www.list.co.uk/clubs
‘IT'S NOT A HUGE CORPORATE '
T’Vft'
«1"
NIGHT THAT WILL STOMP OVER EVERYTHING'
Age of enlightnment
As Renaissance launches in Edinburgh David Pollock looks back at the legacy of the 905 house superclubs and asks whether they really ever went away
was declared dead that we can start to look back
on them with something approaching nostalgia? Or maybe we all know that the superclub will never. ever die: it’s just that the whole culture has been ring- fenced somewhere far removed from underground credibility. But then that‘s not strictly true. either. Some big nightclub brands which may fairly fall into the ‘super’ bracket are among the most respected in the country (OK, we mean Fabric here), while each big name can still draw in crowds around Europe and even the world. Creamfields is held annually in Liverpool and internationally: Ministry of Sound march on relentlessly in the money-spinning arenas of compilation CDs and branded nights out and of course our own Colours are still going strong. Renaissance. who were there at the beginning. still release mix comps. put on shows across the globe. and even run their own festival, Wild in the Country.
So superclubs are still big-ish business and Renaissance is bringing its own bi-monthly bash to Edinburgh — to the eminently ‘boundary-breaking' Cabaret Voltaire —— and we're wondering what to expect. “They’re not going to be here every two weeks or every month.’ says Neil Bartley. who is promoting the night. ‘Although. Renaissance is a huge clubbing brand. this isn’t going to be a huge corporate night which will stomp over everything else out there. We just think that what they do will fit well on the Edinburgh scene. and that their name also helps us book guests who might not otherwise come to Edinburgh'.
Has it been just long enough since the superclub
As a resident at the Liquid Rooms Musika and Cab’s own After Dark. the latter of which recently finished, Bartley has a fair idea what might work in Edinburgh (his business partner. Euan Mackenzie. also promotes and DJs on the local scene). To be honest. the city hasn‘t wanted for house nights, particularly progressive ones. until recently. when the demise of residencies like After Dark, Progression and Solescience saw the genre thin out in the capital. There‘s a call for it, albeit perhaps not spread so thinly over a few nights, so it would be nice to see such a big noise of the genre as Renaissance unite everyone under the same flag.
it feels like a lifetime ago, of course, that Renaissance brought the now-ubiquitous mix CD to public attention with Sasha and John Digweed’s I994 Renaissance: The Mix Collection. which was a fixture on the stereo of everyone in the land under the age of 25. Now it sounds as dated as the notion of actually listening to music on a stereo, but the suspicion lingers that those who keep the superclubs flying are those who built up a loyalty during the boom years.
“I bought that album many years ago.” laughs Bartley, ‘and I think this night will appeal to other people who did. too. But then John Digweed has just released 'l'ransitimrs Vol 4 on Renaissance. and we’re showcasing young DJs in King Unique and [Solescience’s] Nick Yuill at this event. There‘s a whole new breed who love this type of music. and I think we‘ll be seeing them out here.’
Renaissance, Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Fri 9 May.
LIST >i<
THE BEST DANCEFLOOR ACTION
NW
* Return to Mono How does the man who once sang ‘Flash' carry on being an electro overlord now he’s got religion? Cajmere (aka Green Velvet) will take you there. See Profile, page 42. Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 9 May.
* Kamivai Hosting the launch party for Edinburgh's newest house label. Audiablo. Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Sat 10 May. >l< Cotton Cake Cotton Cake celebrates birthday number three in its new full-time home. with guest Gabriel Ananda. See preview. page 42. Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 16 May.
* Xplictt The leaders of the dmm & bass scene. Pendulum, put in a DJ set. Potterrow, Edinburgh, Fri 16 May.
* After Dark The teams behind Huntley & Palmer’s Audio Club and Wrong Island team up to bring us Andy Blake (Dissident) and The Truffle Club. Stereo, Glasgow, Sat 17 May.
* Death Disco Glasgow's most consistently genre-pushing night is back, this time in the company of French electro- popper Brodinski (pictured). The Arches, Glasgow, Sat 17 May. * Diversion Another birthday bash. as the Classic Grand’s night of techno wrongness strides into its second year with guest Cagedbaby. Classic Grand, Glasgow, Sat 77 May.
alt Stereotype presents Motel When names like Felix da Housecat, Laurent Garnier and Erol Alkan are fans you know Kris Menace has some serious talent in the house stakes. 7he Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 77 May.
* Ultragroove Chicago house meets Detroit techno in the hands of Londoner Jesse Rose (Made to Play). Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Sat 17 May.
>1: Men and Machines Twitch goes techno as he returns to his roots with a Pure-esque set. The GRV, Edinburgh, Thu 22 May.
8—22 May 2008 THE LIST 41