closing for a much-needed refurbishment and name change (Sankeys Soap becoming Sankeys - how imaginative) the home of Tribal Sessions and The Redlight has finally reopened its doors to take on the might and money of the Warehouse Project. Since the re-opening, the line-ups have rarely been anything to trouble the Warehouse, with big name DJs such as Matthew Dear and Francois K exceptions rather than the norm. So for a night only headlined by 'The Swede' Funk D'Void and ex-resident Greg Vickers, you'd have thought Sankeys would be welcoming the punters with open arms. Apparently not however, as with a cursory glance the bouncer deemed my polo shirt "too casual" - a slightly odd assessment as my jeans and scruffy trainers brought no objection. A quick begrudging change of t shirt later and we were in though, coming face to face a plethora of clubbers wearing, yep you guessed it, polo shirts nigh-on identical to my offending item. Not to mention the glow-sticked posse who had clearly read about some new-rave nonsense in the Guardian or Times and fancied a piece of the action. Not the best first impression then for the new "improved" Sankeys - I'd never been turned away from the club in the past five years previously - but the attitude of the bouncers was quickly forgotten as a result of the layout changes that have made a genuine improvement to the club. Now with a bigger DJ booth and dancefloor, and an atmosphere that seems darker and dirtier than ever, the main room is no longer a place for the scarf-adorned posers to stand, strut and stare. Complimented by a new lighting system that tries (though fails) to equal the stunning set up of the Brazilian club D-Edge, the main room atmosphere was rocking throughout Greg Vickers and especially Funk D'Void's sets. With solid four to the floor techno that gets you dancing and keeps you there, Lars Sandberg rarely disappoints and tonight was no exception - with the dancefloor busy from midnight to close. With refurbed toilets and a cloakroom that no longer takes two hours to access, Sankeys looks like it’s trying to sort its act out. Now if they can book the DJs and sort out their bouncers - it might even start to flourish in the new year, providing the Warehouse Project hasn't bankrupted every clubber in the North West… Text: Tom Wilkins
tags: | more...
Creamfields @ Runcorn, Near Liverpool
Creamfields @ Runcorn, Near Liverpool
26/08/2006
Disgruntled murmurings express disappointment at the withdrawal of Gnarls Barkley, due to illness. Those patronising the Strongbow Ciderhouse are soon buoyed up by a high-spirited and wide ranging Coldcut show. Johnathan Moore and Matt Black are enjoying their return to prominence, regularly interacting with the crowd during their hip hop, rap, funk, soul and electro fusing set. The big, fat beat led 'Everything's Under Control', featuring some Beastie Boys swagger and vocal tirades ends proceedings boldly, emphasising the outfit's belief in their newer material. No-one complained that they didn't return to their acid house roots or throw in an old classic to close. A sparse, but into it gathering at the Galaxy Stage, indulges in some swift swaying to soul pop mixes and downbeat electro grooves, orchestrated by X-press 2. This would have made an ideal chill-out/comedown/go back set at 4 am, for whoever needs it. Mylo's DJ set releases a steady flow of ambient, folktronica and electro flexing, chucking the odd popular mix in. This represents a viable alternative to Goldfrapp's often forced and insipid show. A down point of Mylo's well orchestrated show is that fuel is given to the rumour that they turn the sound down in the tents. The high points do not possess the same thrust this spin master and crew are known for. A sporadic set is being produced by The Prodigy, who fail to maintain a tempo. They have been known to craft a deeper groove than the one made by Homer Simpson on his favourite couch. 'Firestarter' captures the blaring nature and macho strut of old and shakes the Main Stage area up, but the vibe slowly slides until 'Smack Your Bitch up' picks it up again. Several make the decision that they’d rather catch the beginning of Tiesto and turn their backs on The Prodigy. Justice is doling out streets beats and sliding in a whippy vibe to keep the dancefloor at the Ciderhouse in rhythm. The stage area for Belgium's 2Many DJs looks as casual as enrolment day at the local college. An ambient build up helps you find your way into the set that sparks off some crushing techno and catchy pop swirls. Paul Van Dyk’s 1.30 am slot is perfect for lifting the lagging revellers up with sweeping beats that don't drop a tempo all set. This frenetic parade is what was expected of The Prodigy. A largely relaxed atmosphere continues till the death and makes for a successful debut for the new home of the event, but one question lingers; why wasn't Tiesto moved up to the Main Stage to replace Gnarls Barkley? Text: Dave Adair
tags: | creamfields | more...
