The Raving and General Electronica Thread

[Techno Natch]

Off to catch British Murder Boys this weekend at one of my favorite venues Oval Spaces. Should be good fun. This tracks got me right in the mood.

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

Just got my ticket for Cream Ibiza in Motion on the 14th. First time going to Motion so looking forward to it.

Eddie Halliwell, Gareth Emery plus a few others on the lineup.

 

[Son of Cod]

No MC Stone, but Bangface have announced a "Japan Invasion" takeover for the Weekender and it's only got Shimamura on it. Absolutely buzzing for this now...

So, got to Bangface and had a nice surprise as MC Stone was on the bill and playing with Shimamura. He only played for 25mins, but the full set is on Youtube. Special prize if you can spot me just before the 10 minute mark...

...absolutely loved that set, first bit of live upfront hardcore for me in over 5 years.
Crowd was an odd mix. It was kind of like Nathan Barley goes raving. Accommodation was awful but the arenas were all decent. The second room was class, with a great screen and laser. Main room was a little bright for my liking, but a decent size and the back/pub room was class. Other highlights of the weekend for me were Producer (worth staying out until 5AM for, although I couldn't be arsed doing the same for Hellfish the next night), Mark Archer, Jerome Hill, TQD, Ed Solo & Deekline and Dave Clarke. A lot of the music was too intense and out there for me, though. It was the kind of lineup that didn't boast too much of my favourite styles (hardcore, jungle, old skool, dnb), so DJ Hype not showing up was a bit of a blow and Ratpack playing a set of pretty much just new stuff when all you want them to do is be Ratpack and play classics was also disappointing. Was still a decent weekend of catching up with loads of mates though. Great to just let loose for a weekend. I'd read reviews of Bangface Weekenders positively cooing with praise though. Makes me think what kind of events and raves these people usually go to. It was an interesting spectacle, but as a rave I was left a tad unsatisfied.

 

[Techno Natch]

Jerome hill and Clarke nice. Nice you caught Deekline too, I don't know if I'll ever come across him at anything I go too but he's got some great tunes. Nice write up SoC.

Bangface is a weird one, a lot of people seem to love it but I've never been that interested. I always imagined that crowd would be a bit edgy going by the similar events I've been to around here but it seems not? Maybe It's a victim of its own success in that way?

The first year we went to bloc the room we stayed in was awful and had a really bad smell. Considering I was ill it was like hell on earth. We paid a bit more and got an apartment the following year and it was one of the best things we did. Being able to cook pasta to eat when we got back was great and we had some good parties in between the actual music they'd put on. Despite not being impressed by the soundsystem's and music most of the time I was still disappointed it wasn't on this year.

Went to British Murder boys last week and it didn't disappoint. I really like oval space, nice staff and good crowd plus they didn't oversell it which was amazing. Steve Bicknall closing was brilliant, he was just dropping in tunes without mixing which would normally annoy me but it was brilliant. Really good fun and looking forward to going back next month for Function and obscure shape. Jaded after too.

To top it all off the psy trance festival were going to in Germany gas just announced a quality techno line up. All the deep and trippy artists I've grown to love over the last two years. Tozzi, polar Inertia, Kangding Ray, Rrose and a few others. Well excited for that now.

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

Well Friday night definitely didn't disappoint! Eddie Halliwell and Cosmic Gate absolutely smashed it, though I thought Gareth Emery was a bit of a letdown but can't moan about it. Motion is one of the better venues I've been to as well, security and staff all seemed sound enough. Only complaint is that if you stood too close to the doors for the main room you could hear the music from another room which gave me some head fuckery in my intoxicated state
Overall it was a quality night and thoroughly enjoyed it, we tried doing the Saturday there for Ants but it wasn't too be, seems like me and my group are getting too old for the 'weekend rave' now, one night kills us off completely.

 

[Techno Natch]

Robert Miles passed away today.

 

[Son of Cod]

Robert Miles passed away today.

Yep, sad news that. Was definitely a gateway artist for me into electronic music. If you don't count Sash then I think his album with Children on it was the first "dance" album I ever had. Although, I bought one after that with my pocket money (had a white cover) and didn't like it and this was back in the day when I had to save my pocket money for ages to buy a CD so I had a hard time admitting I didn't like something I bought. Wouldn't mind listening to that album now though to see if I just didn't get it then.

 

[Techno Natch]

Was that the follow up 23? Think it was much more ambient, if so I did the exact same thing although I'd probably like it now. 10 year old me looking for pumped up emotional beats was not impressed though.

 

[Son of Cod]

Yes, just looked it up and that is indeed the one. I wonder how many small future ravers did the same.

 

[Aber gas]

I was out out the other week and heard this at a party. Took me back

 

[Aber gas]

And this

 

[Techno Natch]

https://soundcloud.com/monument-podcast/monument-132-the-gods-planet-label-mix

Stunning.

 

[Techno Natch]

Just heard that Marcus Intalex has passed away. Really shit news

 

[EvertonPaul]

27/5/17 Epic 5.0 Victoria Park

Well fuck me what a show this was. Visually the best show I have ever seen, Prydz was on form although I feel his releases aren't as good what he was putting out from 09-12 (maybe I'm getting old). However this didn't take away from the overall show which was genuinely one of the most technologically advanced productions in the world.

10/10 for me. Glasto up next then maybe Ibiza for a few days in September

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

27/5/17 Epic 5.0 Victoria Park

Well fuck me what a show this was. Visually the best show I have ever seen, Prydz was on form although I feel his releases aren't as good what he was putting out from 09-12 (maybe I'm getting old). However this didn't take away from the overall show which was genuinely one of the most technologically advanced productions in the world.

