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Gatecrasher’s Birthday After-Shock @ Discotheque – LeedsAfter a mind blowing Magna event, Gatecrasher served up some toxic birthday after-shock at Discotheque in Leeds, with Marco V, Sander Van Doorn, Menno De Jong, Riley & Durrant and Art of Noise. Following the huge birthday celebrations the previous week, we expected a relatively low key affair in Leeds. How wrong we were! From the moment we walked into the rammed main room, we realised the whole place was going ballistic and the night had only just begun! Menno de Jong was readily disseminating his scripture to the waiting masses, with a lesson in Crasher tectonics. Recognised as one of the scenes big new talents, Menno has become one of the most in demand DJ’s around. Label boss and producer for the highly revered, Intuition Recordings, and hailed by many as the ‘future of trance’. Not without cause and Menno was fulfilling the prophecy at Discotheque with an introspective mix of club cuts and future classics. His sublime new track, ‘Nolthando’ is a trance work of art, with a spine tingling breakdown and magical arrangement. Smiling at his captivated audience, Menno brings in the mid section from Reward – Ensure, whilst the lighting filters through the enveloping mist. As he drops the Crasher favourite, M.I.K.E –‘Sunrise at Palamos’, his spell is cast and the crowd lap up his Dutch style. Menno’s own edit of ‘Warrior – If you want me (Paul Webster)’ causes havoc with its memorable hook and rolling bass. Mixed into ‘PVD ft. Giuseppe Ottaviani – Far Away’, intricate weaves of melody with delicate pads, drench the crowd during the break before the percussion gallops off with vigour. Menno de Jong showed unquenched enthusiasm behind the decks, and clearly enjoyed his set at Discotheque, saying: "I had an absolute blast at the Gatecrasher Birthday-Aftershock last weekend. The place was packed, the audience up for it, and so was I! Playing for Gatecrasher is just great in that way, I always feel that it's a crowd I can really connect with." Menno De Jong Following Menno, there was second performance from Riley & Durrant. Having already played a warm up set they didn’t hold back for their second slot behind the decks. With stonking drums and unforgiving kicks they were firing on all cylinders as the rampant, ‘Bulldozer’ scythed through the sound-system. The highlight of many a DJ set in 2007, Simon Patterson’s killer tune is staking its claim for track of the year. After a short set playing some chunky new material, it was up to Art of Noise (Alex Oldale & Greg Morris) to step up the hallowed Crasher turntables as Marco V was running late. Not only was it their debut, but they were being asked to play at peak time and closing set. Having built a strong reputation, playing alongside some of the scenes biggest DJ’s, it was only a matter of time before Art of Noise were asked to play the legendary, Gatecrasher. Kicking off their set with the huge track, ‘Black is the Colour’, the crowd show their appreciation as the bliss vocal from Cara Dillon sweeps in. Slamming back with the grittiest of bass-lines, the speakers reverberate with a satisfying growl. Art of Noise jump around the DJ booth, clearly thriving on the experience, the crowd feeding off their vivacious energy. Next a crisper beat is introduced, before the tight percussion and firm kick from Greg Downey’s mix of ‘Heaven Scent’ courses through the club. Building cleverly as elements of the original drift to the fore, the euphoric hook is unleashed before an explosion of white streamers shower the crowd. Lasers and strobes fire out vivid illumination, as Art of Noise grin at the smashed Crasher dance-floor, realising they had arrived!
Wasting no time in laying down his philosophy, Marco V brings in deep, grimy bass with a thrashing electro inspired mid-section. Providing climatic tension, swirling acid comes into the mix alongside dark undertones. Working in his own recent release, ‘Possible but Unlikely’ the V-man’s toxic techno provides an altogether foreboding assault on your senses. His transitions were tight, with frenzied acid laced beats gliding into brutal kick drums, pieced together like an electro jigsaw. Now in full throttle he drops the infamous ‘Automanual’ which brings the house down and leaves clubbers grinning like wired chimps. Its stomping bass clashing with old skool stabs and militant break beats. Marco’s own gutter grind, ‘Red, Blue, Purple’ provides maximum impact on the dance-floor, surging with a wave of farty bass, it drowns the crowd in a droning low end and hydraulic rave synths. Delivering a much more pumping mix than previous Gatecrasher gigs of late, he read the audience well, keeping the bpm thriving for his peak time set. The mixing was faultless, with a truly energetic trip through Marco’s Vault of filth! He had this to say about the gig: ‘’Really enjoyed playing last Saturday at the Gatecrasher party in club Discotheque. Fantastic crowd and amazing sound and light system! Looking forward to coming back!’’ Marco V Following Marco V was a new breed of tech DJ who has risen the ranks in a very short space of time. Sander Van Doorn has been an integral part of dance music’s revival. Fusing trance and electro sounds with the most speaker flexing techno has inspired a generation. Still only 28 years of age, the DJ, producer and label boss from Eindhoven has many fans across the board in the industry. DJ’s from Digweed to Carl Cox, Sasha to PVD have all been caning his productions, such is the quality and fresh appeal. Defying boundaries, he used a heady mix of prog, tech, electro and trance all thrown into the melting pot with his signature Sander style. The progressive house of ‘Love and Solace’ by Ben Brown, goes down well, with its dark and edgy atmosphere and twisted FX vocal. Pounding bass with an ever present groove was Van Doorn’s order of the night. Shifting it up a gear the Richard Durand remix of’ Way Out West – The Fall’ dropped like a sledge hammer with its melancholic male vocal and romping bass. Tune of the moment from Sander himself, ‘Riff’ undoubtedly received the best reception during his set. Its simplicity is its strength. A twisted and acid freaked synth, barks at you like a demented Doberman, before the deepest decibels serve your primal urges with bass from the depths. Finishing his set on the frantic ‘Platinum’ from Pascal Feliz & Nenes, it’s easy to see why Sander has built such a following. Using the freshest of material and converting many a trance enthusiast towards techno persuasions.
‘’Our debut for Gatecrasher was out of this world! It was such an honour to be involved. The club was rammed & the crowd really up for it! When we dropped ‘Born Slippy’ the place went nuts! That’s what Crasher is all about! Can still feel the buzz now!’’ Art of Noise Overall this was another quality event from Gatecrasher. After expecting a tame night in comparison to Magna’s session the week before, we were treated to a humdinger of a b-day after bash at Discotheque! Words: Liam Postlethwaite |
