FLEXX - Carry On

Messages from the void bringing you more deadly disco cuts with an exclusive Flemming Dalum edit of an obscure track by FLEXX.

Get it here.

Interview with Joe Hart

The man behind Bodyhammer and World Unknown, resident at BLOC and stand up guy Joe Hart found some time to have a pint and chat to me about backroom parties, pervy old men and the Bodyhammer Coach trip...

So where are you from Joe and what’s your musical background?

I’m originally from Dorset, which was a pretty boring place, so I used to travel out to Bristol to go to crap trance nights just to get wrecked and have a laugh. At the time I liked some electronic music but was mainly listening to 70’s punk like Television, The Ramones, Big Black and Joy Division.

I then moved to Brighton where I met the BLOC guys and became obsessed with buying and listening to old electro, stuff like Unnamed DJ etc. The BLOC guys started doing the night ‘BLOC’ in Brighton and that was when I first started playing out regularly.

When did you put on your first night?

After Brighton I moved to Bristol for three years to train to become a mental health nurse, and we started a night called ‘Ear Aid’, I never really liked that name but the guys I was doing it with loved it.

That was a cool party, it was in the back room of some old man’s pub in a really rotten area of Bristol, and we’d go back there and set up and play electro all night. Everyone hated us, we’d have to go from the back, out to the bar to get a drink and people would just glare at you. They’d say you were ruining their night, but I loved it. It’s what made me want to put more parties on.

After that we started doing a night called ‘West Country Shakedown’ in the basement of a Thai cafe. We ran it all night and it was owned by this pervy old man who would invite you upstairs to watch porn with him at the end of the night, after putting your party on in his cellar.




That’s the great thing about Bodyhammer and World Unknown, are the good spots you source. Have you always been drawn to those kinds of venues or have you thought about putting stuff on in a nightclub?

When I was living in Brighton I was going through to the WANG parties on Hackney Road. I loved that you could go there and do what you want, and people like Andy Weatherall would come and play and no one made a big deal. No security on the door, just relaxed. It was the same thing with ‘Ear Aid’ and ‘West Country Shakedown’.

But then when I moved to London, just after the smoking ban, you would go to nights and all your mates would be disappearing outside, and your getting completely ripped off for drinks, it just didn’t seem the same.

Regardless of that though, we wanted to put Legowelt on in London. We’d done it in Bristol and thought it’d be easy enough to find a venue in London...which it wasn’t. We opted on the Korsan bar because we liked the look of it, and done the first three Bodyhammers there.

The First one was good, the second one, with Bangkok Impakt was also good, but the third one with Orgue Electronic was a disaster and no one came, so we decided we couldn’t keep it up and started checking out better spots where we could put local people on.

You keep saying 'we', who else do you do Bodyhammer with?

That’s my mate Paul, AKA Empty Set, who plays kind of arty minimal techno.

He contributes a bit financially but I do the rest.

I’m the boss.



So you’re last party at Korsan was a bit dead and you wanted a new direction, where did you go from there?

I remembered a night I’d went to at the top of a tower block. The party wasn’t very good but I remember thinking that the place was brilliant. I started making lots of phone calls and after a half a day’s worth of talking to folk I got a hold of the owner and convinced him to let me put a night on.

Was it hard work convincing him?

Not particularly. He was a bit wary at first and just didn’t want any trouble, no grime or anything.

That place was on Hackney Road’ish and we got my mate Placid, who has a ridiculous collection of old house, down to play and the night went really well.

You had to stand at the bottom of the tower block and wait for a metal lift to come down to take you to the 7th floor. You’d step in and pay the man in the lift, the door’s would open and you’d expect some run down squatty type of thing but the place was really nice, well decorated, not what you would expect. The whole place felt a little edgy and a bit wrong but that’s what made it good.

What do you see as the advantages of putting nights on in places like office spaces and warehouses?

I would say it just feels like you’re having a real party, like you’ve invited everyone round to your house and it’s not your house. I also love the way you promote these things, it’s all internet and email. When we done the three at the Korsan it was so boring going around sticking posters up, then walking past them the next day and they had been torn down, it was tedious work.

