Kliks: Kompakt – Dj Koze, The Modernist // Concorde2

Saturday 18th March 2006 – Kliks Pres. Kompakt – Dj Koze, The Modernist, Lee Smith

I must say when following the line ups of Dj’s in previous Kliks events I thought it hard to out do themselves, but the bar was firmly raised several notches when this week saw a unique piece of Hamburg take the one’s & two’s at Brighton’s mighty Concorde 2.

When preparing to engage in a Kliks event I found the following steps needed to be taken in order to set myself up for a blinder. Firstly I made sure that, for the car journey, I had the newest release of “Now That’s What I Call Minimal” set to blow in the CD player. Also, when playing this, to have an intense system, similar to the one within the confides of the concorde 2 (if possible), to drive the pulsating rhythm throughout the vehicle. Once arriving in Brighton it is then imperative to get lost at least once in the North Lanes whilst trying to find an adequate watering hole to wet whistles. When discovering the right one, in our case “William the Fourth”, I find one pint of Magners cider or one of their best bitter is needed to start up the engines, as well as casual conversation (and phone videos) on previous parties ventured. Feeling satisfied that these boxes have been firmly checked I then feel it is time to move on to the main event.

As we approach the club a faint baseline harks and I start to shake, not with anxiousness but instead with vibration from what is not the club itself, but instead several cars outside with sound systems pushing solid groove from within. I am very pleased to see the crowd of people gathered at the front of the club, keen to enter before it has even opened, some bouncing in set rhythm formation to the car’s beat as well as to the intense cold that made it hard to stand still. When approaching the front of the queue I am greeted by one of the promoters who hands me a playing card and explains this is to allow me guest list entrance. I was slightly unsure about handing the lady in the ticket office this card, however, she examines it and then sure enough, I am granted access.

The soon to be filled club is then set straight in front of me and I take a moment to marvel in its glory. Whilst faint blue lights scan the club and smoke hazes throughout, I walk through into the clubs front. I then spot Kliks resident/founder Lee Smith start up, setting an ambient tone which I could tell was a contradiction of things to come. As the club filled, odd people scattered throughout the floor started to bounce and groove independently, the beat slowly converting – darker, deeper, klikier, bleepier. I then find myself compelled to move and am caught in a hypnotising melody. Suddenly the music stops and a cheer replaces, and as I look around I am surrounded by a crowd of minimal heads. I look up to the decks and Lee Smith steps down to be replaced by a dark mysterious figure . . . none other than The Modernist. He places his laptop on the desk and a fixed look of concentration stays on his face. There is then a rich sound of synth that drives the speakers to life and a firm beat suddenly kicks. As this happens he stays with the laptop and it is obvious to see he is in control of Ableton Live. His fixed look of concentration stays, yet the rest of his body bounces back and forth. The set is best described as a journey, a very good DJ for building an atmosphere and in a very unique *mysterious* way, hard to describe in word form. The music then ceased once more to make way for the main act – Koze. After hearing stories of his widely eclectic musical blend of minimal music & classic soul E.P’s tied together with turntable perfection, it was hard to tell what was in store and, whilst trying to predict, a crazy array of hisses & bleeps distracted me, and I immediately fixed my eyes to the stage. The Intro to his set lasted quite a while with no hint of a kick or melody, and I could tell this was purposely done to build suspense for things to come, then without warning a treble filled high hat takes us into the start of his first track and heads start to nod. There is then a sudden drop of a jackin’ beat and the baseline takes over. The set takes shape, more of a dirty minimal set with a Koze signature of cuts, scratch’s and random effects of flange & echo. The uproar of the crowd on these signatures shows me what it is that makes this man a hype in the underground music world. There was a key point in the set for me, this being the drop of an evil stuttering composition by Shane Berry. There is no doubt in my mind that this guy has a unique talent, and it was well displayed at this major event for Kliks. As the night came to an end I waited with baited breath see what his last track was, and I was not to be disappointed as he chose an awesome ambient, yet clicky piece (SLG – Anymore) wrapping up the night with an uproar of “Encore – One more”!

There was a certain vibe, that I felt worked extremely well within the Concorde 2, this being the dark, dingy un-maintained, randomly located but extremely well laid out club, going hand in hand with the dark dingy, random, but extremely well laid out music that is Minimal. All in all, a large achievement for Kliks and firm respect to them for pulling off another superb event.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the after party @ Sumo as one of my friends was rather ill and had lost their party head at the bottom of a rather laaaarge glass. However, I have no doubt it was awesome, as have been the previous ones . . BIG respect to the Kliks residents!

Concorde2
http://www.concorde2.co.uk/

Madeira Shelter Hall,
Madeira Drive
Brighton
BN2 1EN

Telephone: 01273 697888
Booking office: 01273 673311
Fax: 01273 696157

info@concorde2.co.uk

Words: Firno