On The Road - Lexicon

Pure Science, Atomics

17.11.01

After weeks of anticipation, the launch party for the UK's hottest new d&b label, Direct Recordings, was finally upon us.

First up on the wheels of steel were label bosses DJ Nicol and DJ Ollie. The pair started off on a funkier tip to set the mood and woo the punters on to the dance floor. The pair were soon accompanied by Direct label MC's EKS Man & Herbz who are firm favourites with the Pure Science massive and always get the party bubblin'.

At 11 o'clock it was time for the champion to entertain the massive. As soon as his first tune dropped you knew Kenny Ken had most definitly touched down!! As always Kenny rocked an already busy dance floor with the likes of V's forthcoming LK, Aphrodite vs. Barrington Levy and peaked with his own special mix of the classic Everyman.

On the hour of midnight Kenny Ken had to shoot and with the next DJ nowhere to be seen it was up to Ollie & Nicol to keep the crowd buzzin'. This time all the stops came out & so did the dubs!! Ollie dropped bombs such as Ram's 'Thunderball', Shy FX's 'Shake your body' and Direct's 1st release 'Airlock' by FX, then Nicol stepped in to bust an exclusive remix of 'Trick of Technology' which had everyone calling for the RELOAD!!

Next up was Special K, late due to motorway closures, who played a set almost exclusively of his own dubs fresh from the cutting house, all getting the approval of a packed house.

Shy FX was next to play. Now MC Dett was also inside, both these Pure Science veterans knew exactly what the crowd wanted and didn't fail to deliver the goods as always.

Last to play was DJ Dready standing in for Brockie. Dready hit the crowd with some wicked tunes and finished off what turned out to be one of the busiest night at Atomics for a while, not bad considering the mighty One Nation were at Brixton Academy on the same night!!

Big up to promoter Jim for sorting out the banner and the free drink passes!!!!

By Stephen James

Propaganda, wardour st, w1

12.01

Have a gander at this...

This Sunday special has been running since November 2001. Each week at Wardour Street in London you can catch the bass headz brocking out. The four pound entry is worth every penny as it runs 7.30 to 12 midnight. This was my second visit and tonight Nicky Blackmarket tops the bill. This small club hosts all the top DJs on rotation so which ever week you pick your bound to get a couple of top ones as well as some wicked ones.

Filthy Dirty Rich had just finished his set so he escapes a review, we'll get you next time! MCs tonight were Riddla and Foxy, I have to say the MIC did sound a little too loud. Ruckus from Canada doesn't escape from this review, the Hustlin' Beats DJ played an up-beat set to a crowd that simply lapped it up.

Nicky went b2b with Profile and smashed it with some fresh dub plates. Twisted Individual is definitely flavour of the month and his 'F-Word' got re-wound three times. Watch out for that one it's heavy! Of couse we got 'Lighter', 'Original Nutta' and others that no Blackmarket set would be complete without! Nicky expertly mixed the old with the new and the crowd lapped it up.

There's a safe vibe in here, young and old bass heads all come here to party and with that in mind one had a ball! Big up cabbie for the evening, MCR!

By Original Raver

3rd Birthday Party

The Dance Academy, Plymouth

25.01.02

There Legends Again…

Someone told me the best parties are the ones that you plan to go to. Some say it's because you don't have any high expectations, it's more of a surprise… Me I'm a bit more sceptical but I was right in one of those positions. It was 11 o'clock, Friday night and we were racing down the A38 to Plymouth. Legends of the Dark Black was on and it had session written all over it! They were celebrating their third year of hosting parties in Plymouth's Academy.

I'd been to a few before and it's a sort of hit and miss thing really what with Plymouth being saturated with d&b nights at the moment, sometimes you run the risk of an empty club and no atmosphere.

Pulling up alongside the club into its adjacent car park we could see the queue was building up. After about 10 to 15 minutes of queuing we were greeted with a full cloakroom, which didn't bother me as I only had a t-shirt on. So it was off to the main room to see what delights it had to offer. To my pleasant surprise it was well chocker. I looked over on to the main dancefloor from the balcony and the heat hit me like I was walking into a sauna.

The DJ whipping up the main room was Nicky Blackmarket and everyone was definitely loving it. Next up was the Newquay lad Mastervibe whose set was fresh and funky, it was good to hear tunes that were cutting edge from a local boy! By now the club was jammed. We heard the last one from Mastervibe only to be greeted by the lyrical maestro MC Jakes and the undoubted sounds of DJ Krust.

We were up for a lesson in jungle music. Krust slammed down the beats accompanied by his dark and grimey basslines. We were all in a frenzy from balcony to bar, just as I thought it couldn't get any better… up next was Adam F. The club went silent and the lights went down. Then with an almighty boooooom Adam F hit us with 'Redman dub' from his Kaos album - top marks! We were certainly living the dream! Shout out to all who was there that night, when's the next one?

By Stevie J & Pine-Fresh

Bar Rhumba, London

21.02.02

Thursday night rolls upon us once again and in the West End of London, a night of pure drum 'n' bass comes to Bar Rhumba. This must mean only one thing and that is Movement, which is well into its fifth successful year now. On approach I see a strong crowd gathering outside the club with anticipation of what is in store for them tonight, this only being my third visit I well know that they will not be let down inside here. After a nice welcome with the man with the clipboard and door staff I approach the bar to the sounds of Sketch & Code mixing it up before the main room fires off at midnight. These duo drop us with flavas of old skool samples mixed with the sound of the millennium, dark bass cuts with a dash of nasty breaks was the recipe going down in the bar area. It was now just past midnight and firing up first was New Yorker Mathematics from Hospital Records, alongside the MC Moose flowing some smooth lyrics.

