High Five.
MUSIC
WRITTEN BY: SUMEDHA PAGADALA
NAME: Spice with Mark Henning at The Spice Cellar
WHERE: The Spice Cellar (Basement Level/58 Elizabeth St,
Sydney)
WHEN: Saturday 22nd February, 2014; 10pm onwards.
THE LINE-UP: Mark Henning, Michelle Owen, Dean
Relf, Murat Kilic, and Robbie Lowe
TICKET PRICE: $25 (Approx.)
LINK: www.thespicecellar.com.au
Mark Henning. Photo : Inthemix
Move D. Photo : Marek Petraszek
With the increasing mainstream exposure that the electronic
music scene has been receiving in recent years - both globally
and locally, it’s no surprise that DJs have started to take more
initiative with the types of venues they choose to play at. This is
in stark contrast to less than a decade ago when DJs did not have
the same degree of exposure both within and outside of the
music community. Amongst many things, this is reflective of,
and has influenced, higher quality standards within this music
scene and its various subgenres.
DJ Murat Kilic, one of Sydney’s foremost respected DJs, a coowner of The Spice Cellar, and one of the featured artists for this
line up was more than aware of this when setting up a club.
The upcoming gig in late February with will be playing host to
internationally renowned DJs like Berlin-based underground
– and now mainstream - artist Mark Henning (new EP Blackout,
under Soma Records) is sure to continue this legacy. Joining him
on the main stage with her vibrant lyrics and house tunes will
be fellow Berlin-based DJ/ Producer Michelle Owens. With
respected records at her back like Moodmusic and Exploited;
and her recent EP featuring Kruse & Nuernberg and Isis Salam
‘We Find Deep’ getting numerous hits on Beatport – be sure to
expect some eclectic and sophisticated tunes.
Hailing from the South Coast Dean Relf – a name that was
featured on The Spice Cellar’s Top 51 DJs list last year, and a
member of the fore thinking Parkside Collective from
Wollongong; is sure to bring some incredible ‘smoky’ house
tunes to the floor. His previous mixes Elesdee (Original Mix),
Shapes (Original Mix) and an EP from his collaboration with
Scuba Stew: Wanna See It (Original Mix) continues to garner a
stable audience on Beatport. And Robbie Lowe’s recent Monkey
Business Mix with Gelato Messina and his 20 Year Anniversary
Mix with Pulse Radio place him among the ranks of the most
dedicated and progressive house DJs in Sydney right now. In the
ever-burgeoning house music scene in Sydney, The Spice Cellar’s
front liners keep the eager fans of the genre on their toes with their
generous, versatile tunes and acclaimed artists. It’s venues like this
to keep an eye on: its proof of Australia’s pull on established acts.
Catch them if you can.
NAME: Skream (UK) (via Auditree) @ Bowler Bar
WHERE: Bowler Bar (388 Brunswick St, Brisbane)
WHEN: Friday 21st February, 2014; 10pm-5am.
WHO: Skream
TICKET PRICE: $20 + Booking Fee
LINK: http://www.residentadvisor.net/
Set in the midst of Fortitude Valley, Bowler Bar’s exclusivity as an
underground venue within dance music continues to showcase
some top quality local and international talent within indie,
techno, and dubstep music. Skream, (also known as one-part
Magnetic Man, a London native, and a key to the identity of
dubstep today) is one of the most enigmatic names within dubstep
globally – both as a DJ and Producer. Despite some controversy
(based on dubious sources) last year on his future in dubstep,
Skream is back in full blast. His recent work featuring Sam Frank
called Rollercoaster garnered music acclaim for its ability to
successfully synthesise and amalgamate elements of house and
disco. While not from his traditional dubstep roots, his ability to
branch out into new sounds could mean an exciting new
experimental stage in his career. Get a taste of what’s to come.
