Future Elements 3 @ Gatecrasher, Hobart (28/09/02)
Reported by Tristan Monday, September 30 2002
Future Elements 3; two words and a numeral bringing with it a sense of expectation and anticipation. Although only ten months and 2 instalments into the series, the professionalism and complete experience of FE NYE and FE2 kick started the spluttering idle motor that was the Tasmanian dance movement. Forcing fellow promoters to look further afield and open their minds, 2002 has seen Hobartians spoilt for choice with bigger and better events becoming the norm, not the exception.
But could the FE crew continue to raise the bar or would the plateau expected by the cynics finally reel this established productions team in? With big name Sydney DJ?s Sveta and Sugar Ray secured, so to was the crowd, but with the public liability nightmare removing Huon Quay from the promoters grasp, the dice was rolled and the gamble was made. Gatecrasher would be resurrected
Cruising right through the door, with no FE2 line to be detected, I waltzed my way directly into a booth on the ground floor of the venue, which was to be the Breaks Arena for the night. Modal was first to strut his stuff in the breaks arena on the lower floor playing a form of dark breaks not unlike Brancaccio & Asher when they delve in that direction. The sound lacked the depth of its sibling upstairs appearing hollow, most likely due to the probably entire mobile setup needed to be installed in the long neglected venue. With a rather abstract army camouflage net over the dancefloor, Modal played some decent breaks, but it was nothing compared to what Damon was going to do to the genre in just a short interlude during his later set upstairs. Whoever took over from Modal started minimally. Very minimally. So I went upstairs to the Future Arena.
When I moved upstairs at 12:15, I was without understating it dumbstruck. Absolutely amazing. With awesome visuals and superb lighting the stage was set for a night of epic proportions. Damon was playing his familiar brand of tech and progressive house on a tribal edge. Of which Steve Lawler?s ?Adante? was a prime example and twenty minutes into Sunday a thriving dancefloor had been successfully cultured by the Future Elements horticulturalists. Now if it takes until 4:00 to be lost in the music at Fabric then Cameron Leslie and Steve Blonde should have a chat to Damon, Scott and Dave as missing persons notices for the entire crowd were being posted close to the strike of one. The dark breaks at the progressive end of the genre is what Damon used to remove the audience?s ability to control themselves, forcing themselves to submit to the aurally arousing sounds governing their mind and body.
With both headliners given the freedom a two hour set allows, when Sugar Ray took to the decks at 1:30 everything was in place for the night to escalate. Beginning with a subdued brand of tech-house, he initially lost the atmosphere and enthusiasm Damon had provided him with. At times during the mid part of his set, before he picked up with some thick driving tech-house, Sugar Ray was a bit dreary with his tech-electroclash selections proving as hit and miss as a US missile attack on Iraq. Playing one particular electroclash number he displayed more nerve than the person dancing on top of the wheelie bin above the stairs, but unlike him the tune came off, proving both parties very fortunate. Quickly departing from this sound, he pounded his way back into some more tech house before finishing with straight techno.
At 3:20 I headed back downstairs to the Breaks Arena to see what was going on and Damon was back in the drivers seat playing the Stanton Warriors mix of Basement Jaxx?s ?Where?s your head at?? I then headed up the stairs again to see Sveta take the baton from Sugar Ray.
Sveta continued the techno theme, before opening up the throttle with some big room tech-house ala Layo & Bushwacka?s ?Love Story?. At this stage the music policy was tough and brooding with Sveta dropping tunes with more drive than Tiger Woods off the tee. Then from nowhere the electro trance strains of ?Punk? by Ferry Corsten reached out from the speakers and grabbed the dancefloor by their collective jugular, sparking the type of madness and hysteria that only a recognisable track can.
Back in the Breaks Arena, at 4:50, SpinFx was playing some uptempo DnB with comrade Adam Turner grinning away madly behind the decks suggesting they may have been playing a set together or other possibilities which I don?t wish to entertain. Up the stairs for the 64th time I was greeted by shock horror! ? Sveta playing breaks! With nowhere to run I stayed put and my faith was repaid with Sveta pushing onto the verge of dark driving trance before returning to the pounding brand of tech-house she had dispensed earlier in the set. Notable tracks, of which there were a plethora, included ?Born Slippy? from Underworld.
As an experienced DJ does, Sveta learnt from Sugar Ray Good?s earlier set and backed down on earlier promises to deliver some love it or hate it electroclash, instead prevailing by focusing on simply what works and what doesn?t. As is the norm now, SMC then kept the ebb of the night intact playing his customary style of crushing tribal tech house until 6:45 when I retired for the night/day.
Conducting the compulsory venue recon earlier in the night, to rephrase Fatboy Slim the promoters tore what was gatecrasher down before building it up. In successfully opening the venue up, a number of nooks and cranny?s for rest and recovery were created. The elevation of the DJ stage in the Future Arena was another in what was a very long list of highlights. The provision of the cloak room, while simple, was also helpful and undoubtedly appreciated by the large crowd.
Upon entering the Future Arena, first impressions indicated the sound seemed to lack penetration to the far depths of the top floor which was more than likely caused by the sudden drop out of sound after about 15 metres from the speakers. The sound for the dancefloor though, achieved the rare quality whereby significant depth is reached without a loss of punch. Further impressive was the excellent sound separation between the floors with absolutely no cross over detectable. Also after some recent events where ravers more swam in sweat than danced, the air conditioning was immorally welcome, keeping things cool when the intensity was high. It also seemed to clear the floor of smoke, yet another benefit.
The placement of the smoke machines at a height was also intelligent, providing the intended effect without the stench and visual obscuration normally associated with them. Inflatables were also in fashion, with large stars and balls, working to good effect but were perhaps stacked too heavily rearward, obscuring the view from the bar upstairs in the Future Arena. One thing which did cause a problem, was the lighting at the front of the DJ booth. Being at eye level, when firing out effects parallel to the ground, the lights not only blocked any view forwards but shone directly into people?s eyes and which while not intolerable was irritating. With the higher mounted lights working a treat, they should have been used more and the lower ones less.
Temporal wall furniture was provided by Non-Click/Click. With elaborate sheet screens constructed throughout the venue, there were plenty of outlets for their creative genius and the audience was provided with a constant flow of innovative and inventive graphics and camera relays.
So, what is it that determines a landmark event? Is it the music? Is it the DJ?s? Is it the venue?, Is it the crowd? or is it the atmosphere? Obviously it takes a success in a number of criteria for an event to be considered as memorable. These factors are all important, but in my opinion it?s that indescribable X factor. The factor where everyone walks away with a different highlight, the factor where the event is still being talked about months if not years down the track.
Despite the success of the previous two Future Elements setting expectations, it could not have been comprehended how far Future Elements 3 would surpass these expectations. Even if I wanted to, I would fail to find one area where this event disappointed. A chance was taken on the venue, which paid off extraordinary dividends for the production team. To think the venue was empty prior to the event stunningly indicates the work put in. The DJ and music policy was never really in doubt and the atmosphere during the headline sets was the icing on a perfectly baked cake. Future Elements 3 took local dance events to another level and was undeniably a landmark if not to become the landmark of the Hobart clubbing scene.
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