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Features
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| Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! | | N-Kore talks Jean-Michel Jarre, unfinished tracks and fatherhood! | | Celebrating International Women’s Day and Ten Years of Psy-Sisters with Amaluna | | A Catch Up with John Phantasm ahead of his upcoming set at the Tribal Village 4 Day Outdoor Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | 'The Maestro that is Tristan talks barn owls, Shazamming and keeping it Psychedelic ahead of his upcoming performance at the Tribal Village 4 Day Event in Kent 6-9 May 2022! | | DJ talk with Psyrenzo ahead of his debut set at Tribal Village, the Steelyard this Friday 14th January 2022! | | TENZO aka Overdrive talks freely about launching his new act which will be showcased at Tribal Village, Steelyard on 14 January 2022! | | A long overdue catch up with JourneyOM ahead of his next Tribal Village party this Friday 14th January 2022 at the Steelyard, London! |
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Renaissance @ The Cross, London 30/10/04
Reported by timmyd9
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Submitted 03-11-04 16:39
Renaissance noun {S} a new growth of activity or interest in something, especially art, literature or music. Adopted from the French equivalent of the Italian word rinascita, it's literal meaning is "rebirth". The consciousness of cultural rebirth was itself a characteristic of the Renaissance. Scholars and critics of this period proclaimed that their age had progressed beyond the barbarism of the past.
Today, Renaissance is where the beautiful people come to dance, not to stand absorbed in their own vanity. Cool, chic yet never relinquishing a wonderfully friendly atmopshere. Beautiful decor and attention to detail - how many clubs have vases of dried flowers on display? In a clubbing city where grunge and degredation are all too common and all too readily accepted it is refreshing to find an event where true effort is made to elevate your surroundings.
Each of the three dancefloors are bisected by another arch of sofas and relaxation, allowing each floor to groove to a different sound in close proximity. Home in intimate, low ceiling railway arches of The Cross, it's a well hidden oasis in the eternal wasteland that surrounds Kings Cross.
Its intimacy can also be its underdoing as people try to move from arch to arch, bottlenecking early on, the centre of each dancefloor heaving as drinks valiently fight gravity and a temptation to leap onto those around them. Thankfully this cleared as the night progressed but was an issue for many I spoke to. That said, it never felt too overcrowded, just an inevitable feature of the venue.
In the hot summer months, The Cross can become a furnace, clubbers fighting for air as much as space. Now in the early autumnal months, the doors at the end of each floor are wide open, allowing cool air to circulate among the writhing bodies. They lead out into the outdoor area, enclosed by potted foliage. Hot air rises from cooling bodies, distant cries and whistles rush out into the early morning darkness, dull thuds of passing basslines perforating the air.
The early protaganist of all things deep and grooving is the Ibizian Brummie Pete Gooding. The next time you feel tired, spare a thought for Gooding, a man who's been behind the decks at Cafe Mambo in Ibiza for eight hours a night for the last seven years. Over this time he has become an Ibizan institution due in no small part to very special nightly sunset journeys and compiling the award winning Café Mambo compilations . Throughout each summer he has written his own column in DJ Magazine's monthly Ibiza supplement in addition to continuing as singles reviewer for the magazine. Tonight his blend of sexy, deep, dark house reverberates through the main arch. The energy slowly builds, echoing riffs and throbbing basslines growing and convulsing. The floor quickly filled to absorb the aural waves, the lights dim and lasers start shredding the heavy humid air.
Next up, the 'established new boy', Desyn Masiello. Incorporating house classics such as Jose Cabrera, deep, tech, funky and progressive house rules taking inspiration from acid house, funk, soul, disco, rock, Indie, Brazilian, carnival and reggae, dub... the list is endless. Having recently completed the 'End of Summer Tour' with John Digweed round the USA in August and the acclaimed Radio 1 Essential Mix last month Desyn is now synonymous with the most cutting edge dance music from all corners of the world. He has a style that is constantly evolving and demolishing barriers with scant regard to traditional restraints.
Having already caught the ear of some of the worlds largest DJs Deep Dish, Sander K and Danny Howells have nominated him as their ‘future DJ Hero’ in DJ Magazine's Top 100 poll. Talent abounds.
To download Desyn's Essential Mix go to http://www.desynmasiello.com/
It’s very easy to think that England and America are the only places in the world where amazing parties take place. Despite their formative foundations of dance music as we know it today, they are now constantly being challenged; new countries who are discovering dance music, grabbing it by the scruff of the neck and embracing it wholeheartedly, not ravaged by
commercialism and exploitation. With this comes new talent; fresh producers and DJs who are being thrust onto the world stage and given the exposure they so richly deserve. One of the most notable success stories now takes centre stage, South America’s Hernan Cattaneo.
Recently voted DJmag's no.6 DJ in the world, the most prestigious Latin American, Cattaneo, has carried out the single most important role a DJ can possibly fill-spreading the good gospel of dance and inspiration. Although a strong contender to fight for John Digweed's crown as the 'most intensely moody looking' DJ he lets the music shout, scream and pummel those
around it.
Quickly upping the pace with twisted beats and smooth melodies, punctuated with dirty screeches, the heady productions of Guy Gerber, Goldfrapp and Graham and Blades wonderful 'Funky Summa' forced the crowd rise and fall repeatedly as one. He finishes with the King Unique mix of Ride and then Danny Howell's 'Dusk til Dawn' while tired limbs plead in vain for rest.
Over in Arch Two is Mark Wilkinson, the man who brought us one of the anthems of recent times with his Lou Reed sampling, 'Satellite of Love'. Initially the production partner of X Press2's Rocky, they formed The 'Problem Kids' who resided at the Ministry of Sound in 1996. Their second album, My First Acid House, on the now sadly defunct Paper Recordings was met to universal acclaim particularly from Sasha, Lee Burridge, CJ Mackintosh, Norman Jay, Pete Tong, Seb Fontaine, Roger Sanchez, Sandy Rivera and Danny Tenaglia to name but a few. A new name to me but a wonderful talent and a name to hunt down.
Stretching his long frame he wrapped the arch around his little finger during a wonderfully extended set. A kaliedoscope of house manipulated jacking bodies. Arms punched the air, smiles and whoops illuminating the semi-darkness. People wanting to move through this arch did so as their peril.
For those who strive for more from their nights, are looking for that spark of inspiration, are disillusioned with what London has to offer, look no further. The rebirth is here.
Renaissance is next at The Cross on 27 November 2004 featuring Futureshock (Dex n Fx), Ashley Casselle, Nigel Dawson, Sammy Jo (Scissor Sisters tour DJ) and Colin Hobbs (Whitenoise).
Renaissance will also be celebrating the New Year on 31 December 2004 at The Cross with Dave Seaman, Hybrid (DJ Set), Paul Jackson, Marcus James, Smokeybeats:Paul Barkworth and Kid Circus.
For further details go to www.renaissanceuk.com
Photos courtesy of Ajos1 at www.xpander.nl, www.renaissanceuk.com and www.residentadvisor.net
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Other Features By timmyd9:
RIP John Peel (1939-2004)
Cos We Are Common People
Living the Dream with Gavyn Mytchel
Bedrock 6th Birthday @ Heaven, London
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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It made me wish I was there!!!