I just want to add that I’m always wary about use of the term warehouse now. It seems the trendy mobs have cottoned on but their warehouses have loads of security on the door and ridiculously priced drinks. It’s no right.

And the drawbacks?

Mainly just being careful not to get the owner in trouble.

What’s your involvement with BLOC?

Haha, everyone thinks I have something to do with BLOC but I’m just a resident there. It’s all down to George and Alex who organise all the bookings etc...



Putting on nights is obviously a lot of hard work. Have you ever had to deal with something that’s made you think, “F*** this!”

Yea doing the nights are hard work sometimes.

When you’ve lost loads of money and you’re walking to the cash point at the end of the night to take out your last 200 quid to give to an artist, who in their own right does feel bad about it but they got to make a living, it can be a tough time. You walk home and you’ve had a crap night out that’s just cost you 500 quid.

That can make you think, “F*** this!”

What keeps you going at those points?

That the next one will be better, like the first few at the Korsan bar, they weren’t going to end up going well so we changed tact. The couple we done in the Resistance Gallery in Bethnal Green also cost us loads of money, so that’s why we’re moving for the one on Friday.

What’s it like?

It’s brilliant. An old Victorian factory that used to be used for making boats or some type of maritime stuff. It’s on this modern street in Limehouse and looks very peculiar, it really stands out.

It looks like something out of Gotham City.

How do you find these amazing spaces?

Just asking around a lot, like if a mate goes to a good party and says the place looks good I’ll start phoning around. I keep my ear out for good spaces. Like with the office, I knew a guy who went there that I thought knew the owner. I spoke to him and it turns out he didn’t but someone else might have, and it just rolls on and on like that until I get who I’m looking for.

Have you ever done all the work and then been told no?

Yea, a few times, there’s this submarine in Kent that sits on the Thames. We were going to hire a coach and drive everyone out onto the Sub and float it out on the river. You could only fit about 30 people on it but that’s all you’d need, it would have been a great night. The place is hired out for parties anyway but, according to them, not Bodyhammer.

Quality. Deep sea Bodyhammer, would it have submerged?

Haha, no...I don’t think so, but that would have been something else.We also tried to get a nuclear bunker but that was a no go as well.



So, World Unknown is you’re new venture. Is it you and Andy (Blake) that run that?

Yea that’s me and Andy, we had him down at one of the parties in the gallery and he really enjoyed it so after that we decided to do something together. We chose Brixton so that people would have to make the effort to come down, you know, a bit of a challenge.

Like I used to go to the LOST techno parties and to get there you had to get a train to bloody Canning Town, with the high possibility of being robbed and walking down long dual carriageways. But it was good fun, so I guess that’s the kind of thinking behind doing it in Brixton.

And the music isn’t generally anything you hear anywhere else.

Yea we wanted to do something a bit different. Still keep all the Chicago House, but we’re both into Synth Pop, the kind of stuff playing in clubs in Belgium; some house and IDM but with more energy. We wanted to do something like that and the response has been good.

The sound system is amazing, parties are often let down by poor quality sound but that system packs a lot of weight.

They built that themselves and we’ve got a minimal amount out for World Unknown. Next time you’re there look behind the curtains, there is a lot more.

Some places have got all this good sound and it still sounds terrible, but that guy, he knows.

I also reckon the parties are going well because of being able to smoke, and not getting ripped off for drinks. I don’t buy this whole credit crunch thing in terms of clubs; people just don’t like getting ripped off.

Anything else you want to add?

Well, we’re still trying to sort out a Bodyhammer coach trip; we’re frantically trying to find a big place out in the country somewhere to hold a big party and drive everyone out, so watch this space...


Bodyhammer is this Friday. For details email info@bodyhammer.co.uk

Many thanks to Joe for taking the time to come and have a chat.

Raving '89

If you enjoy going out, then give this book a go.

Some unbelievable images brought to you by Neville and Gavin Watson that some of you may see faint echos of in clubs nowadays, and other's that might actually remember being there.

A glimpse into the early warehouse scene which was thriving as Britain was coming out of a recession.

