JAZZ, HOUSE [DRUM 8. BASS lAllN Cit OBAl. DEPARTURE LOUNGE The Caves, Edinburgh, Fri 20 Jul
Too many clubs assume one style of music will keep you entertained. Fair enough if you crave a night of heads-down techno or hands-in-the-air house, but sometimes you want a more expansive night that grabs any music, whatever the genre, as long as it’s quality.
‘lt’s really hard to classify Departure Lounge. We play house, jazz, Latin, drum & bass, Brazilian, hip hop, Afrobeat. I think what sets us apart from lots of other clubs is that we play all these things in one night,’ explains promoter/DJ Chris Knight (AKA Astroboy). ‘lt’s so hard to isolate one kind of music when you listen to all these genres, as a lot of their origins are Latin and Afro-American.’
[’l-l.Cl‘RO POP
DJ Junior
They set up home in one of Edinburgh’s most unique venues, The Caves, a good two or three years before any other nights populated the subterranean lair. They’ve always focused on good music and live acts. And for this fourth birthday they haven’t let the side down. Headlining is Philadelphia native DJ Junior. ‘He represents our philosophy of not necessarily booking the biggest names but booking people we know are doing a great job promoting the music we love in other parts of the world,’ says Knight.
Then there are live acts Sidewinder (‘We just wanted a quality live band who’d rock the party’) and Bristol Branch, an Orkestra del Sol side project mixing Cajun and calypso with humour. ‘Just expect lots of dancing, our trademark musical diversity and a few surprises,’ laughs Knight. (Henry Northmore)
DEATHKILL4000 The Loft, Glasgow, Sat 28 Jul
After settling in nicely to their new home at The Loft. Deathkillzltllltl are gearing up for the third visit of their beloved kindred spirit Sinatka — a lady who could easily be the bastard child of Diamanda Galas. Eartha Kitt and The Brothers Grimm. Her sound is a beautifully contradictory llllX of electronic pop music with a darker. dubby edge that will have you working up a sweat on the dance floor in seconds.
Dirty Marc. one half of Dez,itliki|l«*1()()0's DJ team (along with Fifi Chops) reveals their decision to have the lady back for her third appearance. "First and foremost. because she ("lelivers the goods as a Deathkill-lOOO live guest: ie we like her music and feel that she performs it with flair to the extent that we are duty-bound to share her magic with as many people as we can.' he says
And exactly what type of magic can you expect? Dirty Marc elaborates: 'The first time she played Deathkill she tackled a male audience member to the floor and tried to shave his genital area (he resisted but I saw her successfully complete this gambit at Olum in Edinburgh not long afterl. She's moved away from forced grooming as part of her act these days. though she maintained the audience danger level at her last show for us With a fire-breather belching flame to herald her presence. No stranger to danger herself. she also climbed a 10ft ladder in stilettos. all the while crooning beautifully like a German Shirley Bassey on heat.'(Sandra Marron)
PRQFILE
Name: Erick Morillo
Occupation: New York-based polymath of popular house styles; DJ: producer: label owner: allegedly one of the world's top five (highest-paid) DJs. Background: Born in New York and raised in New Jersey. Morillo was brOught up amidst a Culture of Latin and reggae styles. He started out playing teenage gigs. weddings and family parties. and his decision to study studio engineering in New York eventually led him towards his big break. recording the 1992 house pressing ‘Ride on the Rhythm' with Masters at Work, ‘Little‘ Louis Vega (whom he considers his mentor) and Kenny 'Dope' Gonzalez. He liked to move it, move it He Sure does. particularly when it makes him a millionaire. After getting himself onto the books of ‘trictly Rhythm, Morillo ~ under his alias Reel 2 Real . released the worldwide hit ‘I Like to Move It'. It was a huge commercial success. and that's precisely the reason (well. that and the fact it was just a tiny bit annoying) Morillo's name drifted quickly away from the more rarefied realms of the underground. How did he get from there to here? In 1996. desperate to make up for a lot of the credibility that Reel 2 Real had lost him. Morillo quit Strictly Rhythm and set up his own Subliminal label alongSide Harry ‘Choo Choo' Romero and Jose Nunez. Merging a more underground — but still popular - hetise style with seiilful vocal elements and even bits of Morillo's early Latin love. the label has met with success and awards ever since. As a DJ MOrillo is a big attraction around the globe. from Ibiza to Miami. and as a producer he's remixed Such big names as Basement Jaxx. Whitney HOListon and Macy Gray. (David Pollock) I Erick Morillo plays the Ocean Terminal Summer Party, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Jul.
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