Touché @ Chibuku Shake Shake, Liverpool
Touché @ Chibuku Shake Shake, Liverpool
08/07/2006
After their much talked about birthday parties had to be moved to Cream's former home, Nation, due to the excessive demand for tickets, it's rare to see a Chibuku night being held anywhere smaller than their current home at the Liverpool Barfly. So, tonight's episode at the club’s usual after-party venue of The Magnet is somewhat of an extra special affair. The glittery disco balls were polished, candles lit and air conditioning promised for the room that is known to get a little sweaty when the disco heat kicks in. And let's face it, in the midst of a national heat wave, an essential move. Dispelling the myth that Liverpool’s clubbing scene dies when the students disappear for the summer, a lively Chibuku crowd was on top form. Friendly, chatty and up for a good night, DJ Touché was given a warm reception as he launched his set with Justice vs. Simian’s 'We Are Your Friends'. Maintaining the house vibe that resident Tane set before him, Touché bridged the gap between dance and indie by dropping remixes of The Futureheads' 'Skip To The End', The Raconteurs' 'Steady As She Goes' and Bloc Party’s 'Banquet' to an audience that were more than happy to bust moves to a little familiarity. Despite the intimate setting and retro chic décor of The Magnet retaining a cool edge, the air conditioning failed to reach clubbers at the front, forcing some to seek solace in the slightly fresher bar area. However, they were soon lured back onto the dancefloor with Touche’s last tune 'Ooh La La' - his 1998 hit as part of The Wiseguys. Leaving a pumped up crowd chanting for more, an equally excited Touché and flunky exited the DJ booth to slaps on the back and a few more followers. With Touche's summer schedule taking him from Ibiza clubs (Amnesia and Eden) to the big UK dance festivals (Global Gathering, Creamfields), his style is a versatile one and reminiscent of his last appearance at Chibuku back in March 2005. Although the tunes have moved forward, his house centred style has remained the same, making it quite hard to believe that this DJ's roots lie in the hip-hop scene. Touché is as eclectic as the club night itself, which made him the perfect Chibuku guest. Text: Lauren Tones
tags: | touche | more...
Fabriclive: Chemical Brothers @ Fabric, London
Fabriclive: Chemical Brothers @ Fabric, London
07/07/2006
For the uninitiated, Fabric is an intimidating, vast, almost industrial warehouse of a club. With 24,000 square feet of space, yet rarely enough for dancing that isn't inhibited by overcrowding, its three floors play host to the biggest names in drum n bass, electro, house, and techno on a weekly basis. It remains something of a puzzle then that the Chemical Brothers still refuse to play Room One at the Farringdon super club. What would surely be a perfect match has somehow failed to materialise, and one of the few electronic acts with enough sustained crossover appeal to do Fabric's largest room justice once again opted for the more intimate Room Two tonight. As an aesthetic choice, it may win the block-rocking duo some barely needed style points, but it’s hardly the most pragmatic of decisions. Room Two offers the purest incarnation of the Fabric spirit; intense, sweaty and dark, its disorientating lights and lasers making it impossible to see further than a few feet. Never is it more 'all about the music' than in the Chemical Brother’s room of choice. During a blistering and brilliantly mixed DJ set that included Chemical’s favourites Liaisons Dangereus and Shriekback's My Spine Is The Bassline, along with some interesting tracks that sounded promisingly like new Chemical Brothers material, the pair made an unqualified success of preaching to the converted. An apparently cliquey section of the sweaty, heaving throng that hung on every beat seemed blissfully unaware that dancing in any sort of personal space without being constantly pushed, man-handled or generally hassled and distracted was rarely an option. No one came here for a quiet night, but the chronic overcrowding in Room Two tonight tempered the euphoria that should naturally accompany a set as accomplished as this. Those willing to brave the pushing and shoving to move around the labyrinthine club may have found some relief during a live set from Jackson & His Computer Band in the main room. 26-year-old Parisian Jackson Fourgeaud’s wonderfully eclectic blend of crowd-pleasing hooks, string-laden delight and both minimalist and hard-edged beats was possible to enjoy without the stress that accompanied the near-crush of Room Two. Few clubbers seemed concerned with the lack of intimacy afforded by the room’s size, or the chin-stroking few looking down from the elevated VIP balcony. If only someone had told the Chemical Brothers. Text: James Hurley
tags: | fabric live | more...
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