"Sub·lime (s-blm) adj.
1. Characterized by nobility; majestic.
2.
1. Of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth.
2. Not to be excelled; supreme.
3. Inspiring awe; impressive.
4. Archaic. Raised aloft; set high.
5. Obsolete. Of lofty appearance or bearing; haughty: “not terrible,/That I should fear... /But solemn and sublime” (John Milton)."
-taken from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sublime
One only needs to look at the definitions from various dictionaries and encyclopedias to understand a little bit more about what Sublime is about. It's purpose, intentions and achievements.
On Saturday a collection of the most prominant of Singapore's underground dance scene came together to create something especially... Please choose one of the adjectives in the defintion of sublime.
The night kicked off with Mr. Pink from sweetmusic.fm (my favourite singaporean online radio station [www.dublab.com is my favourite worldwide], although I also have been enjoying unpopular radio, still need to catch liveisevil, I recommend all of these to those who are reading)... Monsieur Rose (that's pink in french but I assume you already know that, I know I didn't) played an amazing selection of obscure old funk and soul (the type you love hearing but can never put the name to) along side Hairspray who went more into the electronic sphere. Ray started off slow, with the likes of classic Warp tunes from veteran signing, Autechre. He started off slow but ended with a collection of pummeling classic techno tracks. From Mills to didgeridoo and polygon window (Aphex), closing off in a beautiful premonition of the harder edged sound that was to come later on in the night.
Next up the two J's came to play a sound that I personally attribute much of todays innovations in todays dance music. Back when Knuckles, Levan and Ron Hardy were first discovering what they could create without the use of generic instruments, playing funk and soul tracks on reel to reels adding a backbone of kicks, snares and hi-hats through cheap drum machines that had been rejected by the established musical industry. However, it was not until the unique sound of the Roland TB-303 that a real Chicago house sound was born. Sorry I know I've gone on an extremely obtuse tangent but I'm pretty passionate about this machine, the sound and the DJs. Hawtin and Aphex are only part of a newer generation that have recycled this sound, its present everywhere, so I just have to thank Chicago. Thank you. Back to Justin and James, aka Twinhed and Clart. It was the perfect direction, perfect evolution from the two Djs before hand, taking it slightly down but keeping the floor warm, inviting all those who weren't yet on the dancefloor to timidly take part in something that would both grow, accelerate and explode. Kudos to these drum and bass DJs who went beyond there usual spectre of sound to provide something timeless and fresh.
Sue Shan and Feng were next on the roster of this diverse and talented team. Mixing it up by including a cdj on an extra channel while Sue Shan was at the wheels of steel, Feng layored sounds over the top of minimal and electro tracks. Both experienced Djs kept the crowd entertained. Feng scratched samples of vocals, kicks and snares over the top of Sue Shan's impeccable selection of tracks. Both funky and dirty, this was a set for the real freaks who were there for something a bit more sophisticated and different. This team really brought it to the table, we hope you enjoyed and appreciated it. I know I did.
Next was the 'flow'... Ramesh took over the console bringing things down with an amazingly astral yet funky melody, inviting those who had left to come back and enjoy his freeform and jazzy approach to both house and techno. Playing with Ramesh was Norman Chung, a fellow Singaporean with many years of experience under his belt, who has recently had his debut released on SinoHK. Check out Norman Chung at Juno.co.uk for samples. Both Djs played things different and unexpected, yet still accesible and extremely dance friendly. Things heated up as the floor filled in as feet, hearts and minds came out from the hidden cracks where freaks like to hide and not be found, but appear when they so choose.
loopinmotion kept things smoothly on the incline as he brought an array of percussive beats and soulful strings to a brink of uncontrollable pressure and ecstatic tension release. There was something in the air in this set and if you were on the floor, im sure you won't hesitate to agree with me. Don from Kinemat, an old friend of loops, had a special guest set with loop and lock, (who would come at the end of this tri-rotation). Don came after loop and you could tell there was some added flavour and perhaps even a bit of friendly competition that fueled greater performance, tighter mixing and out-of-the box ambition from both parties. But lets not forget DJR, the one on the side who was playing the cross fader like it was a musical instrument, chopping and dicing melodies above wax originated beats, truly something to be heard if you haven't already. lock'n'groove added some humour and funk as he started with some screeching 303s and ended with telling the crowd that they better get their 'footwork' on and their booty shaking. By now the loop had been firmly established and the groove was now in place. The party was now peaking.
Taking over with one of my favourite tracks of this year (Carl Craig's remix of Theo Parrish's 'falling up'... for those interested, Technasia has just released another set of remixes for this young yet already classic track), was Cherry and Tyrone Shoelaces. A perfect ending to the night, these minimal DJs brough a tired crowd to their absolute limit, with so many DJs, so many sounds and so much fuel for the floor it was only to be expected that the crowd and completely exhausted themselves by the end of the night.
I have only one last word...
SUBLIME.
