Nathan Fake and Alex Smoke // Audio

Fusion now: Our Qjump guestlist had a few problems yesterday due to our email not reaching Audio in time. Stompa Phunks internet system died :( The Qjump was extended to all night all you had to do was mention Brighton Fusion on the door. Sorry if you got wet while working it out. Atleast this confirms one thing to us all – computers suck balls.

Saturday 19th May – Kliks & Stompa Funk Pres. Nathan Fake & Alex Smoke

This weekend’s travels took me to the seductive underground club that is Audio for a combined event from two well-established tech-elec nights – Kliks & Stompafunk. I had been in deep curiosity of what to expect when given such an overwhelming pair of headline acts with such definitive styles on the underground minimal/techno/experimental tip. Previous reviews had led me to believe that Nathan Fake was not to be known as a “DJ” but instead a host of his own production blended in real time with the aid of a laptop, Ableton Live & a midi controller. Further more I was told that the experience was to contain visual as well as audio intended to compliment his sound & vice versa. Friends who had witnessed his act had warned me not to expect a strait forward set with the appropriate sounds incorporated into a 4×4 beat. But instead to expect warped beats and experimental noises chopped up and manipulated by Fake. This didn’t put me off, but instead attracted me more so, and as expected, I was to be in for a treat, however, that was not the opinion of everyone!

Not sure what to expect with Alex smoke, and with little to go on, I felt it necessary to obtain his recent album “paradolia” and give it a quick once over in the car on the way to the event. It had me hypnotised and infatuated, structured in a very stylish way – a journey with warm feelings and deep drive. I hoped to expect a similar structure in his live performance and also hoped that he would perform a specific favourite on the album “snider”!

Now feeling clued up and in high spirits for the night ahead we reached Brighton centre and it was just a case of walking from the car to the club, an easy task to accomplish you would think. Unfortunately not the case, and without warning the skies opened and drenched us and the rest of Brighton’s peeps & streets. We rushed to the bar above audio … “above” and were greeted with upbeat funk, jazz and some extremely talented cocktail staff. This had me entertained whilst I dried off savouring a rich glass of Magners … “and relaaaax”.

We all gathered at the front entrance of audio and shuffled inside to be fondly greeted by the sound of kliks resident/founder Lee Smith and an already packed floor of movers & shakers. I was immediately drawn in, focusing on the obsessive groove and bopped my head as I filtered through the crowd to find fellow Brighton Fusion buddy, Marek. A pause in the music interrupts our catch up conversation and a full head of hair appears from behind a laptop, Mr Fake I presume? The pause stays for a good 20 seconds and the dance floors eyes turn to Lee Smith who grins whilst suddenly filling the club with a final chunk of meaty minimal mayhem that is instantly followed by a cheer. I glance back to the other side of the box to see Nathan has been joined by his visual jock and is ready to start. A tap of the mouse and away we go. A stuttering collection of hisses introduces us to the wondrous world of Nathan fake. An uplifting chord pattern casually takes over followed by a manipulated beat that seems to be blurred by Nathan and his midi controller. Every change in sound is in co-ordination with the slight movement of his hand and also his visual aids that appear to vary, from cartoon animals to moving shapes, even written messages like “needs colour” referring to the black and white content. Both the set and the visuals evolve. It is at this point I can see that some of the crowd aren’t really getting this manipulated Euphoria. I overhear someone mention that there’s a lack of beat and they can’t dance. This seems to be an issue, which causes the crowd to deteriorate. However I stay firmly where I am and find myself entranced, I had known what to expect, and as a result did not focus on the dancing problem but instead the creativity in this unique performance. The set now approaches its end much like it had started – an exaggerated build up, which is clever to pull in the focus of everyone. Eyes are fixed on the 21-year-old producer from Norfolk ready for the drop of one final beat but instead he now takes his eyes off his laptop and gestures it is the end resulting in a large applause despite the controversy he has caused.

The jackin’ sound of Tula & Serge Santiago follows imminently hitting the sub-woofers hard – starting things off with a very powerful track “half inch jack – mad cow” pricking up the ears of the casual bar dwellers. Within no time at all the shuffling & nodding has set a motion in the minimal ocean once again and the floor fills. Both Tula & Serge start to bop behind the decks resulting in a cheer and a raise of hands. Without warning Alex smoke now appears, unshaven with a slight arch in his back, he lights a cigarette and sips his vodka & coke, then casually leans over his computer and starts to nod his head whilst prep’ing his set. A short break in the music comes again, another cigarette is lit, and smoke’s sounds stir in the air. Much like the patient approach his album takes I guess there is to be a sudden drop (an effective method when done correctly). I start to wonder if this is to occur, but whilst doing this, I’m interrupted – corrupted by an intense drop, followed by a sweet groove of inpatient kicks. This stays, but the sounds change, and it is again clear he is too aided with ableton & another midi controller. Focusing on his movements behind the box, I see that he is tweaking different sounds, resulting in trippy noises that give the set a nice warm texture. As it progresses I start to recognise a change in the rhythm but where from, I could not say. Tied in with elements of different beats it makes it hard to place but as key sounds settle it is suddenly apparent, “Snider”! It seemed to sound even better now than before and people in the crowd were getting just as worked up as me. The set had hit its peak and I was lapping it up. Apparently so was Alex, as by now the subtle nodding had turned in to a mass body movement even though the expression remained the same on his face, calm and focussed with an occasional smile. It now approached the end with an uplifting finish that rounded up the journey nicely.

Overall the night had been a refreshing journey through some very abstract and unique types of music. As had been predicted, Nathan Fakes set was not understood by everyone, and maybe that was to due to the order in which the artists had performed. Regardless it had done a good job in showing me that the words “live performance” can make the set a totally different experience, more a performance to be appreciated for its creativity than for its compulsive drive to make a crowd dance. Alex smoke had added his unique rhythm to an extent but had some select strait beat tracks as well that kept the punters ticking over. Both residents from kliks (lee smith, Mark Lerman) & Stompafunk (Serge Santiago, Tula, Kenny Hawkes, David Parr) did well in maintaining a great atmosphere and it was good to have the best of both under one roof. A well rounded night in my opinion, compliments to the kliks/Stompafunk gang for an eye opening experience.

Photos by that hideous migrant, Marek

Download this video to confuse and disgust. No it’s not animal porn.

Audio
http://www.audiobrighton.com

10 Marine Parade
Brighton
East Sussex
Tel: 01273-624343

info@audiobrighton.com

Words: Firno