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Intelligent drum & bass star LTJ Bukem is coming back to Edinburgh. James Smart asks himself some silly questions to find out if the answers match the hype.
So who’s this Bukem boy? Well. according to his record company LTJ is “the living embodiment of the post- acid house entrepreneurial spirit'. For the rest of us. Danny Williamson is the main man of intelligent drum 8. bass and head honcho of Good Looking Records.
Intelligent drum & bass? I thought jungle was just about a bunch of rude boys down in Hackney dancing about with their tops off and shouting ‘Rewind!’ a lot. Easy tiger. While a host of DJs do go for full- on filthy beats and Iacerating grooves. there's always been a lot more to the scene than that. Bukem's own tracks tend to blend the rushing breaks of old-skool Jungle with ambient synths and breakdowns that are more heart in your mouth than hands in the air. Sounds cool. So how did he get started? As a child. he was a bit of a whizz on the piano and listened to classical music and jazz alongside more contemporary $0unds. At seventeen he discovered clubbing and started Diing; his first big break was at 1990's Raindance festival. where he played to 10.000 clubbers. After releasing a number of singles on his own Good Looking Imprint. the Watford boy really hit paydirt with 1995's Logical Progression, released on London Records. The album featured several of his own tracks as well as numbers by Peshay, Photek and others. lts staccato beats and lush orchestration took Bukem from underground hero to coffee table favourite in a matter of months. Since then he's kept busy with regular tours. a raft of new releases and the occasional remix.
Coffee table favourite? He hasn’t gone soft on us has he? Well, there are no collaborations with Everything But The Girl planned and if a gig at Edinburgh's Potterrow is at all representative. he's not too keen on compromising. Bukem allegedly forbade anyone else from using the one backstage toilet.
Phew! Rock star behaviour as well. Bit of a tricky customer is he? Well. PFM liked him enough to write the exceedingly beautiful ‘Danny's Song' in his honour so he can't be all that bad. Anyway. you'd probably want a nice clean toilet after several hours on the road. (James Smart)
I The Logical Progression tour featuring LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad hits Jung/e Magic on Sat 70 Mar at Wilkie House, Edinburgh.
72 THE LIST 1-15 Mar 2001
{ Edinburgh, Friday continued
Club
I Arakataca! at The Bongo Club.
I lpm ~3am. £5. 2 Mar. Monthly. DJs Jaf'fer (Senegal) and Zuppa lnglese (Bogota) host a fiery mix of Salsa. African. Latin and Caribbean dance.
I Aswang at Studio 24 (downstairs). Monthly. Next date l6 Mar.
0 Big Beat at La Belle Angele. l().3()pm--3am. £8 (£7). 2 Mar. Monthly. Appearing with his occasional band The lixplorers. Lee Fieltls also known as the little JB' represents the closest you‘ll ever get to seeing James Brown in a cosy. wee venue. Buy your tickets in advance or spend the future kicking yourself. See Hitlist.
I Catalyst at Studio 24 (downstairs). Monthly. Next date 23 Mar.
I Club Latino at The Bongo Club. Monthly. Next date 16 Mar.
I Conception at lloly'rood l’nion. 9pm~3am. £2 (£1). 2 Mar. Monthly. Inexpensive goth and rock night.
I Divine Divas at The Venue (top floor). Monthly. Next date l3 Apr.
I Dr No’s at The Bongo Club. Monthly. Next date 23 Mar with special uuest Jerry Dammers.
b El Segundo at The Bongo Club. l().3()pmv 3am. £8 (£6). 9 Mar. Monthly. Live hip hop with very spe- cial guest Killa Kela. the human beat- box who used to be a Scratch Pervert and is now a member of the Rocksteady Crew. Trivia bores will also be keen to learn that Killa's just released a single on Jazz Fudgc which features lidinburgh's own Plus One. The club also features the talents of French MC. ()ncSP. residents The Naked Circle and The Half (‘ut Heroes. See llitlist.