10/10 for me. Glasto up next then maybe Ibiza for a few days in September

I saw some of the videos from it mate, fuck me it looked incredible. The astronaut quite literally left me speechless. I can only hope they do something similar for his shows at Creamfields in the steelyard. Well with him and Deadmau5 b2b they have to. Right?

 

[Techno Natch]

I've got my eye on Movement festival in Detroit for a couple of years time. Wanted to go for a while and it's an excuse to check out America. Anything could happen in two years though.

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

I've got my eye on Movement festival in Detroit for a couple of years time. Wanted to go for a while and it's an excuse to check out America. Anything could happen in two years though.

You're not me by any chance are you? I mentioned it to a couple of my mates the other day as a possible overseas event. Tomorrowland, EDC, ADE are a few others mentioned as well.

 

[Techno Natch]

Ade is definitely worth a visit or two. I'd have Ade way above EDC and Tomorrowland personally.

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

Turns out it's none of the above! Going to Labyrinth Open in Croatia next month, mate won 2 tickets so going out there for the long weekend.

 

[Techno Natch]

Nice. Not heard of it but a festival in Croatia can't be a bad thing.

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

Nice. Not heard of it but a festival in Croatia can't be a bad thing.

Neither had I until yesterday Decent enough lineup for it though so it's too good to pass up.

 

[EvertonPaul]

ADE is class highly recommend a visit there

 

[EvertonPaul]

Anyone seen the film Berlin Calling? Paul Kalbrenner is in it and it's worth a watch if you like foreign language films and the Berlin club scene.

 

[Techno Natch]

 

[Techno Natch]

Anyone seen the film Berlin Calling? Paul Kalbrenner is in it and it's worth a watch if you like foreign language films and the Berlin club scene.

Still not got round to it but will at some point.

 

[Techno Natch]

Off to Freqs of Nature this week in Germany. A week of Dark psy trance and Trippy techno. Can't wait.

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

Just now got back from Croatia. What a place it is, beautiful country and the locals are all friendly as hell. The festival was a very good show considering it what their first year, though it did struggle for numbers I felt but there was still a good sized crowd there. Stages need setting up better next year if they do another one as you could hear the music from all 3 stages clashing if you were sat at the beach bar they had which gave one hell of a headache. I'd definitely go again though, wouldn't do the camping though, trying to get some sleep in 25 degree heat at 3am isn't fun.

 

[EvertonPaul]

Highlights at glasto for me were Sasha & Digweed. Unfortunately I hit the bits a little too hard and can't remember most of the set hate it when that happens

 

[Bluebird_Dai]

Highlights at glasto for me were Sasha & Digweed. Unfortunately I hit the bits a little too hard and can't remember most of the set hate it when that happens

I fucking hate Sasha, prick turned up 2 hours late to his Cardiff gig then put no effort into his set at all. As for the bits it could be worse mate, one of the lads we met over there had a copper pull a gun on him on the middle of the dance floor because he wouldn't give up half a gary he had! Seeing it with my own eyes and I still don't quite believe it!

 

[Techno Natch]

Well Freqs of Nature was an absolute treat.

I wondered if they would have stepped up security since two years ago but we walked straight in with no search. Security were there and mean looking but absolutely sound.

The festival was split into 5 stages. The two main floors which switched between Psy Trance, Forest psy and drum and bass. Both were pretty impressive and completely hand made from wood. I didn't feel like there was enough lighting at the start but as I settled into it things got more impressive. It's a really cool site in an old airfield, they make use of all the space and the hangers are used as viewing platforms and art galleries.

There was a bass playground which was basically a climbing frame with a dance floor in the middle. The techno floor was tucked away in a little copse of trees and looked great day and night. The sound coming off all the stages was pretty impressive and all placed well so they didn't interfere with each other. The hangers helped create barriers I guess.

Then there was the music. This one had some of my favourite techno DJs playing. Getting to finally see Tozzi was a particular treat and his deep trippy techno at Sun set on Sunday was a highlight. Another highlight was Takaaki Itoh who played a lovely four hour set on the second day. We were actually knackered this day after after all the effort getting there so his building set really helped our energy levels. We tended to do 6-8 hours on and then a rest before going again. Mainly techno in the day and then followed it up with dark and forest psy in the evening. Except for a 17 hour stint in the middle of the festival that almost wiped me out as I did drink a bit to much.

Luckily that day Kangding Ray and Polar Inertia were playing on the experimental stage so I literally chilled there all day and Driffted off for a few hours. I don't think those two get the chance the do many sets like that so it was possibly a rare experience. In fact that stage was great as I stayed there all night after Tozzi and Rose to instead of sleeping in the tent. It's so much better when all the stages are pretty much running 24 hours as there is always something to listen to. I think after 3 days I said to Nicola that I'd not heard a bad song all weekend, no cheese just straight solid music and alongwith all the acts I've named I have many more to catch up on that I'd not heard of before.

Really it feels like a free party just a bit safer with nicer facilities. Didn't have to queue for the toilet once and they've really improved that since the last time I went.

If I had to be picky and complain about about one thing it would be that there wasn't a place to really sit in a comfy chair. This did get on my nerves at times but once I figured I could take my sleeping bag down to the experimental floor that became less of an issue. I almost decided not to do a festival this year but I'm not sure what I was thinking.

Glad to be back in a bed now though. Glad you had a good one bluebird. Who did you catch?