18/01/2010
When Fabric launched their new and much anticipated Elevator Music album, the accompanying launch party was equally unmissable, with a selection of the featured artists throwing down in Room 3. Backed up by a positively glittering lineup in Room 2 and Numbers hosting Room 1, this is the first of hopefully many more Fabric nights focusing on the huge amount of forward thinking and innovative bass music filtering through from producers of all persuasions and musical backgrounds.
As a lover of all offshoots from 140 bass music my bias is already apparent as I’m eager to catch deep Berlin techno drenched sets from Sigha and Vista early on as we queue outside on the icy Farringdon pavement. Both deliver just that and as the club starts filling up it’s clear to see many people have taken advantage of the combined CD and ticket purchase offer.
We head upstairs to Room 3 to be greeted by an already packed dancefloor as Mosca gets things bubbling, closely followed by an improvised laptop set from xxxy which has to be a personal highlight, be sure to check his track “Sing With Us” on the Elevator Music album, this guy is set to make big moves in 2010.
Hudson Mohawke got Room 1 moving with a varied selection that somehow seemed fluid despite the difference of genres and tempos, switching effortlessly from crunked up post hip hop to half stepping bass rumblers with ease. When I’ve previously taken in a 2562 DJ set at fabric it’s been quite liquid and atmospheric but tonight there was no hint of that…charging percussive breaks and lasers really made Dutchman Dave Huismans’ set a ravey feel which was reflected in the throng of bodies crowding the dancefloor and the stage in Room 2.
Touching down for a peak time set in Numbers hosted Room 1, Todd “the God” Edwards supplied exactly what he’s so highly revered for – a feel good set of house and garage classics delivered with a beaming smile and the occasionally pause to throw out luminous crucifixes into the mass, toasted with Rinse FM regular Asbo on the mic, a welcome surprise for many.
After a frosty cigarette break we head back upstairs to catch Shortstuff and Untold who both impress, flawlessly fusing Funky, Grime, House, Dubstep and everything in between - showing that the new breed of electronic music producers from the UK are here to stay.
We head down to Room 2 to catch Bristolian Headhunter handing over the controls to Leeds-based Jack Sparrow, who shows he can still command the dancefloor at 5AM, dropping his remix of Pinch’s “Get Up” to cheers from a still strong crowd.
As we leave I find myself grinning… the future of underground electronic music in the UK is bright, and with the support of Fabric can only continue to grow and progress in the new decade.
--Jim Syte
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