www.list.co.uk/clubs Liquid Liquid
PREVIEW POST DISCO SAL P Melting Pot at the Admiral, Glasgow, Sat 6 Dec
Although early-80s pioneers of the New York New Wave and post punk sound Liquid Liquid have enjoyed something of a revival in the UK during 2008, they should have been on the radar of Glasgow’s more discerning clubbers for a few years now. Their track ‘Optimo’ did, after all, give Twitch and Wilkes’ Sunday night riot of floorfilling eclectica its name, and the song itself was a classic of Optimo (the club) throughout its early years.
It’s only slightly odd, then, that the band’s lead vocalist Salvatore Principato is coming to Glasgow to DJ at Melting Pot instead, although this club’s dedication to the quality end of the Saturday night
disco sound should ensure he fits right in. Besides, Jonny Wilkes will be lending support on this occasion. We would urge you to expect a collision of genres, although Ron ‘Sparks’ Mael lookalike Principato’s weekly Universal Sundays night at the Leopard Lounge in New York might give some indication as to what’s in store – the playlist is heavy with African and Caribbean rhythms, just as his sometime band also indulge in these styles. With a Domino-released Liquid Liquid retrospective
entitled Slip In and Out of the Phenomenon (titled after their track ‘Cavern’, which was famously rerecorded by Grandmaster Flash as ‘White Lines’) and a stunning reunion gig at London’s Barbican last month, the time is right to discover this seminal band – even if it’s only by the medium of DJ set for now. (David Pollock)
PREVIEW ECLECTICA THE GLIMMERS Headspin at the Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Sat 29 Nov
Belgium’s other premiere DJ duo the Glimmers (Mo and Benoelie) are guesting at Edinburgh’s ever reliable home of mixed musical genres, Headspin. Famed for their no holds barred approach to mixing and siphoning off the cream of any genre, the Glimmers will happily mix the likes of indie types Sons & Daughters with rock royalty such as Freddy Mercury with cutting edge electronica from LCD Soundsystem, Prins Thomas and Mekon (as so ably demonstrated on their Fabric mix). ‘We just like music in the big sense of the word,’ explains Mo.
Honing their DJing skills in their native Ghent at their legendary ten hour Fifty Five sessions, moving on to remix everyone from Bloc Party and The Killers to New Order and Roxy Music, now the Glimmers are producing their own material (and are working with a full live band for their next album). However, their latest album The Glimmers are Gee Gee Fazzi (which features collaborations with Princess Superstar, Optimo, Freeform Five and many more) is being released in a very unique way. ‘It’s not released through the classic channels,’ says Mo. ‘You can’t buy it in the shops, you can’t buy it online but if you come to a party that we’re playing, everyone who buys a ticket gets an album.’ Including this Headspin date. ‘We’re playing every weekend in different cities so that’s your audience. So why not distribute our music that way rather than record stores?’ Direct marketing at its very best, getting your product in the hands of your fans with the minimum of fuss. (Henry Northmore) ■ The Glimmers also play the Death Disco XXXmas party, the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 13 Dec.
Clubs INTRODUCING . . .
The best new labels in town. This month: Paragraph Who’s behind it? Slam, aka Stuart MacMillan and Orde Meikle, arguably Scotland’s biggest house and techno export.
Who’s on it? Just the Slam boys, recording under the alias Paragraph. They view the label as a chance to release double A- side records or online downloads of songs quickly, rather than waiting for the administrative wheels to turn at their regular label Soma. Music policy: ‘Where our Slam stuff’s more experimental,’ says Meikle, ‘a bit more musical and tied to the concept of an album, Paragraph is just stripped right down and aimed at the dancefloor. They’re the kind of tracks we might do on the laptop if we have an idea while we’re travelling.’
What they say: ‘Paragraph is a vehicle for Stuart and I to create a track and get it in the shops within three weeks,’ says Meikle, ‘because the simple fact is that there are a lot of other artists to take into account when we put a record out through Soma. We’ve got maybe ten tracks ready to go, so we’ll be trying these out during upcoming sets – including this one – alongside tracks which have influenced them. Then the hope is that we’ll have enough material to put together a live Paragraph tour in the Spring.’
What we say: This isn’t just a vanity project and even if it were, Slam’s would be far more listenable than most. With David Bailey Ross (who created Mylo’s ‘Destroy Rock’n’Roll’ sleeve concept) coming up with the minimal packaging design and the next four releases already set up to follow last month’s ‘City Destroyer’, these will be quality packages for DJs and collectors alike. (David Pollock) ■ Slam play a special Paragraph set at Off the Record’s 6th Birthday, Soundhaus, Glasgow, Sat 6 Dec. Guests Mike Huckaby and Simon Stokes will also be appearing alongside the OTR residents.
27 Nov–11 Dec 2008 THE LIST 35