When Claude VonStroke produced ‘Ignorance is Bliss’ with Eats Everything the SOURCE office did a unanimous John Hughes high-five. The air was punched in celebration, there was hugging, some say there were even tears, so when the Bristolian was added to the Dirtybird takeover at the last minute similar scenes ensued.The label started out throwing al fresco house parties in San Francisco ten years ago, now their brand is one of the most well respected on the scene.
Almost as soon as Eats Everything takes to the deck’s Audio’s packed so tight you can’t even fart. Meteoric rises are often cited in dance music but few have matched Daniel Pearce’s speed-of-light ascent to the top of the international DJ circuit. His first release ‘Entrance Song’ had him receiving bookings across the globe immediately. He finishes his set off with Groove Armada’s ‘Superstylin’ to leave the clamorous crowd hungry for more. A1 Bassline follows him and delivers a set that’s considerately in-keeping with the house filled bill but fans of his more hectic garage sounds where wobbling bass and helium vocals feature heavily may have felt it was lacking that bugged out edge.
Fortunately Justin Martin’s next up, possibly the DJ we’re most excited to see on this mammoth all night line-up. When he released the ‘The Sad Piano’ where tranquil arpeggios trickle over shuffling beats we knew that underground house had a new talent in it’s midst. His production and mixing style is emotive, being melodic and playful while retaining a study and robust sensibility, his set steadily progresses into speaker rattling territory. His booty bass tune ‘Lezgo’ bounces like it’s on hydraulics and when he drops Eats Everything’s remix of Adam F’s classic jungle tune ‘Circles’ the raucous clubbers are sloshing beer over their shoulders as shapes are cut and limbs are thrown.
Dirtybird boss Claude Vonstroke tops the bill easing everyone down with his cleaner side of deep house that clearly favours the Detroit techno end. His biog claims he doensn’t scowl or look mean while he DJs, and it’s not lying. For the duration of his set he’s beaming from ear to ear and not afraid to shake his rump while blending funky grooves and jacking electro into his own tunes like ‘The Whistler’ with it’s quirky minimalism and Californian bounce. By 6am our bodies are drained, our ears are ringing and we’re running on fumes but it’s safe to say that booking the whole of the Dirtybird label was a Claude VonStroke of genius.
Audio, Thursday 5th April 2012
