Here’s a peculiar phenomenon: why is it that among the most recognisable sounds of the Brighton milieu is that of the apparently disenfranchised music lover; complaining about the lack of decent exposure of non-mainstream musical genres whilst all the while failing to turn up when said events are put on. Victim-du jour in this case is the well-established bass-centric electronica night Donky Pitch; with a line up so good that the relative lack of attendance truly boggles the mind.
The attendance issue, admittedly, is nothing of the fault of the organisers, and that aside the night was one that will surely go down in the record books of those with enough nouse to turn up. We arrived about a third of the way through the opening set of Alphabets Heaven, who, for those of you lucky enough to have attended, has come fresh from supporting the likes of ‘Baths’ last summer. Playing to his usual standards, his sets prove that there is increasingly little space in live electronic music for those who are willing to do little more than press a few buttons every now and then.
After reviewing the first release from Donky Pitch’s fledgling label we were excited to see how their stalwart producer Ghost Mutt translated his productions into a live show. Needless to say, despite it being largely a DJ set, Ghost Mutt set a strong tone for the rest of the night. The next act, from a recent Alpha Pup signing was not only the strongest set of the night but one of the most exciting sets we’ve seen from a relatively un-established producer in a long time. Young Montana?’s music, is energetic and experimental without being in any way alienating. There was a definitive sense of live performance and the whole show had an energy and flow that progressed to a truly gratifying climax towards the end of his set. It’s always nice to see the next generation of producers make a productive nod towards the energy of the live sets of the musicians and bands that pre-existed their own.
Headliner Rudi Zygadlo’s release on Planet Mu earlier this year was undoubtedly one of the labels’ 2010 highlights, and an album and a sound that has been keeping dubstep on it’s toes since it’s release this summer. While the music was there in full force, the live act its self was a tad lacklustre, perhaps a further testament highlighting Young Montana?’s capacity for stealing the show. All together a strong night and one that promises much from the next generation of music producers, and, with any wisp of luck something of a catalyst to provoke those aforementioned scene-sceptics into leaving their bedrooms in the evening.
Donky Pitch feat. Rudi Zygadlo, Young Montana?, Alphabets Heaven and Ghost Mutt
Jam
Saturday 11th December 2010
Words by Henry Powell