I E-Ruptor at Studio 24 (upstairs). Monthly. Next date 23 Mar.
I Evol at The Liquid Room. lt).3()pm——3am. £4. Weekly. Edinburgh‘s longest running indie night is a predictable but nonetheless reliable mix of the best current and classic alternative. crossover tunes.
I Frisco Disco at Ego. l lpm-3am. £5. 2 Mar. Monthly. Martin Valentine and Steven Wanicss host a residents night of only the finest San Franscisco house. Tasty fiyers too.
I Funkey Magic at The Cocteau Lounge. Monthly. Next date 23 Mar.
I 60-60 at The Cocteau Lounge (downstairs at liuo). Monthly. Next date l6 Mar.
OKeep It Unreal at Ego. l()pm--3am. £8 on the door: £7 in advance (available from Fopp and Ripping). 9 Mar. Bi-monthly. Ninja Tunc's Mr Scuff returns for another five hour jazzy disco session. with support from the Headspin boys in the lounge. Buy your ticket in advance ANI) arrive early to guarantee entry. Sec Hitlist.
I Loop at The Wee Red Bar. l().3()pm-3am. £5. 2 Mar. Monthly. A melange of musical styles including funky techno. disco house and breaks from the residents Al Space. Julz. Bill Spice and Kam The Beard.
I Lost at Studio 24. l().3()pm—3am. £8 (£6 before midnight). 9 Mar. Monthly. Fun-tilled night that sees special guest " Cyrix (Circle Square Records) doing a live set of his latest funky techno material in the main room. Up in the chill area Kam gets on his weird tip. Dubstu dishes the dub and ska. the Yoghurt Weaver does trance and lovely ladies Da Needle Sisters (featuring Dolly Mixer) put in a special guest appearance with their inimitable blend of breaks and beats.
I The Mambo Club at The Cavendish. l()pm—3am. £4 before midnight: £5 after. Weekly. Still going strong after so many years. Sir Ossie provides the reggae. ragga. soul. funk. rap. hip hop and R&B delights.
I Manga at La Belle Angele. Monthly. Next date 23 Mar.
Neil McDonald and Ben McCabe get Raw at La Belle, Sat 10 Mar
I Mondo at \Vilkie House.
10.30pm 3am. £7 (£5). 2 Mar. Monthly. Taking a break from their steady slew of exclusive guest l)Js. X- Ray. Tencini and Alvodos host a residents night of fired-up progressive house and trance.
0 Nature at The Attic. l lpm 3am. £6. 2 Mar only. Despite being voted the second best club night in lidinburgh. Nature’s promoters are beginning to feel the pressure of hosting a weekly deep house residency. For this reason. Glasgow's finest - Harri and Domenic - are planning a huge party to thank their loyal following. No tears because they may well continue in a monthly slot. See Hitlist.
I Nomad at La Belle Angclc. Monthly. Next date l6 Mar.
I Pillbox at Studio 24. Monthly. Next date 23 Mar.
I Planet Earth at The Citrus Club. l().3()pm--3am. £4. Weekly. The varied musical delights of the 70s and 80s. with a particular stress laid on that madcap magic known as disco. No smoking at the bar please.
I Progression at Wilkie House. Monthly. Next date l6 Mar with special guest Quivver.
I Radio Babylon at La Belle Angele. lt).3()pm—3am. £5. 9 Mar. Monthly. First birthday bash that sees Radio Babylon going live and very much direct. Frisky dancefioor greats in the varying styles of ska. soul and hip hop will. as per usual. precede harder action and seeing as it‘s resident drag queen Penny Pornstar's personal birthday party too. all manner of special treats are in store.
I Rampage at The Wee Red Bar.
l().3()pm—3am. £6 (£4). 9 Mar. Monthly.
(irrrr... full-on hard house. acid. techno and trance from those shy and retiring types Pearsall. Phil Zero and DJ Skelp (Triple Bass. Aberdeen). For tnore info. peruse www.sonicrampagenet.
