Break Inn feat. Pole Folder @ Chinese Laundry, Sydney (23/05/08)
Useful facts about Pole Folder: he’s up there as one of the most respected progressive house DJ/producers in the world. His first album Zero Gold was the first ever artist album on John Digweed’s revered Bedrock label. His tracks have featured on some massive TV advertising in the Northern Hemisphere. He’s recently mixed his first compilation Destinations (check out the ITM review). Oh, and he’s from Belgium. So you could say, I fronted up to Chinese Laundry on Friday night with ‘expectations’.
It’s still early, only 11.30 and Tones is working The Cave with some unbelievable sounds. Ahhhh, Tones. SOOO much goodness… Heavy and dark, driving and brilliant. He’s nailed my own secret sound… And cranks us all up well above 38,000 feet. Don’t look down!
As it’s the polite thing to do, somehow I dragged myself away from a devoted crew and those ‘floor mounted’ bass bins (better than a massage) to checked out ‘The Big Room’. You never know, do you? The Laundry’s main room is a fun, fun space, and tonight a fun, fun crowd who are jumpin’. But I always did prefer bangin’... Back to the Cave immediately!
As the magic 1am approaches, a certain floppy-haired Belge is spotted in the Laundry dungeons. Tones lightens the mood, and the Cave fills to bursting. Anticipation. What will Monsieur Folder pull out of that ample CD bag? As the changover happens, I wondered to myself what the hell that crazy feeling in the pit of my stomach was? Are we losing altitude? Are we going into freefall? No way! He’s just leveled us out to cruising altitude, and commenced a run of banking negative-G turns. And so the journey begins. Just breathe. It’s lush progressive house, obviously just the way everyone in the room likes it. Etherial, and then driving. Emotional, and then banging. Those high expectations of mine were exceeded within around 10 minutes.
I have never quite worked out whether producers should play their own stuff when they’re performing as a DJ. Is it just a bit uncool? Or absolutely the best shit ever? Yes, it can be a fine line. But when Pole Folder dropped Radio 101 (could it be the Stuart McKeown Frequency Hack Remix? I think so) I totally had both hands in the air. And I wasn’t the only one!
We’re definitely gaining some serious airspeed and altitude. Holy shit, are we weightless? We’ve genre bended into a low tech house orbit. I can totally see the stars! Quantum theory suggests that as you approach light-speed, perceived time passes more slowly than it does at the point of origin (that being, outside the front doors where the security hang). And it seemed like the hours of euphoric pounding had passed by in mere seconds. And then Pole Folder played his final sweet track to the committed, the house lights came up, we shook his hand. Deepest respect.
Spilling out onto the streets in the chilly pre-dawn, I’m disoriented. How long ago did I walk through those doors? Minutes? Hours? Or has it been 1000 years? I have the feeling that tonight I journeyed with a master, and a lot further than anyone could have hoped. Please god, let Pole Folder come back to Australia soon.
jaebles says...
Loved this review - keep them coming!