Friday the 13th is often regarded as unlucky but not for the heads of Southampton, in fact Release dispersed all myth and played host to living legend Calibre, alongside man of the moment Dub Phizix and the vocally flawless MC DRS.
By the time I arrived at the Cellar it was already at capacity. The intimate venue was brimming with excitement, it was hard to believe that Calibre was about to step onto the stage, although Release has never disappointed in providing the city with top line up's in the past, this was going to go down in history.
As calibre took to the decks the crowd erupted in cheer and applause, the same appreciation you would give someone of importance and wisdom. Having never seen Calibre before i had built up a lot of expectations and hype and so far i was not at all disappointed. perched comfortably on the ledge at the side of the packed venue i sat back and took it all in. I didn't even feel the need to dance, not because it wasn't danceable but it was nice to just sit there and listen. He played a few of his tracks from the Conditions LP. A personal favourite had to be "people never change" especially as DRS was there singing along to the moving vocals, giving it that little extra touch. Calibres set was soulful and powerful, track after track you were able to transcend into a new understanding of him and his music. At that point, emotions were replaced with energy as the unmistakable sound of "Steptoe" flowed in. The crowd once again roared and gently bobbed from side to side to the subtle yet rumbling bass. Calibres set was truly memorable from beginning to end and will be forgotten anytime soon. It's easy to see why he is so respected amongst the scene!
Next up was another debut Release set from rising star Dub Phizix. The juxtaposed styles blended well together and Dub Phizix smashed out many deep rollers. Including stomper "rags" and of course the ever lovable "marka" although the track has been circulating for many months now it still sounded as fresh as ever, especially coming from the man himself. He also dabbled in some more uptempo tracks which had everyone moving and ended with his remix of Skittles' cult hit "Dot2Dot". After a whirlwind year, 2012 is set to be massive for Dub Phizix who is undoubtedly one of the most exciting producers in the scene right now! It was an honour and a privilege to witness both him, Calibre and DRS under the same roof in an intimate venue. Release has always been about showcasing the darker spectrum of Drum and Bass and it will be great to see it grow from strength to strength over the next 12 months!
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Marka!
Dub Phizix and Skeptical feat Strategy - Marka/Rags (Exit Records)
After what has seemed like an eternity, the wait is finally
over! Exit Records have proudly released the roller of 2011 Marka!
It’s been a crazy year for the scene since Skeptical and Dub
Phizix began collaborating. They have caused a storm within the Drum and Bass
world with their forward thinking productions, aided by Exit label boss dBridge
who has never been shy about showcasing the future of Drum and Bass. It is
arguable that Marka has set the foundations for many more artists wishing to
delve into the ever darkening world of DnB. The roaring bassline and offbeat
drum sound have become a permanent fixture in the clubs over the past few
months with DJ’s such as Friction heavily supporting the track In his sets and
even giving it a reload on his Shogun Audio Podcast. Strategy’s menacing vocals
give this tune a unique edge to the new wave of MC lead tracks as of late. If that wasn’t enough the double A side to
this monster hit aptly named ‘Rags” with its rugged feel is set to be another
cult hit by the duo. It once again challenges all foundations of the genre and it seems there is no stopping the creative genius that these two
embody. To be honest if this is what the future of Drum and Bass sounds like,
bring it on!
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Wax returns...
Southampton’s number one student night has been through a lot in it’s short existence but it’s feet are firmly on the ground again this October in it’s new home, Junk!
Bigger venue, bigger sound system and bigger artists mean that Wax will continue to provide the city with the very best in bass music on a weekly basis, alongside the original Wax residents. So accept no imitations on a Wednesday night and keep your eyes peeled for the monster line up’s coming your way soon!
WAX IS BACK!!!
Bigger venue, bigger sound system and bigger artists mean that Wax will continue to provide the city with the very best in bass music on a weekly basis, alongside the original Wax residents. So accept no imitations on a Wednesday night and keep your eyes peeled for the monster line up’s coming your way soon!
WAX IS BACK!!!
Thursday, 25 August 2011
OUTLOOK HYPE!