With Bar Rhumba not being a big place I could see this turning into a wall-to-wall affair as waves of more people arrived. I also spotted DJ Craze, 3 x DMC champion, in the house, he was on a visit to do some events here in the U.K. He had done a mix for the 'One World' show with DJ Marky on Radio One and also appearing on the Fabio & Grooverider show on Friday to run a VIP mix. The one they call DJ Marky was next on the wheels of steel bringing us the Brazilian flava from the V Recordings crew and when he dropped 'Shake UR Body' by Shy FX the place erupted to the most noise I have heard for a long time since the days of the old raves, when this club use to be 3rd Base and beyond that. Bad Company have just entered the building and we are in for even a hotter night when the dub focus touches down with these guys. People are going for it in the bar area as the Movement sound system blasts out with Moose's lyrics 'Are you ready for the one Bad Company?' with a loud roar back from all that are in the joint.

The four of the crew take it in turns to drop new tunes from the Bad Company label with a bunch of CD's fresh from the studio. The tune that did for me on the night was when Capone's wrenching thunder bass track 'Grimey' was switched back and fourth with 'Speedball', undiluted stuff from the Bad Company stable. After a break from the heat which was at its maximum in here, along with the sounds and party people I headed to the bar for a much needed refreshment. After several hours of a mix selection of sounds old and new, I decide my ears have been pounded into surrender as I hit the exit of Bar Rhumba into a fresh but quiet morning in the West End. Many thanks to all the Movement crew for a good night all round and DJ Craze for the quick chat, nuff respect!

by Mike Kaila

Leicester University

Arriving bout 10.15 my heart sank as I viewed the lengthy queues (both of them). Bitterly cold the wind whipped round my legs, brrr knew I shouldn't have worn that skirt! The guest list wasn't a list it was a damn folder! I shivered and grit me teeth, well at least it would be ram-jam inside, all good. 10.45 and at last up the steps of the Uni supporting a nice yellow 'x' on my hand only to be met by a large labrador with wet nose - knew that skirt was a bad idea.

Finally inside I could have done with a very large hot chocolate. ATM's DJ Frenzic was well into his set in the main hall and it was pretty packed already. But did my radar ears deceive me or did I hear old skool? yippee! and into room 2 we dived. The '101 dalmatian man' was brocking out hard and in that get up, wicked! Many of theses classic choons were probably around while he was a primary school but his sheer enjoyment was infectious and I joined in - not like I need encouraging! Wonderful to hear the old skool things expertly mixed up by APB as he went back to back with Patience, bar service was quick and friendly and the vibe was happy.

Now faced with the dilemma of which room to stop in because by now the main room was shouting "Kenny Ken, Kenny Ken", problem solved I'll flit between the 2 rooms. Oh gosh the Ragga Twins were now on stage, these boys may have been around since time by they still get a crowd rowdy. They bounce lyrics back and forth like basketball players and of course we gonna join in. DJ SS is inna de area and of course it's off the hook.

Simon Bassline Smith in room two has them all hyped up and I am worn out trying to go between rooms to hear the best of it all. Roni Size, well what can you say and he entered with two of my personal faves from the Full Cycle click 'Snapshot' and 'Brown Paper Bag'. The old feet had taken a fair pounding but when Skibba and Mr Andy C stepped up I got squashed against the stage and rather close to the MC's knees, ha ha! The pyrotechnician gave a nod at Skibbadee and 'whoosh' the indoor firework fountain flared, provoking a very loud scream from me and nuff others.

'Truly One' like the Andy C's first choon the whole room is rocking in time, they came to party and party they did. As I looked around the packed venue contained a melting pot of ravers all ages, creed and colours. However my enjoyment was slightly tarnished by the foolio who insisted on blowing his horn 2 inches from my good ear and the other raver who appeared to be conducting some symphony, but it's all good. It's all about the music and if it feels good just do it.

Big up the tattooed man handing round his little cigars as there's not a cigarette machine dispensing anywhere on the premises tonight. I swear fags changed hands for £2.00 each in the ladies (next time bring a carton of B&H and make nuff dollars). This venue is ideal, the sound system was about right for the size of the venue and at least my hearing wasn't impaired when I left. This was a top night out and I would have no qualms about attending an event staged here in the future. Finally at about 3.30 the concrete in my trainers set and me little legs couldn't brock out no more so a taxi was called to the hotel.

Finally a big shout to Jo @ UMC (for the customer care!), Alex & Gareth @ Formation, 'the joker' @ the reception of Hilton Leicester (nuff jokes) and finally DJ SS and all his crew, big up!

by Original Raver

zodiac, oxford

02.02

Student and boffin central Oxford was the destination for tonights hedonistic adventures, greeted in by the usual sight of a promoter with a hundred and one things to deal with. Brillo waved us in. First DJ, Jay Jay played forthcoming tunes from his new imprint Input and also The Source faves. The other resident DJ Lee then stepped in to take control over the ones and twos and served his local following with many greats and upcomings releases from the Timeless and Function stables.

But holding the centre stage for tonight was one of Brazil’s finest exports otherwise known as DJ Marky accompanied by his new travel buddy MC Stamina. Towards the end of Lee’s set the crowds started filing in, up until about 12.30 the attendance had looked a bit scarce, but with the Brazilian sensation in the house you know it would come good in the end.

Marky will go down as a legendary deck technician and proves that a good DJ doesn’t just have to pull out dub after dub. It’s all about the technique and crowd interaction, do the head nod, occasionally point your finger in the air and the heaving crowd will go wild as they did tonight!