Logic pres. Gui Boratto @ Bar Soma, Brisbane (22/02/08)
In the flooded Brisbane club scene it has become a challenge for individual promoters to stand out, much less draw a consistent crowd. Who could honestly blame clubbers for being fickle when so very many options present themselves on any given weekend? Whilst some in the scene may complain of often near empty floors and dwindling takings, neither could have cause for concern at Bar Soma on the night in question; thanks no doubt to the quality events consistently held there by a series of luminary underground promoters – in this case Mike Redfern and Fergus Alexander of Logic. Never ones to fall short of expectation, they kicked off the Logic calender by booking Gui Boratto, who some will describe as something of a techno hero and a leading exponent of the genre. His debut album on Cologne’s Kompakt was a huge success, as have been both previous and subsequent EP and remix releases, which have sometimes seen him in collaboration with some of the international scene’s leading lights.
Such a stellar rap sheet will often produce an uncontrollable ego, but the man was incredibly humble and patient in dealing with an over-excited reviewer prodding for every last drop of knowledge he could get. To indulge some nerdiness (something a reader or two may appreciate), Gui played a set comprised entirely from parts of his own material in Ableton Live, which was controlled with an Evolution MIDI controller and the Jazz Mutant Lemur; an ultra sleek touch screen controller also used by the laptop jockeys who recently toured with Bjork, something Big Day Out attendees would have seen courtesy of cameras placed above them.
All the most high tech gear in the world means little without the right music to play with it, which thankfully both Gui and the DJs to warm up for him had in spades. The first of these supports were Murray Antill and uber-promoter himself Mike Redfern. For Murray’s first effort behind the decks at an event, he put in a sterling effort of setting the right vibe with an apt tech house set well guided by Mike. It was followed on equally as well by Fergus. The frequency with which both Mike and Fergus played either back to back or one set on from the other is very telling. The cross pollination that seems to occur between both of their CD wallets is obvious, with H.O.S.H seeming to be the favoured producer of the moment, something the crowd seems similarly enamoured with too! What ensued was the filling of a dance floor that’s rarely seen near full, let alone totally chockers. It was something which Gui took full opportunity to capitalise on, and it became one of the best live sets seen at an underground party in Brisbane.
Not to rub salt in the wounds of any Gui Boratto fans who missed out on seeing him at Logic, but his performance met expectations and exceeded them for pretty much everyone in attendance. There are likely people better equipped to give you a full tracklist for what he played, but rest assured that most of the real faves got a run; his remixes of It’s Majik and Baboul Hair Cuttin’, a killer work up of Mr. Decay, a neo-trance killer slated for release (of course) on Kompakt, and the mind blowingly extended finale of Beautiful Life, which was seemingly never ending (like anyone wanted it to anyway…)
The only gripe? We want more! Fingers crossed he returns very soon, but for the time being rest assured that it’s going to be a wild year for the Brisbane underground.
snakez0r says...
you forgot Silverlake Pills :)