Well this week all my friends and i can think about is OUTLOOK Festival! With less than a week to go, it is set to be one of, if not the BEST experience of my life. Having solely been on English soil for 11 years, it is going to be strange, yet amazing to finally get out of the country for a week with my favourite people and my favourite music!
In addition, the Southampton presence in Pula is going to be vast so it will be quite strange casually bumping into people you rave with back home in another country. Apart from that i don't really know what to expect, all i know is that i cannot wait to be lying on a beach in the sun with a beer in one hand, listening to chilled out tunes... Perfection!.
Whilst Drum and Bass is obviously my favourite genre, Outlook for me is about dabbling in all the other genres. I am especially looking forward to the Hit and Run boat party with the likes of Synkro and Indigo. This past year Synkro has made some beautiful music and seeing him play live will certainly be a higlight!
The Shogun Audio stage will also be a highlight of the week. Although i am little bit gutted that we didn't manage to secure any Shogun boat party tickets, at least we will be able to see the whole crew smash the decks on their own stage! I will be here all day if i continue to list ALL the artists i am looking forward to seeing as the Festival boasts such a massive and diverse line up. Spinline, Guido, Gentlemens Dub Club, Skeptical, Survival, Phaelah, Submotion Orchestra, Jehst, Foreign Beggars and David Rodigan are high up on my list!
See you on the beach! :)
In addition, the Southampton presence in Pula is going to be vast so it will be quite strange casually bumping into people you rave with back home in another country. Apart from that i don't really know what to expect, all i know is that i cannot wait to be lying on a beach in the sun with a beer in one hand, listening to chilled out tunes... Perfection!.
Whilst Drum and Bass is obviously my favourite genre, Outlook for me is about dabbling in all the other genres. I am especially looking forward to the Hit and Run boat party with the likes of Synkro and Indigo. This past year Synkro has made some beautiful music and seeing him play live will certainly be a higlight!
The Shogun Audio stage will also be a highlight of the week. Although i am little bit gutted that we didn't manage to secure any Shogun boat party tickets, at least we will be able to see the whole crew smash the decks on their own stage! I will be here all day if i continue to list ALL the artists i am looking forward to seeing as the Festival boasts such a massive and diverse line up. Spinline, Guido, Gentlemens Dub Club, Skeptical, Survival, Phaelah, Submotion Orchestra, Jehst, Foreign Beggars and David Rodigan are high up on my list!
See you on the beach! :)
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Ram 100 @ Fabric.
Having only attended one other Ram night at Fabric in the past, i was deeply excited and hyped about Ram 100. Following the events across London prior to the event, entry was only permitted with a printed ticket, however this did not affect the sheer number of die hard ravers who were ready to unite through their love of music.
I was welcomed by the unmistakable sound of Break as he was closing his set, at this point the crowd in room one had been warmed up nicely and ready for the onslaught of bass that was coming their way from Calyx and Teebee. It was a rare opportunity to see the duo in room one at an event like this and it shows how Ram are second to non at representing all styles of Drum and Bass. Teebee opened with their monster hit 'Scavenger' which automatically demanded a reload. Their set was energetic from start to finish, a personal highlight was when Teebee's recent remix of Emalkays "The World" was dropped. The hard hitting bass thumped through room one and the Fabric sound system worked perfectly with the rumbling sub bass. Lena Cullens harmonious vocals teamed with Teebee's rough and heavy production worked well together and was a justified contrast to the original.
At 2am Marcus Intalex took control of Room one and provided the crowd with a blend of melodic soulfulness. Intalex impressed the crowd with tracks from his recently released LP "21" as well as some of his old classics. The best moment of his set for me was when he dropped "Celestial Navigation", although it has been around for a while it still has the same "hands in the air" effect and it gave a feeling of togetherness inside the large venue. It is and always will be one of them tracks that sends you into a trance and that is why Intalex is still at the top of his game after all these years. Also as an added bonus his set overran whilst Andy C arrived.
