thought I'd add my bits to the slurry of London/UK related posts: Lost xmas party - one of the most enjoyable for years. A couple of hundred people jammed into a bar, grooving non stop to the Wizard, Bicknell and Slater practically tagging on the decks, dropping some real party music. Half the fun for me was seeing Steve and Sheree having such a great time themselves rather than having to deal with the stress of running a huge night with the hassle that goes with it - they certainly deserved to let their hair down at this one - and both Jeff and Luke were grinning away all night too. Great to see all the DJs getting EQUAL appreciation from the crowd as imo they all did a sterling job. That was supposed to have been my first sober night for a week, but that lasted about 20 minutes.
Mills @ Fabric - after 60 minutes of dropping classics (I really don't care to hear Blackwater or Jaguar once this year), which I utilised to avoid the sardine can atmosphere on the dancefloor, it was with pleasure that I saw the largely clueless Fabric crowd thin out as Jeff started to begin his set proper and take it deeper, dropping old faves such as Kat Race & Seawolf and loads of unfamiliar stuff. Highlight of the night for me was when he played the whole of "Filter King" from 69's "Sound On Sound" - awesome. Still, I think the atmosphere was sorely lacking and it was probably one of the sets that I'd put into the lower regions of Mills sets - of sets in recent years I found his set at Lost's August party to be far superior in terms of energy and madness - though not in variety. Rolando and Brendan on 31st Jan - looks like there is to be no let up this year when it comes to having to choose between different parties on the same night. Never woulda happened in 2001!! Same night, Mr VelcroFastener plays live @ SCAND, also Carl from LA Synthesis DJing at the same night along with others too. And that's right round the corner from where the Outlet Collective will be hijacking the 333 Club all night. Decisions, decisions. RE: Hood in the UK - after being sorely disappointed at Hood NOT doing his semi-live thing in November (thus going to the Seed recs party instead - good move!!!), I am so looking forward to this. The last techno set that truly blew me away was Hood doing this at the End in what........1999? 2000, maybe? Whatever, it was totally amazing, and anyone who gets a chance to see this in any part of any country should not miss it. There's something so "pure" about what Hood does, it's an almost unattainable vibe, and the memories of him working the decks and a rack of gear+909 on the side, freaking out, with his wife mopping his brow with a towel, while the crowd dissolved into hysteria, it's just not been matched since, and everyone who was there that I know has practically been sat waiting ever since for something to come along and match it. I have HIGH hopes for this, and look forward to a London date being announced, otherwise I'm up to Leeds for the first decent line up they've had for goodness knows how long.
