- Clubbing in the deep heart of the North East of England continues to charge ahead with the likes of Clubs of the caliber of Foundations, Shindig, and World Headquarters. Brining in some fabulous names and heaven sent music. Friday 6th March 2004 saw another successful evening with the arrival of the great Exhibitionist, Jeff Mills. Foundation was packed. Getting the crowd ready was Magpi-events and their djs in room one with name on the main stage. The stunning visuals of the vjing were impressive as the beats and loops took over. Magpi events are unique in their promotions in that everyone has to enjoy yourself and no wonder their events are fast gaining the name as THE parties to head to. With a stellar DJ roster that has seen Funk d Void, and Jeff Mills and more to come in the next ensuing months, it's no wonder that off-duty DJs, record label owners and promoters are usually seen grooving side-to-side with the clubbers.
They are luring not just the hippy chic Northerners. There is a growing band of Scots coming down especially for the events.
It was a little after 1am when the great Jeff appeared. The main room was full of anticipation as he made his grand entrance, yet simply acknowledged the crowd and let them know that this was going to be no ordinary techno night. It was an exhibition. Not only of Mills' DJing skills or production, but an audience with clubbers, a homage to a genre that is still fresh and as creative as it was a decade ago. The evolution of sound. The display of other techno auteurs that all lend themselves to what Jeff is trying to create and portray. He weaved organic sound into fulsome beats, pulsating splices of thunder. The club was teaming with punters who clearly enjoyed the set. From the dancers who moshed and wailed their arms, to the occasionally glow-sticker meditating to the mesmerising sound, to the quiet ones who just sat contemplatively analysing very sound, allowing each note, tone beat and rhythm to flow from their aural cavities through into their bodies. The mixes were a fine example of a man still on a mission. The whole set gave a thorough indication of what Jeff Mills is working with and trying to 'exhibit'. A perfectly fluent mix of sheer, escalating, techno crescendo's, dissonant signals and utter bass-funk. There were cartwheels of smooth and abrasive sounds, spinning Jennies of woven textured tonal ear-cloth. Foundation reverberated; it was a cacophony of crazed wonder lust that emanated chiefly from the music, but also from the club design that ran through the high-octane atmospherics.
You could hear the sonorous arousals of melody, beat, rhythm and rhyme, all being carefully restructured through his platinum mixer. The sound of cream being poured over strawberries sitting on a bed of Neapolitan Ice Cream and crushed nuts being added! Those of you who have ever witnessed him up close, or if you have ever seen his DVD, Exhibitionist, you will know how hard and how far he pushes those three decks, and for that you get music that jumps up and grabs you.
With his legendry trio of decks coupled with the supersonic mixer, Jeff Mills mixes in multiple techniques of using crossfader, line levels and/or EQ and other fine music enhancing filters like white noise add, yes he'll ADD white noise if he has to! to create lush, sonorous soundscapes that singularly are beautiful and unique. Jeff mills Techno signature was stamped over everything. Though some of the tracks were laced with mellower, funkier grooves as one song finished, he pulled right back, pause momentarily and then sent you on another techno journey that just stopped short of a trip into trance (though would not have been unwelcome!). It was an evening of insatiable track selection; there were builds and drops, rushes and pacers, yet the composition of the set held true. You knew you were swimming in the eclectic sound of esoteric techno breaks. There is always a welcome for successful crossover or an added infusion of other musical elements, but Jeff kept everything tight into his infamous groove.
Last night's clubbers were also treated to a stunning visual display on the monitors and screens of Jeff playing live at an earlier event as well as cuts from the breathtakingly beautiful, ground breaking "Exhibitionist" DVD. The evening clearly struck a deep nerve amongst those who are searching for innovation and advancement in today's Electronic Music scene, those who seek change and innovation without compromising creative direction, well they found it at Foundation.
Jeff mills played @foundation Friday March 6th 2004