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Hard House Academy & Laboratory reviewed
Reported by Steve Milton
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Submitted 26-10-05 20:36
I haven’t done a review for a while now. The constant increase in age and a change in priorities mean my evenings away from home partying have taken a back-step somewhat but that aside it’s still all good fun when I do, so maybe I won’t hang up my dancing shoes quite just yet. Ignoring the grey hair and the need for a cup of tea, my criteria for reviewing an event and judging its success has remained pretty much the same. It’s a simple format which has served me well over the years I’ve been doing this and consists of train spotting tunes that got a response, grabbing a quick chat with the DJs and acts to get their perspective on things, giving my opinion on the production side of the event and most importantly talking to the clubbers themselves, after all, they are the ones who’ve put their hands in their pockets and paid for the entertainment. A happy clubber is a clubber who’ll come back again.
Well for this review I’m going to divert myself away from that format slightly and cover things from a wider perspective. Somehow concentrating on individual elements just wouldn’t do it justice and could lead to a blinkered view when what I really want to do is stand back and admire it in panoramic. So where to start? Production, and back to the old format briefly for this one. Superb. Without doubt the best sound and lighting I have witnessed at an event at Brixton Academy. The new Line Array sound system was powerful and covered the area flawlessly but the major improvement to my ears was the clarity. I’ve taken to wearing earplugs to avoid hearing damage but on this occasion I really didn’t feel the need. The balance between the bass and the midrange/upper levels was perfect, the musicality not suffering one iota in the name of power. Of course the Funktion 1 sound was still used in the other areas and worked fine, perhaps that’s where its better suited rather than the large open areas of the Academy?
Lighting — a visual treat. Great combination of lasers and intelligently arranged lighting. The pyramid theme on the main stage worked amazingly well and from up close looked like a futuristic tomb for a higher intelligence, or have I been watching too much Star Gate SG1? It certainly housed LAB4’s rig and drum kit well but left ample space for the stage shenanigans in front. It was certainly apt to have fully kitted out Storm Troopers and the very impressive Cyberstein robot present.
Moving on.
The purpose I guess of the Laboratory concept was and always will be to showcase the talents of DJs and acts that strike a chord on the artistic ivorys in LAB4’s thinking. Align this with the obvious promotional power and business know how of Frantic’s HHA idea and what you get is, if going by ticket sales are concerned, something a lot of people will pay good money for. Selling out a venue the size of the Academy is no mean feat. Looking at the line-up it is easy to see how the thinking worked. All the main stage performers were exactly that. Not just DJs but entertainers. They all offered something a bit more than good tunes and flawless mixing and yet retained an element of individuality in their own right. The whole spectrum was covered from the dark and moody of new-to-our-scene DJ Hellraiser, the quite frankly sublime technical skills of James Moss, the full on rock concert vibe provided by the LAB4 boys themselves, Yoji and his crowd manipulation and the complete lunacy of Mark EG. To me this is what putting an event should be all about. Obviously the core will always be based around the music but if you can offer that little bit extra then you’ll always score well in my book and judging by the numbers of happy faces I saw I guess the clubbers agreed.
Adam feels the force of the Empire
On the flip side of this was the foyer and balcony areas that offered a perfect balance to what was going on in the main arena. A good mix of the tried and tested with some new up and coming talent in an intimate atmosphere that reminded me of a big house party. All you needed was some irate neighbours and a random casualty vomiting into a rose bush in the garden and the image would have been complete! Again this element of the nights proceeding whilst not necessarily taking all the glory offered an alternative and without doubt some of those present preferred this to what was going on the other side of the main doors.
Technical wizardry beyond my comprehension
Personal highlights? Well I have to admit to standing and watching in wonder at the technical ability of James Moss. Seeing the mixer with three channels fully on while he adds all sorts of tweaks and loops with a 909 and then scratching over the top. When you’re in the crowd it’s impossible to appreciate what is really going on. I just hope the visual projections portrayed some of it and if not then it is something that needs to be looked at for the future. I thought DJ Hellraiser made a positive start to his career in the northern hemisphere and look forward to seeing where he takes things from here. LAB4’s live extreme show certainly lived up to expectations in providing something different from their normal set and Yoji once again proved he’ll deliver the goods yet somehow seem to be taking the Mickey at the same time, and finally, I should mention the amazing robot. All good stuff.
The frighteningly impressive Cyberstein
Complaints? Yes, one. Me. I can’t be in enough places at the same time. To provide an in-depth review of an event this size would take possibly three people. I missed a large part of Mark EG’s set and that of Cally and Juice due to obligations elsewhere so for that I’m sorry but from what I hear it all went off suitably.
Last year I reviewed the Laboratory 2 gig at the Shepherds Bush Empire and thought then it was something special, an atmosphere detached from the usual clubbing experience. Combine this with Frantic and multiply the size by a factor of four and you have what was experienced on the 22nd of October 2005. Can it be the pinnacle of achievement in event production and promotion? Only time will tell I guess but if that was to be my last event ever I could go away happy. Praise indeed from a tired and slightly cynical clubber who should know better and be decorating his kitchen instead of gallivanting around the capital having fun.
To all concerned . . . you may take a cookie from the jar.
See you on the dance floor.
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Other Features By Steve Milton:
The Final Zoo
The Death of Clubland?
Trousers, Caps and Trance Anthems - It's Dave Pearce!
Boom Box, Bulldog Breaks and V1 - It's Time to Reload with DJ-X(lab4)
Clubbers Guide to Photography: Part Two
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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