Much he same as London's burgeoning ‘regressionary’ night scene at the moment.

Buy the book and read a bit more about it, here.

Bodyhammer 20th Nov

If I was in town this weekend I'd be checking out Bodyhammer.

Brought to you by Joe Hart, Bodyhammer has seen some great guests and quality locations, from under a railway arch to the top floor of an office block, it's the great blend of quality music and imaginitive location that sets it apart.

Catch Neville Watson, a vetern of the London warehouse scene and Ramar at this ex Victorian work house in the heart of Bethnal Green on the 20th.

And of course the Bodyhammer regulars, Matilda, Paul Purgas and Joe Hart, will be there to keep you're feet moving in between.

Rahaan at some 'secret haircut location'

Disco to deep house master Rahaan will be blessing the airwaves at some, no doubt, glossy 'secret' location.

This will be really good, but will likely be let down by it being more of a club and less of a location.

Brought to you by 'Shift' and you can read what details there are here.

Citinite * LuckyMe 12thNov

A bit last minute, but check this party tomorrow at The Lightbox in Vauxhaull

On the live front, from the Citinite camp we have Jimmy Edgar, Dam Funk and Gosub , and representing Luckyme a rare chance to see Rustie live in London.

DJ support is coming from Kode9, Hudson Mo and Ikonika.

Citinite was formed in 2003 and was inspired by the pioneers of electro funk, like Egyptian Lover and John Davis. It aims and has added an array of new artists who continue to take risks and innovate, injecting pure funk back into electronic music.

Luckyme/Music.Art.Parties began in 2002 when a group of musicians wanted to make hip hop in a place that was not on the map for hip hop, namely, Glasgow. They started putting parties on in Glasgow School of Art and Stereo, getting caught in a mixing pot of music going on at the time (techno, jazz, rock etc...)

In 2007 they began running as a label, collective and got their website up and running. Their nameless hip hop/electronic beats have become a global brand and catapulted the artists onto the world stage.

As per there website, expect a genre born out of the love of primary influence, they are there, "...too f*** with genres."

On the night expect retro sounding, body rocking electro and sickening synth lines from the man Jimmy Edgar. Dam Funk will be putting you on the slow jams to make you missus melt with Gosub grinding your minds with fast and funky ghetto tech.

Luckyme's Rustie will be holding it down on the live front providing everything from off hilter wonkiness to his own brand of down and dirty grime overlaid with screaming digital scrapes and voices.

Obviously Kode9, Ikonika and Hudson Mo will no doubt dip into their extensive vaults to pull out everything and anything to make a crowd move.

At £15 for so much musical delights, it can't be beat

Pitchforks Best of 2009

A rundown by Martin Clark of the essential releases over Dubstep, Grime and Funky over 2009.

Here.

WANG 10th Birthday 14th Nov

The flyer says it all, "Less of a club, more of a warehouse party", and that's exactly what we want.

Especially with a monster line up such as this.

I'm sure you've all heard of the following, but, failing that, give it a click to see how hard this party will actually rock.

Squarepusher - Rave & Bass set
Simian Mobile Disco - DJ Set
Andrew Weatherall
Plaid
Mark Broom
Radioactive Man - live
Bass Junkie
Dexorcist
Richard Sen aka Padded Cell
Posthuman - live
Vibration Dub Sound System
Julian Fairshare
Soul Jazz DJs

WANG has been running the underground party scene in London for 10 years now and doesn't look set on slowing down.

They've set up a brand new forum here and you can join their Facebook group here, to keep up to date with all things WANGING.

WANG, defending the dance underground since '99.

You can buy tickets for this event here and if you go down in person at Sounds Of The Universe.

METAL THRASHING MAD 13th Nov

In honour of the James' birthday the playback fantasy crew are ditching their regular blend of electronica for something a little noisier.

Keeping it at the castle, you can guess from the name what to expect.

No soft sounding, pansy riddims, just raw noise and pint downing competitions.

Music on the night from;

CASIONOVA - warrior of the wasteland wilderness...
ALI RENAULT - master of metal mayhem...
MESCHI - deathlord of demon destruction...
SPRUXXX - violator of venomous vengeance...

with possibly more on the cards.

