05/07/2010

I just realised I’m probably the worst person to review dnb gigs in Melbourne. Back in the day, I used to know all the big tunes, and could muddle my way through a review of a set with no worries. These days however, things have changed. But unlike before, I’m enjoying reviewing these events more, simply because I’ve come to expect the unexpected.

Before Klute came on, Joe Seven was playing some glitchy minimalist dubby drum and bass, stuff which intrigued me as it straddled that line between breaks, dubstep and drum and bass. It was an interesting selection for a set before Klute, whose style is widely regarded as pure drum and bass, and although I didn’t jump around like a mad bastard to Joe’s set, I did really enjoy the sounds he was putting out. One tune in particular stuck with me – it sounded as though it sampled Future Sound of London’s Papua New Guinea.

By the time Klute had started Roxanne’s had a sizable amount of crew ready to bounce, and bounce they did. Kicking off with a melodic track, the deep deep bassline kicked in and got everyone a little more vocal. Following on with growly basslines and then a rolling almost old school track, then bang into hard dnb. Although I don’t have Klute’s new album, many of these tunes sounded distinctively Klute, and the crowd reaction was also distinctively Klute – lots of cheering and lots of people dancing like mad bastards.

I tried to check out the “red” room too, but there were very little people in there, and every time I did I could hear the slammers Klute was playing, so never lingered for long. Klute continued on, lifting the crowd with the melodic amen breaks than slamming down the hard tunes, keeping the crowd pumped throughout. It was a reminder of just why Klute is one of my favourite dnb DJs – he’s not technically brilliant with tricks and showmanship, but delivers a solid dancefloor set that rocks the party every single time.