LTJ Bukem @ Momentum Review

Last Friday Momentum took over the Wire for their first installment of 2010 with non other than the godfathers of Drum & Bass, LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad. These two are without a doubt the two biggest acts to grace momentum since it started up in 2004.

3rd GD took control of the decks at 10 with a suitably melodic warm up. He played well on the crowd’s anticipation and laid out a perfect platform for the night to come, even touching on a few classic tracks from 06/07 as well as some more up to date tracks from the Non Plus & Autonomic camp. By 11.30 the club was close to full capacity and ready to set it off. As always, there were great vibes for a Friday night at the Wire.

LTJ played a very refreshing set, dropping in big teasers along the way. He maintained a perfect direction at all times and kept the crowd on the same journey throughout. It was the first time in a while I’d been to the wire and really experienced those ‘hands in the air’ rhythms from LTJ and not once did he show any signs of predictability. The pair worked together in absolute harmony, Conrad’s voice echoing around the club with such soulful intent.

Ant TC1 was next on the decks and he proved his weight in gold, with heavy rolling rhythms, the man behind momentum managed to flip the scripts from the previous sets before and really catered well for the heavier followers of the night. Personally I believe he played a tighter set than LTJ and showed the crowd a darker and heavier side to the night, giving everyone reason to stay beyond the previous showcase of soul.

It’s been such a great start to 2010 for Drum & Bass in Leeds and Momentum proved itself with a timeless line-up for its first ’10 session. We can only look in anticipation towards the February installment with Artificial Intelligence.

Written by Tom Jessel

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Artificial Intelligence & Survival @ Momentum - Friday 26th February

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DISRUPT:ON 001 @ WIRE CLUB, LEEDS

Things are shaping up nicely now and the first Disrupt:on night sponsored by Disrupt:on Inc. will be held at Wire Club in Leeds in February 2010.

The Wire is one of the best small clubs in the country and was nominated for this award in the DJ Mag awards. It's just been refurbished as well, with Funktion-1 providing the sound, so it's the perfect place for Disrupt:on Inc. to hold their nights!

Watch this space for more details on the line-up!

RM237 & EXODUS PRESENT: TECTONIC SHOWCASE @ WIRE

Headed down to the Wire again on Friday night this time for the Tectonic party put on by Room 237 and Exodus. The line up was huge with label owner Pinch, Kryptic Minds and 2562 on the buttons, along with Jack Sparrow and Exodus himself. I was expecting a straight up eyes down rave, but instead the night was pretty much 100% dancefloor business.

Kryptic Minds were first on the played a filthy set. After doing the interview with them a few weeks back, I was excited to see them and see what kind of set they would play. I knew it was going to be sick when the first tune (One Of Us VIP) gave me goosebumps. His skills and technique on the decks was impressive with incredible track selection. Rather than being straight eyes down business, the set was full of dark bass driven halfstep riddems with tunes like 'Badman' and Distance's remix of 'Tell Me' getting the crowd hype before 2562 took to the decks.

He played an incredible set with sick track selection. Some of the tunes were proper techno and wouldn't have been out of place on the Terrace in Cocoon @ Amnesia. If you haven't got his new album 'Unbalance' then make sure you grab it as this guy is definitely an absolute badboy producer.

Next up was Pinch and I was so hyped to see him as I hadn't seen him play out for a few months and I'm loving his production at the moment. His set was actually a f***ing JOOOOKE! Some of the tunes he was playing were absolutely massive. I don't know the names of them because he refused to give me any track id's, but big tunes that I knew the names of included Benga's 'Descending', Skream's 'Metal Mouth VIP', the RSD mix of 'Get Up' and some sick new Distance bits. The last track of his set was one of his own tunes, with some proper tribal drums, which apparently only him and Mala have at the minute! Dread MC was perfect MC perfectly balancing spitting bars and knowing when to let the music do the talking! He complemented the music perfectly rather than trying to steal the limelight (which is more than can be said for a lot of MCs in the scene).

Overall, in typical Exodus style it was a banging night with sick music and a good crowd. The Wire continues to be my favourite club in Leeds by far, so if you haven't been down already make sure you get down there soon!

Stay locked for more info regarding a collaboration between Disrupt:on Inc. and Wire nightclub, an upcoming feature on man like Dread MC and details of our night (Disrupt:on Inc. Presents Disrupt:on 001) which will be held at Wire due to start in February 2010.

