Fluent Form 'Chapters of Substance' Launch @ The Laundry (30/08/08)
The Laundry in Fitzroy has been doing a great job of supporting hip hop, both local and international. A laid-back venue with a friendly vibe, it is kind of reminiscent of a large extended lounge room. The Laundry (or is it the Lounge Room?) also comes equipped with a decently priced bar, good dancefloors and a large sound system.
J. Waters was the first act I caught, a talented local MC and beatmaker. He’s just released The Children Of Captivity, a CD boasting an impressive line-up of local artists, produced by DJ Bouges and out through Pang Productions. I have seen J.Waters perform live on many occasions and he always rocks a tight and professional set. Whether it’s to a large crowd or a mainly empty room, he always pours heart and soul into it. His style is unique and somewhat bizarre at times, but captivating. I’ll definitely get the new CD, and I thoroughly enjoyed his previous CD The Impossible Quest for Encapsulation as well.
Paypercutts smoothly took over the beats between sets, and next up were RKS, consisting of MCs Rosscoe and Raid and DJ EK. RKS blasted the place apart with a set so hot it damn near set the front rows alight. Rosscoe and Raid are both immensely superb lyricists and Raid is also one of the best beatboxers I have seen. This particular set could have included just a little more showcasing of his skills in that area, that’s probably me just being a little pedantic. The old schoolers from Springvale had the crowd chanting their name, giving the feeling they should’ve played just before the main act, or had a longer set.
Next act was Madizm. (Not to be confused with Madizms.) Now this act contains some talent, certainly. Dribbles and Mandle have both been signed to Doublebeef Records and are good at what they do. Now the Madizm MySpace page quotes the members of Madizm as Judz, Dribbles, Nikko King Size, Planz, Mandle and Jakhama. However, it came across disjointed. It seemed as if Dribbles, Mandle and Planz had a set together while the others besides the DJ just wandered around the stage looking a little lost, along with some random token guy in a mullet. It distracted somewhat from the fact that there was a tight set going on, and it made it look a little sloppy at times.
The three active members were well-rehearsed and put on a rowdy show, however the music sometimes seems too veer a little too much on the satire side. Madzim haven’t progressed a great deal since I first listened to them a few years ago, although the beats have gotten better and the raps a little tighter.
Geko was up next, an emcee who also makes a lot of very tasty, banging beats. He had picked up his act a little since last time I saw him live, with some more insightful lyrics and less machismo.
Fluent Form was in fine form on the night. Fluent has just released his slickly-produced album Chapters of Substance on fledgling record label Crate Cartel. Fluent raps from the heart and that’s why I like his music. Some people are just born with a passion, and that regardless of whether or not the CD is a huge success, he’s the type to just keep on doing it, getting better along the way. He’s a thinker but also a bit of a larrikin and raps with a style that is fluid and comfortable, with a bit of a cute husky rasp.
Fluent was clearly feeling good about the fact that the audience was a couple of hundred-strong – a pretty good turn out for a relatively unknown up and comer (which he quite humbly pointed out to the crowd). The guest appearances by Geko, Raven and Fatty Phew but Fluent was a little too generous with sharing the limelight. Issues with the sound also made it difficult to hear all the MCs properly, which got quite frustrating. To continue getting a little pernickety, the show kind of trailed off at the end. After Fluent came back for one last track, it was announced it was open mic until Vixen jumped on stage and she wrapped up the night with some fresh freestyles.
This was another great night of local hip hop at The Laundry. Fluent Form and Crate Cartel are names that you should be watching out for.
Ms Von D says...
NOTE: MY BAD it wasn't BOUGES on the production tip it was mister waters himself RE Jwaters new CD