Andy C finally emerged onto the decks a little later than scheduled but this did not bother the crowd as they were more than ready to indulge in what the Ram boss had to offer. Andy C's powerful set featured many tracks past and present and he even switched it up and played some house and electro bangers. His set was like a journey through Rams history and there was not a dull moment throughout the 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Room 3 hosted by Virus was buzzing with a more heavy selection from the likes of Ed Rush, Optical and Fierce.
The final set of the night from Loadstar injected some much needed energy into the crowd after Andy C's set. There were no signs of lethargy in Room one and Xample and Lomax kept everyone on their feet til the very last tune. The whole night seemed to fly by in an instant and all the artists involved bought something different and exciting to the table. Ram100 was probably one of the most enjoyable nights i have ever attended and cannot wait to see what Ram has in store for the next event at Fabric.
I was welcomed by the unmistakable sound of Break as he was closing his set, at this point the crowd in room one had been warmed up nicely and ready for the onslaught of bass that was coming their way from Calyx and Teebee. It was a rare opportunity to see the duo in room one at an event like this and it shows how Ram are second to non at representing all styles of Drum and Bass. Teebee opened with their monster hit 'Scavenger' which automatically demanded a reload. Their set was energetic from start to finish, a personal highlight was when Teebee's recent remix of Emalkays "The World" was dropped. The hard hitting bass thumped through room one and the Fabric sound system worked perfectly with the rumbling sub bass. Lena Cullens harmonious vocals teamed with Teebee's rough and heavy production worked well together and was a justified contrast to the original.
At 2am Marcus Intalex took control of Room one and provided the crowd with a blend of melodic soulfulness. Intalex impressed the crowd with tracks from his recently released LP "21" as well as some of his old classics. The best moment of his set for me was when he dropped "Celestial Navigation", although it has been around for a while it still has the same "hands in the air" effect and it gave a feeling of togetherness inside the large venue. It is and always will be one of them tracks that sends you into a trance and that is why Intalex is still at the top of his game after all these years. Also as an added bonus his set overran whilst Andy C arrived.
Andy C finally emerged onto the decks a little later than scheduled but this did not bother the crowd as they were more than ready to indulge in what the Ram boss had to offer. Andy C's powerful set featured many tracks past and present and he even switched it up and played some house and electro bangers. His set was like a journey through Rams history and there was not a dull moment throughout the 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Room 3 hosted by Virus was buzzing with a more heavy selection from the likes of Ed Rush, Optical and Fierce.
The final set of the night from Loadstar injected some much needed energy into the crowd after Andy C's set. There were no signs of lethargy in Room one and Xample and Lomax kept everyone on their feet til the very last tune. The whole night seemed to fly by in an instant and all the artists involved bought something different and exciting to the table. Ram100 was probably one of the most enjoyable nights i have ever attended and cannot wait to see what Ram has in store for the next event at Fabric.
Friday, 13 May 2011
David Rodigan – Wax – 11/05/2011
The most anticipated night in Wax’s history was upon us, with weeks of relentless hype, the atmosphere had reached critical levels inside Audio. Rocksteddy warmed up the intimate venue with his usual burst of dub hits and eclectic melodies, which got the crowd moving before the main act. The first glimpse of Rodigan approaching the decks sent a surge of bodies onto the dance floor and everyone knew the time was fast approaching to witness the legend in action. As MC Visionobi alerted the crowd of the last tune from Rocksteddy there was an appreciative roar of emotion and the mic was handed over to the man himself who needed no introduction. As soon as Rodigan grabbed the mic, the whole club went into a kind of hysteria that you would expect at a Take That concert. Wednesday night history was in the making!
It was a fitting tribute to have Rodigan perform on the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s death and many who attended extended this tribute by sporting Jamaican flags, hats and face paint. Rodigan obviously dropped many Bob Marley hits and spoke powerfully and warmly about the reggae legend throughout his set. It is extremely difficult to pin point the best parts of his set as there was something for everyone and everybody has there own personal favourite tracks of the night, Rodigan has never been shy about delving into all genres and all styles, old and new which sets him apart from any other DJ I have seen in the past and any other DJ I am likely to see in the future. His sheer passion for music was shared amongst everyone and it was great to see so many different people young, old, dub heads, Drum and bass heads, reggae heads all join together in unison to appreciate his uniqueness.
