Plump DJs // Audio

Ive got to say from the start that I was looking forward to this night. And so from a single glance at the que outside auido was everyone else in Brighton. I was pretty glad that I didnt have to stand halfway up the neighbouring street wondering whether I would get in.

Steelerwheelz was doing a mighty fine job of warming up when i arrived. Playing a exciting blend of uptempo, fluffy, happy sounding breakbeats. Next on the decks was promoter/producer/label owner/DJ Skool Of Thought. And he obliged the crowds by dropping the tempo and the tone down to a damn dirty and nasty level, which promptly caused the dancefloor to explode!

The highlight was hearing the absolutely outrageous track by Toasty Boy being dropped. Speaking to Mr. Steela about it, the convo went…

“Jesus! Loyde’s just dropped that Toasty Boy Track!” he repiled “Yeah, but its so fucking dark!” to which the only possible repsonce is “Your point being?”

This track sounds like something Tayo would make if he was in a bad mood and feeling especailly dubbed out and broody. You could feel the weight of the bassline. Thats how heavy this tune is. (If anyone has a copy please get in touch!)

The mood of the crowd was kept to a simmer by Skool Of Thought from the melancholic beats he spun. But all that was about to change…

It had been over a year sonce the Plump Dj’s last graced the dancefloors of Brighton. And as the demand on the night proved, it had obviously been far too long. During the last year the ‘Plumps’ reputation has grown and now preceeds them. They return to Audio sporting the three breakspoll awards that everyone else really wants, a new album, and some even newer, staright from the studio material.

I had been lucky enough to see the Plump’s gig at the Concorde2 a few years back. And I have to say that it was one of the most influential gig’s I have ever seen. Back then ‘Plump Night Out’ was the soundtrack to my life and it was a pretty special time. It was amazing then to see the guys blow up Brighton’s toughtest breaks crowd and win them over. And I have to say that im glad to report that nothing much has changed.

There has always been two sides to the Plump Dj’s. The happy-go-lucky side you bear witness to on tracks like ‘Electric Disco’ and ‘Funk Hits The Fan,’ and then there’s the darker, intence serious sounds. My passion lies firmly in the latter catagorey. I was glad to see ‘Soul Vibrates,’ in my opinion, change the modern conception of how this thread of breakbeat should sound and be made. A new benchmark was laid down.

So as you might guess by now I couldnt wait to see them play. I had travelled to fabric to see them a few times but this was different. This was back in the all-encompasing crib that is Brighton. I wanted to see how the last year had changed them as both Dj’s and as producers.

The reception they recieved when they stepped into the booth was rare. It was the kind of applause you hardly ever see at the end of a night. And they were yet to play a record. And so it began. The Rub Off featured early doors (set up beautifully by a cheeky intro…) and got everyone in the mood for what was to come. Slydes new track, Vibrate to this, on the Plump’s home label fingerlickin’ stood out, along with a remix of kasabian’s processed beats, which managed to get even the most hardend indie fan’s who came with a predetermination not to enjoy themselves to finally let go and place their hands in the air along with the rest of the crowds.

Now, the thing that sets the Plump’s apart from the others in my mind is pure and simple Passion. It seems to me, to be the key. The only other guy that plays with such a passion and enjoys such an interaction with the crowd is Brighton’s own hero, Fatboy Slim. When a tune’s gonna drop Lee Rous and Andy Gardener bounce in unison with the crowd right upto the looming peak. Lee play’s invisable synths through the troughs and must hit every single snare, hat and drum all night long with air cutting hands.

The Plump’s showed us a plethera of new ‘post lotion’ material. Stuff that wasnt ready/right for the last album was played out with pride of place. The next single Blackjack was aired along with a track that used to form the last part of the original mix of Get Kinky, but it was deemed too good for a mere outro, so the track was split into what is now Get Kinky and this mysterious new track. My personal highlight of the night was hearing the magnificent Spacebass. This track reminices over the finest moments of the early Plump work, whilst incorperating the sensibilities of later productions. Big track.

The set built into a brilliant last twenty minutes that knocked the still rammed dancefloor sideways. The now legendary re-edit of Scram with added sirens and two acidlines, screeched out. Followed by the head fuck that is Acid Hustle. The finale came in the form of the Plump Dj’s own remix of Stakker (Future Sound Of London’s) Humanoid, and the crowd left satisfied they had seen something special (although most of them would have happily raved onto 6am (Bring those new laws on!!!)).

The intencity and the belief that they play with instantly involves and focus’s the crowd. Its so obvious they enjoy what they are doing and that they believe wholely in the records they select to play. It becomes infectious to watch and listen to. And this is why they have such a good repuation and why they are respected by breaks heads the country/world over. As Dj’s they are unparalled. Although Freeland comes very very very close second. A blinding night…Do yourselves a favour and be there next time.

Acidflashlight

Audio
http://www.audiobrighton.com

10 Marine Parade
Brighton
East Sussex
Tel: 01273-624343

info@audiobrighton.com

Words: 3 0 3 t i l l i d i e