Clubs PROFILE
www.list.co.uk/clubs
FILTHY DUKES Occupation South London DJs and synth pop trio. Filthy Dukes, eh? What’s next – Prince Charles covered in mud? They’re not really mucky members of the aristocracy. Filthy Dukes actually started out as DJs Olly Dixon and Tim Lawton, joining forces with producer Mark Ralph to form a full on live band. But they are still justifiably famous for their legendary Kill Em All nights in London.
Kill Em All? Sounds nasty It is, but in all the right ways. The night has become so popular that the Dukes moved from London’s Barfly to mega club Fabric (where they still host regular parties, including their upcoming sixth birthday on 11 December featuring Chemical Brothers, Riton, Hercules & Love Affair, Boy 8 Bit and more). It’s an indie night with a dance soundtrack.
I’m getting confused – are they DJs or a band? The simple answer is both. Kill Em All is huge and they have a mix CD out on Fabric (naturally) but they also play live and released their own artist album Nonsense in the Dark earlier this year. And they take on the odd remix for kindred spirits (and Kill Em All guests) such as Late of the Pier, Bloc Party, The Maccabees and The Rakes. So what do their own productions sound like? Think the new wave electro of the 80s meets krautrock, all beefed up with a shot of heavy bass.
I’m sold. Where can I catch them? Well, the good news is that they’re putting in a DJ set at both Fuse in Edinburgh and Death Disco in Glasgow this fortnight, not forgetting a quick stop off at the Reading Rooms in Dundee on 5 Dec. (Henry Northmore) ■ Fuse at Berlin, Edinburgh, Fri 4 Dec; Death Disco at the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 12 Dec.
40 THE LIST 3–17 Dec 2009
TECHNO OFF THE RECORD Soundhaus, Glasgow, Sat 5 Dec
This will be a big night for Off the Record. The seventh birthday party at the Soundhaus will be the club’s final regular bi-monthly date at the venue. In its place, a new night bearing the name Animal Farm – also the DJ collective which runs OTR and plays regularly around the city – will kick off at the Sub Club at the end of the month, and will hopefully continue there on a regular basis.
‘We’re changing the name because we want to flag up that this is a whole new club,’ says Chris Lamb, who runs OTR alongside Darren Quail, Charles Turtle (their real names, hence Animal Farm) and the night’s founder Ronan Vallely. ‘The music policy probably won’t change all that much, though. We’ve always had a particularly underground techno sound, a warehouse
rave style, and how hard we go with that at the Sub Club will depend on the guest.’ For the debut date the guest is Ben Klock, resident at Berlin’s warehouse superclub Berghain. As for OTR and the Soundhaus, Lamb states simply
that the night has ‘run its course’.
‘It’s home from home for us and we’ve had some great years there, but we really just needed a change. And the Sub Club is pretty much the best and most respected club in Scotland.’ While not ruling out a return to the Soundhaus on an occasional basis in future, this will be OTR’s grand finale for now – and it’s a big one, with fast-rising local producer Sei_A, the Warehouse Project’s Andro, Soma’s Mr Copy and OTR regular Simon Stokes promising enough excitement to bridge the gap. (David Pollock) ■ Animal Farm starts at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Mon 28 Dec.
GOOD TIMES FRED DEAKIN Mumbo Jumbo at the Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Sat 12 Dec
With their motto of ‘quality retro to future classics, party rockin’ tunes and good time grooves’ Fred Deakin sounds like the perfect guest for Trendy Wendy’s Mumbo Jumbo night. He’s best known as one half of burbling electronica act Lemon Jelly, but Deakin is also an Edinburgh club legend of old. His inimitable nights Thunderball, Going Places and Impotent Fury were all notable for stepping out from the dull monotony of the four-four beat with games, films, a ‘Wheel of Destiny’ which chose the night’s playlist and the infamous ‘soft rock’ lounge.
‘I’ve deliberately chosen not to do much DJing this year, but I couldn’t refuse playing with old friends,’ explains Deakin. ‘Sometimes I’ll do a night at other people’s clubs and it’s a bit disappointing. But that’s never the case when I DJ at Wendy’s nights, cos we’re on the same wavelength and the crowd at Wendy’s seem to be into what I do. It’s nice to have that common spirit.’
His eclectic approach should fit in nicely at this Christmas warm-up, where he’s promising everything from dubstep to pub rock. ‘My goal is to play as many different songs as possible in the course of an evening.’ He’s just treated himself to a new bit of kit, too, an Akai APC 40 Ableton. ‘I’ve not used it outside my bedroom yet so it’ll be the grand unveiling of my laptop set.’
As for Lemon Jelly they’re still on an indefinite hiatus. ‘Me and Nick [Franglen] have regular conversations about it. We’re certainly taking a break, but fingers crossed there may well be something soon.’ (Henry Northmore)