Now that the ringing ears, sore legs, and sore(er) head has eased into a vague remnant post-party fog, I realise just how damn much I was missing my techno…it’s been a while between beats…a while since the last stomp…yes….the world weary withdrawal of life-living was starting to set in…and techno-absence craving crept salivating for electronic aural music kick fix…....satiated by serious dose of tech-satisfaction injected straight into mainline audio arterial jack….ahhh….Mainline featuring Misjah tasted oh so sweet…
And…what a damn fine quality dose of good pure techno was delivered @ 77….and what more fitting a venue to be eased beaten-back into repetitive bass bliss… It was great to finally return to 77 – my first time back post-renovation re-opening – and how good does the new little doof box look…def the perfect venue in Sydney to indulge in techy goodness. The new look 77 feels just that slightly bit more roomy…but still subterranean cavernous dark dingy…transformed by WackedOutWorx with visual slide décor stimuli – and excellent lighting – combined to give great visual eye-kicks…and the extra sound smacked loud and clear…
The above stimulus just a backdrop to the music on the night…Dutch International DJ Misjah supported by one a quality local line-up (Biz, Ajax, Mark Murphy, Emass, Methodixxx, Vic and hps?) – finer purveyors of techno taste representing varietal techno compatible to all blood types, – and this reflected in the crowd – diverse friendly techno junkies come craving for their heart-beat thump aural fix….
Biz kicked off the party at 9:00 (which I missed thinking party was due to start at 10:00) followed by Mark Murphy who started the blood-head rush with some nice tech electro…the versatile and ever-busy Ajax who continued in the techy vein.
Then Mainline boys Emass and Methodixxx played the next two hours – Emass incorporated live percussive drumming into his already lively energetic sets whilst Methodixxx slammed it out on three decks – and what a pleasure it was to see these two play their own party in front of a techno addicted crowd. The two young lads have come a long way…Emass having ventured into a variety of gigs, whilst Methodixxx has emerged an ever more confident turntable technician… It is satisfying to see the years of passion and dedication paying off both personally and professionally…no doubt the future shall see these two as permanent fixtures in the Sydney scene….
These two proved the perfect lead up to DJ Misjah who played a two hour set of funky hard tasting techno on three decks final scratch and a loop machine. The result – a crisp percussive loop driven set of some fresh European techno, ala Marco Bailey and Chris Liebing. Misjah played a selection of his own tracks and remixes, plus tracks from Hertz, Andreas Kauffelt, Ben Sims, Dave Clarke and Deetron to name a few… His set was fast tight quick mixing that kept all on the floor moving. I personally loved the use of delay and loop effects – sounds that emerged from vague aural background backdrop to forefront with where-did-that-come-from smooth surprise – he was constantly working three decks mixer sampler EQ and fader cuts throughout his set…very impressive and very musical…
Vic continued the assault with a pure final scratch set…a typically storming set but marked by a slightly new sound and direction.. It was not the usual relentlessness…(although the tracks were anything but soft) but a set of fresh unreleased tracks that moved through a variety of techno sounds and styles….techno sounds sourced from all over the world that have found appeal in Vics ear….I personally loved the new direction… Standout tracks - “Riders” by Eric Seno which features a sample from The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm” – and his own tracks – Vics’ remix of a Chris Liberator track called “Vics Good Times Remix” which will be out on Stay Up Forever vinyl in the near future and “Ruz Dvah Trih” (which translates to One Two Three).
And what was a perfect set-selection progression, hps? delivered the last dose to a still very eager 5am crowd…a typically hard strong-as-fuck shot straight to the mainline artery vein of some nasty nasty techno (fuckin techno anyone?) – no chance of relaxing those legs at this time – perfect for braving the cold withdrawal sick morning outside. There was some D.A.V.E. the Drummer in there, some Fernando (which I hear has become a favourite of hps thanks to Methodixxx) and DJ Amoks’ “Weapons of Mass Destruction” to end off the night….
In this techno drought-stricken Sydney, Mainline came through with the goods by the pound! Easily one of the better techno parties this year – a pure and strong event that mixed all elements seamlessly…exactly what has been missing in the scene…
As a footnote – upon entering the party, promoter Sammy (DJ EMass) thanked punters for coming and thanked them for supporting their event – this not only put all in a wonderful head-space and good-times party-spirit, but pretty much summed up the night up for me – a party put on by two young passionate techno lovers who dig their music and the scene….directing their passion into putting on a techno party for techno people….
