My personal hunt for Meat Katie began last year and the man responsible for that I’d have to say, was James Lavelle with his recent Global Underground release in Romania. Despite some media reviews, I’ve always had respect for that man’s taste ever since he started the Mo Wax label and he is right up the top of my list of selectors. The double album has some distinct high points, but the one that really slapped my ears was ‘Ju Ju’ by Meat Katie and Elite Force (and funnily enough some other tracks I acknowledged were too by Meat Katie). In fact it’s not very often for a DJ to feature five tracks by the same artist on a compilation – obviously Meat Katie made a huge impact for Lavelle and the same goes for me.

At first I spewed when I realised that I had forgotten to bring my ‘Ju Ju’ 12” along, which I cherish quite a bit and really wanted to get signed by the master himself. That track was like a milestone for me in my search for underground breaks, being also coined in 2003 as the first ‘hum’ anthem – and my copy was in need of that godly touch to complete it’s top shelf position. When I first heard that track I just had to find out who was responsible for delivering such a fine composition of phat basslines, dark breakbeats, ecstatic tweaks and subtle yet strong, almost conversational vocals. Welcome Meat Katie.

The return of Mark Pember was one event I just couldn’t miss – especially after feeling so damn guilty for not going to support him at the last Breakfest. Yeah sure it wasn’t easy to amp your friends to go out on a Thursday night – but hey I’m kind of thinking now, that this was actually the beauty of it all really. I have to admit it was a bit disheartening to see there was no line outside Ambar (at around 11.30pm) – and on that note kudos to the club for being such a fine underground ‘bunker’, being host to some of the best touring DJs here and somehow managing to guarantee me a good night every time I hit it.

But sure enough this was not the case, with the club being about half full at this stage, together with the reassuring sound of dark breaks already being delivered by the support DJ – this was a good sign. (Alas! I should really have more confidence in the fine promoters we have here in Perth.) I actually much prefer having a cosy crowd as opposed to the crampin’ my style sardine situation, which more often than not results into a night of a claustrophobic frustration having to concentrate on your breathing space, rather than enjoying the choons. So once in I go to take a shot, only to be left looking like a stunned mullet when the words ‘NO CARD ERROR’ appeared on my camera screen. Two cases of spewing now so that was it – this is Meat Katie so I had to quickly bail and come back. Another thankful reason for it being a Thursday night, where the lack of traffic made it a breeze to race in and out – without any riffraff nor congestion.

It was worth it as well – back to the club now with twice as big a crowd, my ‘Ju Ju’ blessed and myself now armed with a bit more ammunition to have some record of the event. Though not fully packed (a bonus for me), there was a good crowd and a very responsive one – the dance floor was kranking and who could blame them, with the endless fine phat electro house breaks continuously being pumped out.

After telling him I’d be back with the record if ‘Ju Ju’ wasn’t played, it didn’t take long before my own ears and body began responding instinctively to the track I just wished one night I could hear being played in a club. When the familiar elastic bass line bounced out, the crowd also moved to the hum beautifully and with my eyes closed I had that smile on my face you get when you feel that lovely sense of audio satisfaction. I was a bit shocked when at first he told me he wasn’t sure if he’d brought that track along. Come to think of it thank god he played the better A-side, considering I got him to sign the B-side which wrote better (if you read this Mark then good on ya!). I knew then already, that tonight was and would end up being a great night.

I think it’s his skater/punk/bassist roots which give Mark Pember his edge in being able to deliver such a fine selection of electro house breaks that continuously krank and get higher without being too intrusive or cheesy. You can sometimes tell when artists have an appreciation for other musical styles earlier on and they tend to be the kind of djs/ musicians I look out for. My only sympathy (a tiny bit) for those reviewers who find it a bit bland for their liking, is that maybe it’s that they’re used to trance anthem type ‘kukka’ with annoying screeching repetitive vocals and cheesy bass lines – musical taste is trivial and can only after all, suit certain people. For me, I knew this man would not disappoint the crowd – but more so give them a night where it would be hard not to boogie cos the beats were being so well maintained, always kept coming and peaked just when they needed to. Not too much, not too little, but just right – ok I admit I did get a breather every now and then, but at least I know that all night I never once had a ‘whatever’ look on my face (besides at the start when I realised I had no memory card).

What I like about this man is that he has an appreciation for tracks that break hard, dark and phat – tweaking occasionally and flowing through your body with that sensation of confidence that you’re on an underground mission (Lavelle does it to me as well – I guess it’s cos he too likes to play Meat Katie).

Other moments of audio bliss I think I can recall (c’mon I do have to enjoy myself too!) include when ‘Shadow Box’ by Elite Force was played, ‘Out Of It’ by Force Mass Motion and ‘Get Down’ by Koma and Bones – which are all featured on his latest CD compilation release for UK’s fabric club ‘Fabric Live 21’.

It’s like a rare blend of mature electro tribal house breaks that are unique enough you will rarely hear them being played out in a local club (but wish you could every time). Meat Katie pumps you continuously with adrenalin, bumping up the dose every so often but will never leave you stranded, bored nor with an ear full of cheese. It’s a darkness that moves you and keeps you going, combined with a select taste of fine vocals, bass lines and bleeps – without over-tweaking or becoming annoyingly repetitive.

The crowd did seem to shrink slightly at one stage but from then on, for some reason seemed to only get bigger and bigger even halfway through his set! Even the crew I had managed to drag out (who had not heard of him before) stayed longer than I thought, wearing that same smile on their face and so they should – good on ‘em for coming down and same goes for everyone who made it there. I gotta also give a big thanks to the over three hours of Mark Pember, promoters, club staff and also there being a complete lack of wankers around on a Thursday night(!).

If you liked the gig, go on and buy his recent Fabric release – his beats are very durable that you will rarely be sick of them being overplayed on radio. I noticed too at the end of his set (enter Erin to finish off), the crowd of punters around him getting their stuff autographed as well – I gotta admit I haven’t seen this happen very often at Ambar. Well at least that helps confirm that Meat Katie has a fine audience here in Perth and we have got a lot of respect for the man, who has truly refined his musical talent over the years and will hopefully continue to bring us bigger and better blends of ballistic breaks, beats and bleeps.

To eyecandy the photos from the event please visit http://www.inthemix.com.au/photos10/050915-meatkatie-daggy