mod.zool.journal: James Holden @ Soundbar October 21,2005

Friday night was phenomenal. James was absolutely on fire and by the end of the night everyone was going absolutely mental.

Before the evening began, I spotted James and handed him my demo. It was kind of a lame transaction though so hopefully he heard what I said and indeed will take the time to listen to it.

Paolo Mojo opened up things upstairs but was really uninteresting overall. The best track he played was his last, the Michael Mayer Remix of Ada's "Maps." (A remix of a cover!) This lead into James' set.

Let me start out by saying that the bass was up way too high on the main floor's system. A lot of times it muddied up the midrange and any melody present in the track(s). This little flaw actually though played a big part into what might have been my favorite part of the night, James' second track, Pier Bucci's "L'Nuit" (Crosstown Rebels). Words can not describe how awesome this was. The hauntingly beautiful female vocals and beats just erupt into a wave of continuous bass that is so unrelenting that the pressure is practically numbing. I've never experienced anything like it. Other highlights included the rockin Phones' 12" remix of Tom Vek's "I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes", which lead so nice into Holden's remix of Andre Kraml's smash, "Safari." The new Agoria remix of Huggotron was full on blinding Techno. The new Border Community release, Fairmont - Gazebo was outstanding. I didnt realize how well it would work in a club, it was killer. And getting to hear Holden's forthcoming "Lump" live was a dream come true. Two and half hours of the rcknist techno. ever.

Tracks I spotted:

Pier Bucci - L'Nuit [Crosstown Rebels]
Nylon - The Mouse [RebelOne]
Alex Smoke - Sortie [Vakant]
Avus - Fancy Arse (James Holden Midnight Extension) [Perc Trax]
Plastikman - Glob [Plus 8]
*Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To (Erol Alkan Remix) [Domino]
Andre Kraml - Safari (James Holden Remix) [Crosstown Rebels]
Huggotron - Pop It Bad (Agoria Remix) [Craft Music]
Holden - A Break In The Clouds (Beats Tool) [Border Community]
Holden - Lump [Border Community]
System7 - Planet7 (James Holden Remix) [A-Wave Records]
Nathan Fake - Dinamo (Dominik Eulberg Remix) [Traum]
Britney - Breathe On Me (James Holden Dub) [white]
Metope - Test Crash [Sender]
Extrawelt - Soopertrack [Border Community]
Fairmont - Gazebo [Border Community]
Paul Kalkbrenner - Gubruenn Gubruenn [BPitch Control]
Alter Ego - Daktari (Robag Wruhme Remix)
AFX - VBS.Redlof.B (Analord 11) [Rephlex]

* is actuallly Tom Vek - I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes (Phones 12" Mix) [Tummy Touch]

some pics (click to enlarge):