(idm) `scratch' @ the spitz: spring heel jack, MASS, no spykid
Msg-Id:
<199609191217.NAA14669@smile.msi-uk.com>
Mbox:
idm.9609.gz
last night i went along to `scratch' at the spitz (east end of london, near
spitalfields market). advertised acts were spykid, MASS and spring heel
jack.
although it was supposed to start at 7 with spykid, they didn't let people in
until around 8; a dj was mixing on a couple of decks, playing a mixture of
rap and trip-hop-style tunes (the latter reminiscent of isdn and some of the
ninja tune artists; indeed, i keep hearing samples i thought i recognised).
sometime after 9, MASS came on, or rather the dj's stuff faded out and his
stuff faded in. one guy with 4 cd players, a mixing desk and what looked
like a digital effects unit. he played a good set of experimental/
industrial/ambient/dubby stuff: noise, drones and fripp/eno-esque loops, with
occasional sparse rhythms of thuds, scrapes and other percussive events, and
a few dubby basslines. down-tempo; no-one tried to dance. no idea what
sources he was using; i assume he was using a frippertronic-like technique to
construct complex loops from the four sources.
about an hour later (after a brief interlude from the dj), spring heel jack
took the stage: two guys, initially apparently mixing from dat/tape (?) but
later spinning some disks. the core of their tunes was good solid jungly
material very similar to the two albums (some parts were maddeningly
familiar), frequently with interestingly-textured synth washes over the top.
big bass, big drums; good use of pauses and build-ups, which the (many)
people dancing seemed to like.
after about 45 minutes, there was what i think was a break for baked potatoes
-- the dj came back. unfortunately i had to leave at this point (11.30ish)
for fear of missing the last tube home.
the light show was pretty good: done by `light surgeons', there was a
net-like piece of material at the left and right sides of the stage, with
left and right sets of projectors so that the back of the stage combined the
images from both sets (which also appeared on the sides); a chaotic blend of
loops from 2001 and other scifi films, technical diagrams, text about medical
care, flowcharts, chinese script, and more.
it cost 5 quid to get in, and drinks were reasonably priced (about 2 quid per
pint or bottle of beer). the atmosphere was fairly relaxed, and there were a
few tables and chairs for those who wanted them. all in all, a good night.
the next event features cylob and snowpony (who they?).
on the 26th september, luke vibert and 2 player are at the sprawl, buckingham
palace road, 7-11pm; anyone up for it (maybe meeting beforehand)?
-- richard