Future Classic Label Night feat. Trickski @ The Civic, Sydney (23/05/08)
Ah Trickski, back so soon. Our last date with the industrious Berliners was a mere eight months ago, but no one’s begrudging the hasty return visit.
This month one half of the duo Daniel Becker was, as he told me, “in the hood” (or close enough) to play Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Festival in Singapore. A short dash to Australia couldn’t hurt. Thankfully, Sydney deep house/jazz/electronica bastion Future Classic picked him up to play its Label Night, in conjunction with Beck’s Fusion. The latter is “a Beck’s global initiative uniting music and art”, with German excellence as its focus. Trickski certainly ticks that box.
Come midnight, the Civic Underground is buzzing comfortably. The recent refurb has improved the club dramatically. Bringing the DJ booth onto the stage focuses the room, while the fluorescent light panels in the ceiling add some disco glitz. Most impressive, though, is the sound system – certainly unparalleled in Sydney, and a real treat for the deeper strains of house. Currently giving it a workout is Future Classic boss Nathan McLay and star signing Jamie Lloyd. Their free-form back-to-back session has the dancefloor well and truly on-side. There’s an easy, wrap-around groove throughout, never overstepping warm-up territory. Both DJs look to be having a ball, and a well-timed Hot Chip remix gets perhaps the biggest response of the night.
Daniel sidles up to the booth at one am with all the essentials: CD wallet, records, fashion scarf. When both Trickski lads played the foyer of the Metro Theatre for Mad Classic Fuss, there was as much dancing behind the turntables as there was in front of them. On his own, Daniel is more subdued, but the set is better for it. Following the lead of Nathan and Jamie, his first 90 minutes are all about crisp, taut basslines and warm pads. It’s reminiscent of Trickski’s Berlin Sessions Promo Mix on ITM-FM, with Little Dragon’s sublime Constant Surprises making a welcome appearance. An extended mix of Stereotyp’s Keepin’ Me is another highlight, before the set traverses slightly darker, jacking territory. The man is obviously enjoying rifling through some of his well-worn records, and there’s a great fluidity between the old and new (despite the occasional key clash).
Around 3:30am, as the club begins to thin, Daniel has a “Fuck this; let’s disco” moment, easing out of a deep techno cut into – yep – D-Train’s You’re The One For Me. The dancefloor approves, and not least because our host is suddenly dancing like a madman. The mood is set for the remainder of the evening – big, grinning, campy fun. Let’s hope Trickski are back “in the hood” before too long.