After his set I was fortunate enough to interview Rodigan and during the interview he spoke joyfully about the crowd and how he was happy to see “a sea of smiling faces” despite being around for many years and having played in so many different countries and venues he still gets the same buzz and excitement performing now even to a small crowd in an intimate venue in Southampton. He spoke humbly yet confidently about his achievements over the years and it seems like there is no stopping him in the future. A True gentlemen and legend, he made a massive impact on everyone who was in attendance. A truly remarkable night for the city that will never be forgotten.
Full video and exclusive interview by LJA productions coming soon…
It was a fitting tribute to have Rodigan perform on the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s death and many who attended extended this tribute by sporting Jamaican flags, hats and face paint. Rodigan obviously dropped many Bob Marley hits and spoke powerfully and warmly about the reggae legend throughout his set. It is extremely difficult to pin point the best parts of his set as there was something for everyone and everybody has there own personal favourite tracks of the night, Rodigan has never been shy about delving into all genres and all styles, old and new which sets him apart from any other DJ I have seen in the past and any other DJ I am likely to see in the future. His sheer passion for music was shared amongst everyone and it was great to see so many different people young, old, dub heads, Drum and bass heads, reggae heads all join together in unison to appreciate his uniqueness.
After his set I was fortunate enough to interview Rodigan and during the interview he spoke joyfully about the crowd and how he was happy to see “a sea of smiling faces” despite being around for many years and having played in so many different countries and venues he still gets the same buzz and excitement performing now even to a small crowd in an intimate venue in Southampton. He spoke humbly yet confidently about his achievements over the years and it seems like there is no stopping him in the future. A True gentlemen and legend, he made a massive impact on everyone who was in attendance. A truly remarkable night for the city that will never be forgotten.
Full video and exclusive interview by LJA productions coming soon…
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Back in the game...
It has been TOO long since i have written anything in my blog and i feel totally ashamed and neglectful. There has been some amazing nights that i could of wrote about but the time has passed now and i must get my head down and continue writing about events coming up in the near future.
Tonight i am attending Plastic People in london which will play host to Icicles debut live set. There has been much discussion and hype about his latest plans to play a full live set. So being one of the first to witness it will be a great privilege.
Recently there has been a lot going on closer to home, last Wednesday Cyantific smashed the decks at Audio's Wax. Friday was probably one of the most memorable days in So'tons history as Newcombe Road closed for the Royal Wedding and pretty much the whole Solent population gathered to celebrate the Wedding in true Student style. Raygun and Release residents tore up the residential road and provided some epic entertainment that would make the Royal Wedding organisers jealous! Although there was some apprehension looming around the party it all went rather smoothly (apart from a couple of scraps) It was a truly remarkable and successful day and fun was had by all. The party continued at Soul Cellar where Released celebrated there 1st Birthday with another jam packed line up from Critical. Despite being totally wasted from the days events. I do know that all the DJ's played an amazing set and was a perfect end to a perfect day!
Tonight i am attending Plastic People in london which will play host to Icicles debut live set. There has been much discussion and hype about his latest plans to play a full live set. So being one of the first to witness it will be a great privilege.
Recently there has been a lot going on closer to home, last Wednesday Cyantific smashed the decks at Audio's Wax. Friday was probably one of the most memorable days in So'tons history as Newcombe Road closed for the Royal Wedding and pretty much the whole Solent population gathered to celebrate the Wedding in true Student style. Raygun and Release residents tore up the residential road and provided some epic entertainment that would make the Royal Wedding organisers jealous! Although there was some apprehension looming around the party it all went rather smoothly (apart from a couple of scraps) It was a truly remarkable and successful day and fun was had by all. The party continued at Soul Cellar where Released celebrated there 1st Birthday with another jam packed line up from Critical. Despite being totally wasted from the days events. I do know that all the DJ's played an amazing set and was a perfect end to a perfect day!
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