Laurent Garnier // Audio

Tonight was set to big one, if not the biggest of the year – Laurent Garnier. We’ve had rumours of Garnier playing in Brighton; he was even set to be on the now de-funked Union schedule. Sadly things didn’t go as planned and we’ve had to wait months for a glimpse of one of the original dancing DJs.

I swing by Audio at around 11:00, looks like most of Brighton have realised what’s in store and form an orderly queue that spreads up and round the corner. Tonight will be packed. In fact, like a twat, I’ve been dreading this night for a while. I love Audio, but admittedly it can sometimes be a bit to packed. It’s a small venue, which is also one of its selling points. But Laurent Garnier, a man who could attract a lively bunch of people to a funeral, could be something else. The night was perfectly managed by the venue, not packed out so you can’t move but flexible and free while still keeping an amazing atmosphere.

On entry, Laurent stands in the booth, flicking through a lifetime’s supply of CD’s – he prepares his set to a Jazzy backdrop. What a pleasure getting into a venue and being greeted by the headline act. You can almost picture Laurent now; “non, non, non, a hwil play see whole naight, or a hwil not play at all.” And what a night it was to be. It’s clear 2 minutes after entry it was gonna be manic, filling up 4 times more space then Paul Woolford just the week before (not comparing the 2 of course).

And it begins. I feel my feet start frog stepping on the spot. Garnier is a well know and respected artist – he’s known as a king of techno yet famous for his incorporation of different styles both in his production and live sets. So what could we expect? He breaks straight in with some classics, and fills audio with a deep techno sound that I haven’t heard in a good while. Everyone seems to be playing much fluffier stuff these days – not bad sets, yet just more flaccid. Frankly I want something darker, dirtier and ooh a little more Detroit. After all we live in the Detroit of the UK don’t we? Excuse the pretentiousness but is this place, Brighton, not meant to be cutting edge? Sometimes it feels like we live in Portsmouth yet all think it’s so good. Cock’s to that.

Garnier fed in so many genre’s into his hours you’d be amazed. You don’t get to many DJ’s that can really play to an audience. In reality any cunt out there can beat match… and look how special you are, you picked some tracks. Garnier takes on a different role, everything is thought out, enjoyed, not playing music cause “it’s cool” but playing it because everyone involved is eating up every track. This is were the years of experience come into play, know the audience, play tracks and create more then just a club night atmosphere. Rip the fucking roof off and serve to it the crowd with some Dijon mustard.

We had such a musical rollercoaster of an evening. 2:00 we’re hit with breaks (not the cheese you hear most places), 2:30am comes the signature track “Man with the red face” – bringing a riot followed with a DnB period. Seeing the reaction from the crowd Garnier grabs his mike; “So you like DnB” he bellows. The crowd go wild. Why? Frankly I held my head in my hands and retreated to sit this one out. But you can see what’s happening, read the crowd and feed them. Feed them that dirty Dijon mustard they’ve paid to eat. A while passes, and it’s back to the key, Tech. Garnier, now skipping like a French man with a fresh baguette. And it goes on… we get more and more hypnotised by the Dijon and keep begging for more.

Things suddenly go quiet, the crowd stare like zombies. Blissful vocals of; “You make me feel, mighty real” – creep out of the speaker system. A real slow build up, working it’s way to a crescendo sending the crowd flying. Remember the Dijon? Yeah they are swimming in the shit now. Time passes, things get darker: “You’ve got to believe in something, why not believe in me” hits the speakers. Someone help me out here. I know this sample is widely used. E.g. Fierce Ruling Diva’s – Believe and that track that people always claim is Dave Clarke’s – House of God. Spread some light here, is that Dave Clarke’s version? Or why the fuck would it have the Orbital – Chime aspect? Ah at this point I’m too fucked to comprehend what’s going on. After all, it is 4:30am.

The camera goes away, it’s time to relax and just be free. Can’t tell you too much about the end cause frankly I wasn’t mentally there. But what can be said is; it was stunning.

I wanted to be sceptical about tonight. I can’t imagine Mill’s, Hawtin, or the like, let alone Garnier playing at Audio… turns out I was wrong.

Fuck me, how wrong.

Audio
http://www.audiobrighton.com

10 Marine Parade
Brighton
East Sussex
Tel: 01273-624343

info@audiobrighton.com

Words: Marek the Czech

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