078 djmag.com.au
February’s tracks tested.
p.82
ROCK ON
Planningtorock’s
righteous disco.
p.94
UTTERLY
BUTTERLY
Black Butter’s flavourful
new comp.
p.99
NAME: Future Music Festival – Perth
WHERE: Arena Joondalup (Kennedya Dri ve, Joondalup WA)
WHEN: Sunday 2nd March, 2014; 12pm onwards.
WHO: Deadmau5, Hardwell, Paul Van Dyk, Knife Party
and many many more
TICKET PRICE: $160 + Booking Fee (1st Release only)
LINK: http://www.moshtix.com.au/
This year’s ‘Safari’ theme has set the stage for a legendary line-up
from across board: including electronic dance heroes to chart
toppers Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Deadmau5’s legendary techno
sets with their original beats and scintillating rhythms. Also gracing
us with his ever growing presence will be Hardwell, DJ Mag’s No.1
man of the moment, who will be releasing a much-anticipated
album later this year. One of trance’s golden boys and Grammy
nominee and self-described “audio architect” Paul van Dyk as well
as Big Beat’s Knife Party will be sure to put the crowd in tuneinduced craze with their layered House and Dubstep notes.
NAME: Summer Series with Move D at Revolver
Upstairs
WHERE: Revolver Upstairs (229 Chapel St, Prahran,
Victoria)
WHEN: Sunday 16th March, 2014; 7pm-6am.
WHO: Move D
TICKET PRICE: $25 + Booking Fee
LINK: http://www.revolverupstairs.com.au/
Skream. Photo credit is OWSLA
SINGLES
NAME: Adelaide Unsound Festival
WHERE: Adelaide Town Hall (128 King William Street,
Adelaide) AND Queen’s Theatre (Gillies Arcade / Playhouse
Lane, Adelaide)
WHEN: Thursday 6th March (8pm onwards); Friday 7th March
& Saturday 8th March, 2014; 7:30pm onwards.
WHO: Jed Kurzel, ft. Stars of the Lid, Luke Savisky, and
Zephyr Quartet and Friends (on the 6th @ Town Hall);
Morton Subotnick, Nurse With Wound, The Haxan
Cloak, Cut Hands (on the 7th @ Queen’s Theatre);
Moritz von Oswald Trio ft. Tony Allen and Max
Loderbauer, Emptyset, Gardland, James Ferraro (on the
8th @ Queen’s Theatre)
TICKET PRICE: $59 (Adult), $49 (Friends and also for
Concession holders), $30 (Fringe Benefits)
LINK: www.adelaidefestival.com.au/2014
Moving on to Melbourne with Move D (aka David Moufang): one
of Germany’s renowned techno exports. If his Sandmann (ft.
Maetrik) under K7 is anything to by Melbourne’s techno fans are
in for a treat! With its reliance on masterful use of synthesizers
and greater technical dexterity, techno music’s character and
evolution is almost directly proportional to the evolution of Gen
Y. Revolver Upstairs has a history with providing some of the best
live acts in VIC, and across the board. Techno beats have been
creeping up our charts recently, and leaving a prominent imprint
on dance music. So what better way to end an Aussie summer
in the ‘Sunshine State’ than on a techno high?
Newbie Unsound Festival makes up in artistic and tasteful line-up
what it make lack in longevity – having only been established in
2013. It is heavily supported by the Adelaide City Council itself,
suggesting a much more forgiving landscape that nurtures and
refines the hidden gems within the local dance music landscape.
Unsound 2014 will be kicking off with Jed Kurzel’s soundtrack to
the critically-acclaimed film Snowtown (2011) on the 6th at the
Town Hall. Queen’s will be playing host to the likes of Subtonick’s
60’s cult remastered Silver Apples and The Haxan Cloak’s moody
Excavation. And show will end on the notes of Oswald’s incredible
experimental techno and the likesofEmptyset’sMedium amongst others.
Renegade Master
Damian Lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels celebrate
a decade in dance.
p.98
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