I Raw at La Belle Angel. l().3()pm—3am. £8. If) Mar. Monthly. Neil McDonald and Ben McCabe return with their infamous eclectic blend of raw breaks and beats.
0 Rawhide at Club Java. 9.30pm—2am. £8 (£6 in fancy dress). ll) Mar only. Country & Western Special where Bronco Billy. Bucky Goldstein and The Barmitzvah Kid will rustle up some rootin' tootin' hits. Yes. it's the Vegas crew at work again and because they don‘t do things by halves. the night will also feature a Bucking Bronco machine. a Fastest Draw competition and a prize poker game. See Preview and Hitlist.
I Resistance at The Venue (two floors). Monthly. Next date 23 Mar.
I Roadblock at Po Na Na.
l lpm—3am. £3. Weekly. Nicci F stops the traffic in bad music when she digs up the best in funk. disco. house and block rockin' beats.
I Ruff Kuts al The Venue (top floor). lfl.3()pt)) 3am. £5. 9 Mar. Monthly. Drum a: bass night care of l’hos4ous, Dalai and Spy that makes a marked departure from the norm with live .\l('s .-\.ls'. Double l) and Ro/la.
I Salsa Viva at The Venue (top floor). ll).3()pm 3am. Free before midnight; £5 after. 2 Mar. Monthly. Scorching hot Latin rhythms from the masterful 1)) Jorge.
I Sublime at The Venue.
lll.3()pm 3am. £lll (£8). 2 Mar only. The Sublime boys present old—school tranccrs Return Of The Source featuring Mark Allen. (‘hisbo and Baraka. Please note that Sublime will also be holding a one- off night at The Venue on Fri l6 Mar in association with Red Not Bed. featuring special guest Timo Maas. Sec Word [p for free VlP passes offer.
I Sublime at Wilkie llousc.
lf).3()pm 3am (doors close at lam). £7 members; £9 non-members. 9 Mar. l-‘ortnightly. The return of one of the most popular Sublime guests Billy Nasty. The man himself will be playing a three hour set and support comes in the form of ldge.
I Summit at Noa. lflpm 3am. £4. 9 Mar only. First in a series of tech-house charity benefit parties.
I TL at The Venue (downstairs). ll).3()pm 3am. £5 before midnight; £7 after. 2 Mar. Fortnightly. Tender loving trance and driving techno from residents Pete Anderson and Steve Liddel.
I Underground Overground at Studio 24. l().3()pm r 3am. 9 Mar. Monthly. No details available at time of going to press.
I Underground Solu’shn at The Honey comb. Monthly. Launch date Fri 16 Mar.
0 Up! at Studio 24 (uplstttlt's).
|().3()pm 3am. £7 (£8). 2 Mar. Monthly. The kick-ass progressive trance night gets ‘l'p' big time tonight as it’s the first birthday bash. featuring the bouncy cas- tle. the dressing-up box. the trollettes on duty and a free mix ('I) for the first 50 on the door. If you’d like to get in for free (dumb question). l'pl are offering a pair of free tickets to the first five cou- ples who turn tip with this copy of The List. Please note that this will be the last date before lip! moves to The Venue (as from Fri 30 Mar). Sec Hitlist.
I UTI at Studio 24 (upstairs). l().3()pm--3am. £5. 9 Mar. Monthly. Tormod Mor. Jonny ()h? and Semaj doing the do with their own inimitable blend of tantalising techno. (iuest DJ the.
I Waxworks at The Honeycomb. l0.3()pmv—3am. lnvite only. 6 Mar. Monthly. ()fficial launch of the venue featuring a guest spot from (iood Times legend Norman Jay.
I Zealous at Studio 24 (downstairs). 10.30pm -3am. £5. 2 Mar. Monthly. Hardcore skatepunk and indUstrial sounds courtesy of some live protagonists
and l)Js Dunk. lqy and Claire.