Tasked with reviewing Belgium’s dynamic duo Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet AKA Spirit Catcher at Elsewhere in Surfers Paradise last Friday night, I knew I had a sizeable job on my hand. It was my first visit to Elsewhere and I knew that those serious about their music make a weekly pilgrimage there, so I had big expectations of the venue and the reputation of Spirit Catcher themselves precedes them. I was impressed with the layout of the club as you can select your spot according to your mood, and we chose to chill out on the stools in the elevated back left hand corner of the club while we checked out Spirit Catcher, though there was a corner lounge opposite tucked into the corner.

We arrived in time to catch Audun & Giv controlling the room and guiding the crowd toward the main show. they strayed away from minimal and electro, playing a really enjoyable quality set of futuristic disco-inspired house. Bringing it up enough to get people energised, but never pushing it too much, in order to leave plenty of room for Spirit Catcher. The enthusiasm and anticipation amongst the club’s guests grew in line with the music.

Spirit Catcher’s set started and the first few tracks were deep instrumentals, devoid of vocals in any form, which
is pleasing to someone more interested in the musicality of a track. The fresh tunes were excellent too: when you hear something for the first time, the fascinating rhythm gets a hold of your curiosity. Jean and Thomas took to the Elsewhere console and the cheers from the crowd became louder and louder. It was evident that a lot of people had been looking forward to seeing and hearing the Belgian progressive/tech house maestros for some time, and the vibe was electric in the room as the boys were settling in behind an impressive amount of synths, controllers and other gadgets. Throughout their set they went from house to more techno inspired sounds, expertly controlled by Jean, and with Thomas jamming along on synths adding uplifting sound-scapes to the beats. The boys looked like they were having a ball. Accustomed to playing big festivals, they said they really enjoyed showcasing their set in a small intimate setting. True professionals and true entertainers.

Spirit Catcher brought a uniquely underground vibe in there selection of tracks for this set, and being graced by this experience is something I am truly thankful for. This sentiment was obvious from the dropped jaws of the punters, recovering their gapping mouths into an ear-to-ear grin only 20 minutes into the set. The majority of tracks Spirit Catcher spun honestly were not known to me, but that doesn’t mean they were not welcomed. Their set offered a lesson in the discovery of new tracks, which often we miss out on as local DJs sometimes seem to have very similar CD wallets.

To sum up my experience my first review at Elsewhere, I was overly impressed with the sound system and the club’s layout and having the chance to catch Spirit Catcher live. Check Spirit Catcher out on their website www.spiritcatcher.be