Big up Wayne, Wire, Pinch, Exodus and Dread MC for their support.

MORE AUTONOMIC @ WIRE

Credit - Chris Hoyle - ldpix.co.uk

Credit - Photographymax http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photographymax/141804804142

CLUB AUTONOMIC @ WIRE

Club Autonomic took over Momentum at The Wire in Leeds on Friday night with dBridge, Instra:mental and ASC on the buttons for a night of the freshest deep, minimal drum and bass.

I had been looking forward to this night for weeks. I had never been to The Wire either and after being told by friends that I would love it, it definitely lived up to expectations. It reminds me of a smaller, more intimate and stylish version of The End back in the day and now with a newly installed Funktion-1 soundsystem The Wire is up there with the best of them as far as small clubs go.

ASC was on first and played a sick set with impeccable track selection, dropping bits from all of the freshest producers in the scene at the minute (I had a sneaky look at his cd wallet and it reads like a who's who of drum and bass...it's ridiculous!). This was the first time I had seen him play out and was definitely impressed. He wasn't fazed when the monitors blew either so big props to him for that! His album, which is due out early next year, is definitely one to bag on sight. It's gonna be huge. Trust!

Instra:mental was next on and played a sick set. Al Bleek is definitely one of the best DJs in the scene at the minute. His skill and technique on the decks is incredible and with a reputation like his it's pretty obvious his track selection was some next level s**t! He was pretty pissed that they only fixed the monitors 10 minutes before the end of his set and claimed his set could have been 10 times better but hey I wasn't complaining. Even though I was begging dBridge to get his headphones on and get behind the decks he would't do it :( so we had to wait til 2 for him to get on but it was definitely definitely DEFINITELY worth the wait!

On 3 decks, dBridge played a mind blowing set. It was actually a joke! It's the kind of set where you just wonder how he does it, but hey some people just have it don't they and dBridge is definitely one of those people! He was dropping everything from Breakage's 'Run 'Em Out' (ft. Roots Manuva) to Abstract Element's 'Abysmal Depth' and Instra:mental's instant classic 'Watching You' (with dBridge himself on the vocals). He also dropped a new untitled track produced by himself, Instra:mental and Skream, which was big so keep an eye out for that. I'm sure it'll be getting a release on either Exit/NonPlus+/Disfigured Dubz probably early next year!

This night was definitely my favourite up here in Leeds so far. Sick music, sick sound, sick venue, sick crowd so big up Momentum for putting it all together.

Momentum is Leed's top drum and bass night taking place on the last Friday of every month so if you didn't go on Friday or haven't been before definitely check out the next one on Friday 27th November with Marcus Intalex and Klute.

Finally, if for some reason you don't know about the Autonomic movement then you need to get to know.....NOW! In my opinion this is the most important thing happening in music right now so anyone who doesn't know then get involved! The Autonomic podcasts are on constant rotation on my iPod and the series has developed a cult like following with over 30,000 downloads of Layer:09. Layer:10 is on the way too so get excited people!!!!

Download the Autonomic Podcasts HERE

The Autonomic boys have even more big things coming up as well. They have a monthly Autonomic show on Rinse FM starting on 4th November, as well as their FabricLive mix CD (FabricLive 50) which will be out in February and a load of forthcoming releases on Exit and NonPlus+ Records.

Look out for NonPlus+003 with ASC's 'Porcelain' b/w 'Focus Inwards' and NonPlus+004 with Skream's remix of 'No Future' b/w an original track by Skream 'Minimalisitix'.

Instra:Mental have just had a release on Apple Pips as well with 'Leave It All Behind' b/w 'Forbidden'. Grab it HERE

Finally, if you're in London on 20th November then head down to Fabric cos Club Autonomic will be hosting room 3 with dBridge, Instra:mental and Shackleton (live), as well as Marcus Intalex and Klute in room 2 and DJ Marky playing a 4 hour set in room 1. This night is looking set to be large!

Big up to dBridge, Al Bleek, ASC, Momentum and Wire for being so friendly and helpful in doing this review!

dBridge myspace

Instra:mental myspace

NonPlus+ Records myspace

ASC myspace

Momentum myspace

Credit for cover photo Photographymax http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photographymax/141804804142