PREVIEW TECHNO METAL.
STUDIO 24's 13TH BIRTHDAY WEEKENDER
Studio 24, Edinburgh, Fri 13 & Sat 14 Jun
‘We don’t usually celebrate birthdays here,’ says Studio 24’s manager Gill McArthur, ‘but I’m superstitious, so I couldn’t ignore our 13th.’ She would do well not to invite any more bad luck, because those with mid-range memories might remember the club had a bit of a run on it a couple of years ago.
‘Noise complaints,’ McArthur sighs, recalling the lack of soundproofing in either her own building or a nearby block of new-build flats which caused residents to contact the council. The club was very nearly closed down, but it's all sorted now. ‘We spent an obscene amount of money soundproofing the building, a whole new inner shell has basically been built within the walls.’
Which is good news for Edinburgh’s clubbing heritage.
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824’s previous incarnation as Calton Studios was a legendary techno haunt, while The Mission (now known as Retribution) has been a favourite of young goths and metal-heads for over two decades. This birthday double- header celebrates the club’s techno heritage on the Friday, with returns for residents of Dogma, JakN, Purple Moon and Eruptor in the main room, and representatives of highly-regarded local gay clubs Joy, Taste and Mingin’ upstairs. Saturday is metal and punk night, with Retribution presenting old and new stars of the local scene The Exploited, The Gin Goblins, Man of the Hour and Jackie Treehorn.
‘We stick to what we do and we do it well,’ says McArthur. ‘What the noise complaints really brought home to us at the time, though, was how much our regulars care about the club and were prepared to stand up for us. It’s a place that feels like home to a lot of people.’ (David Pollock)
TECHNO [LRCTRD DOPPLEREFFEKT Numbers at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 6 Jun
It seems curiously prophetic that a track nained 'Alleys of Your Mind' would inspire the young Jaines Stinson and Gerald Donald to form Drexciya. Who would eventually become recognised as one of the most imaginative and Visionary forces in electronic music. The song. recorded by Juan Atkins as Cybertron. set a template for Detroit's
burgeoning electro scene in the early 1980s that would Influence a generation of producers. When Donald and Stinson eventually formed Drexciya in 1989. their music would be created alongside an extraordinary fictional narrative. incorporating a shared fascination Willi Africaii-Ainerican social history and an obsession With the power and mystery of the ocean. The increasineg convoluted. sci-fi Drexciyan narrative was explored through song titles and artwork across dozens of cinematic techno releases for Underground Resistance. Tresor and Clone records until Stinson‘s death in 2002. Since then it is Donald's output as Dopplereffekt that has become best known. Taking inspiration from Kraftwerk. Dopplei'eftekt's recorded output has consisted of a series oi strikingly inorganic. inechanised transmissions for Rephlex. Clone and International Deejay Gigolo Records. Retaining the predilection for narrative the Dopplereffekt concept is explored through the adoption of Germanic aliases and extreme right—Wing European iinagery. Working as Heinrich Mueller. Donald's Dopplereffekt records evoke a dystopian near future. clinical. uncoinproinisiiieg robotic inusic accompanied by inhuinan [)f()ll()llll(Z(}lll(}ltiS regarding sterili/ation and the 'inaster organism'. His influence can be heard across the electro world
though rarely With the refinement. integrity or unbridled imagination of
the inimitable Dopplereffekt. (COIIH McKean)
The best new nights in town. This month: Fabrikken
Residents Steve Glencross of Stavia fame and Ryan McDonald from lrdium/Stick 430.
Guests ‘We have a few guests we're planning on putting on after this first date with Martin Mackay from RubADub.‘ explains Glencross. 'The next date will be with Dave Huisman aka 2562. a dubstep producer from Holland that ‘s releasing some of the best dubstep around at present. mainly on Rob Ellis's Tectonic label from Bristol. We have various other UK and Berlin (Hardwax related) based guests lined up. but we don‘t want to give too much away right now . . .'
Music policy Techno and other futuristic permutations of the electronic beat taking in dubstep. minimal and broken beat.
What they say ‘Fabrikken is a new night to try and push forward thinking electronics in Edinburgh. which has a rich history of electronic music. but appears to be lacking on the experimental/cutting edge music tip at present. It's a shame. as there's a lot of good music out there right now that people should be getting a chance to hear in this city. We're keeping entry cheap too. with the aim of making it affordable for all.’ What we say You certainly can't argue with Glencross' pedigree being one of the prime movers behind one of Edinburgh's most respected techno night's Sativa, while McDonald has been producing twisted electronica and biting techno as one half of Stick 430. Plus they certainly have a point. too many leftfield techno nights have bitten the bullet in the capital over the last few years so it's about time a new force stepped forward to champion the cutting edge. Add to that some innovative guests and this could be the perfect night to introduce Edinburgh's club heads to the future of dance music. (Henry Northmore)
I Fabrikken is at the GRV, Edinburgh, Fri 6 Jun.
5—49 Jun 2008 THE LIST 43