Come down and thrash it out!

The Rundown...

Well, I seem to have eventually surfaced from the land of the dead after a busy weekend.

World unknown delivered, without a doubt, and further cemented its place as the top night in London, with the only slight blip being the live set from radical majik, which consisted of boring laptop tracks and an inaudible bass guitar.

However, it was barely noticeable in between Joe Hart and Andy Blake destroying the floor with all sorts of chicago house, techno, acid and italo.

This night is just amazing music, great people and phenomenal sound.

It all goes together to make it a cracking party. Pictures to follow.

DMZ however was somewhat lacking. Although Goth Trad delivered a healthy dose of live bass, sporadically sprinkled with bleepy Mario sounds and massive amounts of reverb, everyone else was either just ok or quite boring.

Kryptic Minds could have brought more interesting material and it feels like we've all seen DMZ and Loefah knock out the same kind of stuff every two months.

Come on Mala...pull your socks up...where's the live set?

BLEEP 43. Dec 11th

Don't think of missing this one.

Surgeon, DJ Pete, Patrice Scott and NewWorldAquarium along with the Bleep residents in the cosy surroundings of London’s best venue, Corsica Studios, is too good to be true.

As per usual the Bleep lot are bringing you the best of the best in hard detroit dance music.

Previous Bleeps have featured Omar S, DJ Stingray and Convextion to name a few and this one looks set to be a belter.

Here’s a mix from Toby Firth, a co founder of Bleep, for Glasgow's rapidly expanding night, Slabs of the Tabernacle. A two hour selection of cracking cuts to curl your toes.

DMZ 07.11

Dont forget dubsteps flagship night, DMZ, at Mass on Saturday night with Digital Mystikz & Loefah, Kromestar, Vivek, Kryptic Minds and the mighty Goth Trad live.

In light of this momentous event, here is a link to a mix of Goth Trad live for your listening pleasure

http://www.spannered.org/radio/1253/

Serious stuff.

Italo Adventures

Have a look at this collection of photos, provided by Flemming Dalum to the blog 'messages from the void'.Some great images of 100% authentic italo warriors.

Please note the image above is not from that collection, it was taken in midst of rampage that was BLOC 2009.

World Unknown 06th Nov

This Friday another instalment of the unassuming World Unknown goes back to South London, ran by one of the residents of BLOC weekend, Mr Joe Hart.

Playing together with Andy Blake of Dissident records, these railway arch parties in Brixton are a welcome regression, harking back (I can only imagine) to the days of warehouse raves and smiley faces painted on dungarees.

It's straight chicago house, cold wave, italo and electro tracks from dusk till dawn. A massive selection of music that it's hard to find anywhere in London and all for only a fiver.

The problem with these semi-legal parties, more often than not, is the sound quality, but the World Unknown system packs a heavy punch.

The sound is immense, the price tag is unquestionable and the crowd are the perfect blend of unpretentious and ready for commital.

If you checked this out last month you will not want to miss it, and if last month passed you by, don't let it this time.

World Unknown is invitation only, so please contact mail@worldunknown.co.uk for details.

Playback Fantasy

There was a plethora of spooky goings on over hallows eve, but none more so than "Playback Fantasy" at The Castle.

Arguably the only bar / 'living room esque' club in London that gets busier as the nights go on. Ran collectively by Casionova and Meschi it is ferociously picking up zombie followers in light of its eclectic music policy, very late licence and grime ridden east end location.

Unfortunately the delectable Spruxxx couldn't make it on Friday but Glasgow's Andrew Ingram, who runs the hard hitting "Slabs of the Tabernacle" and Mr Bentos provided 8 hours worth of fist clenching italo and electro through till 6am.

This night is a must for party goers who want to swap a lot of chin stroking and haircuts for something distinctly less glossy but infinitely superior.

Previous guests at Playback Fantasy have included Ali Renault, Meschi, Brassica, Casionova and Tommy Walker 3, and runs on the last Friday of every month at The Castle in Whitechapel.