Southern Exposure @ Syrup (08/02/03)
Reported by Tristan Sunday, February 9 2003
It's always encouraging to see new people take up the challenge of promoting and producing an event. While ultimately rewarding, the amount of frustration and stress which comes with the territory, scares more than a few away. Sebtrakt Promotions, however, aren't easily daunted, and when they presented Southern Exposure they weren't going to do things by halves. Bringing big gun DJs Chris Fraser, Jamie Stevens (Infusion) and Archie to the apple isle, the smell of a progressive roast topped with trance gravy* had been wafting round Hobart for weeks, but would the meat be dry or would it be tender and moist**?
Here's a hint for promoters; when a DJ starts by playing one of the reviewer's top tunes, then it's looking good. So was the case when Ben Fisher cut off Gillie's exit track and the teasing intro of the Hybrid Mix of Radiohead "Everything In It's Right Place" soared from the speakers. Then to follow it up with Lemon 8 - New York New York I could have walked out happy right then and there. But if I?d gone at that stage I would have missed out on hearing Pink mixed into Lemon 8 ? and I can guarantee that?s one mix you?ll probably never hear again. The commercial cheese got the crowd dancing though and I?m hoping that was the purpose of it as opposed to DJ enjoyment. Ben?s set from 1:00 to 2:00 was very pleasant without being remarkable, which of course isn?t a bad thing for a warm up slot.
Now, I like people who make an effort or more correctly I dislike people who take things for granted. As an A-List Australian DJ, Chris Fraser could simply cue, mix and play for the entire duration of his set and no-one would think any less of him. Of course doing so would be insulting and contrary to how he got where he is. To say Chris?s set was exemplary would be correct, otherwise I wouldn?t be saying it, unless of course I was trying to be colourful. But I?m not so I won?t. Playing the mixed bag of hybrid genres Chris continues to define as his sound, there was some oppressive funky progressive, some tribal progressive and basically any other progressive sub genre you care to name, except of course disco prog (haha {injoke} I crack myself up sometimes). Big arse tunes included Soul of Man ? Acid Power and the massive Ivan Gough mix of Origene?s Sanctuary. One thing I noticed during Chris?s set was the never overbearing of use of vocals. Whether it was this spot on vocal use, sampler use to prolong breakdowns, use of the Shiny Disco Balls and LaLaLand acapellas or busting out his brand spanking new material freshly burnt onto CDR, I?m not sure, but simply it was THE Shit. Bass Trap - Nu Breed and Luke Chable controlled the crowd like a squad of 50 bouncers, but I was forced to have a harsh word to Chris for the utter tease job of Underworld ? Cowgirl but considered it was cut short for his own mix of Grinspoon ? Chemical Heart I can forgive him. Just. I mean we even got to the ?Everything Everything?. (OK move on Tristan). Mainland assumptions were further shot to pieces when Chris stated how sensational the crowd was. Sure we mightn?t have internationals every other week, but Dynamix, Korbel, Kenobi, Reeves, Coyle and now Fraser can?t all be wrong.
Undeniably, Chris Fraser is a hard act to follow, but Jamie Stevens (Infusion) had an ace up his sleeve, or more correctly a 12? up his sleeve. Slipping into DJ geek mode as soon as those first bars of Infusion ? Legacy came on, the dancing stopped, the hand went to the chin and the face took on a pensive appearance. But alas what was this? Where was the famed ball breaking Junkie XL Mix? While the Synaesthesia Dub is marvellous it has long since settled. Never one to disappoint, Jamie came up with a 15 minute Legacy journey as the tune kept pushing through but the devils own breakbeat beat pattern took control. While the Junkie XL mix is uplifting and uses the full vocal refrain and is more vocally effective, the two mixes are too different in my opinion to draw a direct comparison. Anyway while the latest breaks mix might be doing the business internationally, an appearance on a Global Underground release isn?t anything to be mocked. Jamie handed the crowd some more anorexic brit indie culture with Radiohead ? Idioteque, and then moved through to eclectic pumping progressive if there is such a thing before committed the grave crime of overpitching with Junkie XL ? Bon Voyage the unfortunate victim. As always the man knew when to play his cards, unveiling a rare as rare can be mix of you guessed it, Legacy, which took the full vocal use of the JXL mix and put it in glorious four to the floor form. Completely delicious. When I bailed him up, pointed the reviewer finger at him and demanded to know which mix this was he looked at me with a cheesy grin and remarked ?a very very secret one?. Arsehole***.
A 6:00 to 8:00 slot is never going to be easy but Archie did damn well. Leaving at about 7:00 the place was still going strong with a crowd comparable to a few hours earlier at other recent events. Starting perhaps a bit too keenly with the scratching, the music was bordering upon being described as hard trance without the tempo. However he introduced the melody sooner rather than later and had the crowd wrapped round his fingers when the strains of Flutlicht ? Icarus were in full flight, eventually settling in the arena of euphoric hard trance.
One other thing which please me is effort. Effort above what needs to be done in particular. No promoter needs to do anything with Syrup, so kudos and punter appreciation certainly goes to Seb and Al as well as their dedicated band of handymen and women who spent an inordinate amount of time setting up the venue. Rejuvenating the venue with well placed lighting and lasers in addition to soothing UV lit fabric curtains which cleaned the venue up whilst also complementing the lighting. This was a welcome change from the underground dinge generally the niche of Syrup.
Overall it was a mint event. The DJ?s all played well, the venue was cool and the promoters were more than willing to ensure everyone had a good time. What more could you want???[the rest of cowgirl perhaps?
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