Hector

Lock N Load show why they organise events…

Words: Mike Taylor

Loco Dice is a man with a huge reputation and if history tells us anything it’s that he knows how to throw one hell of a party. Renowned for his extensive sets and unrivalled energy the March bank holiday weekend saw his Desolat family take over London’s venue, Electric Brixton. After the original Sunday rapidly sold out an additional date was quickly added giving birth to Saturdays line-up; Hector, Martin Buttrich, Robert Dietz, Guti and Loco Dice.

Walking through Brixton you could instantly feel the energy in the air, a wonderful variety of cultures and nationalities were descending upon Electric Brixton for a night of sensational underground house music. We were not disappointed.

Now firstly, I must admit Electric Brixton has to be taken with a pinch of salt, it is not an exclusive clubbing venue so the acoustics are never going to be fantastic for electronic music. Also if you are a fan of warehouse raves, this probably isn’t going to do it for you. I on the other hand quite like it, it’s nice to have diverse clubbing spaces. What it does offer is two tiers much like a theatre, adding a unique feel to the clubbing experience and its raised stage provides great opportunity for some fascinating production. Everything about the night was accomplished with precision and the execution was flawless. Both the entry and cloakroom queues were fast and controlled and bar service was great considering it was a sell out event. Even the venues narrow corridors which can quickly get overcrowded were quick to be resolved by the door staff. Over the years I have seen various showcases held here, including both Cocoon and Cadenza but this has been hands down my favourite.

Hector opened the night and perfectly demonstrated how a warm up set should be performed. It seems to be something of a lost art nowadays with huge line-ups of artists playing whatever whenever, thankfully the Desolat crew know how do their job and they do it bloody well. He supplied us with a fine selection of downtempo tech-house and raw, gutsy deep house, never picking up the pace too fast. Subtle fades, long breaks and extended mixes helped ease the ever growing crowd into his hypnotic march. It was a march that was only destined for one place; the relentless stomp of Loco Dice by 5am.

When it was time for Martin Buttrich to take centre stage the tempo had quickened and the crowd had thickened but never to the point of being overcrowded. Playing live for 45 minutes he cycled through some of his greatest productions with tracks like his “Around The Bay Remix” provoking amazing reaction. He presented us with a sound much more industrial to Hectors and a handful of techno tracks had even made an appearance before Robert Dietz took over.

Having seen Dietz at this exact venue on Boxing Day 2011 and being a big fan of the Cadenza boys, I knew the onslaught we were in for, doing what he knows best he most certainly did not disappoint. The atmosphere had reached a new high and Dietz now had everybody eating out of his hands, a thrashing of upbeat, balearic influenced tech-house hit the crowd. Looking calm, collected and focused he mixed with finesse whilst the huge drops and unrelenting bass-lines kept the crowd moving. Dietz never plays nice and the music never lets up, there is little resting time when he is performing.

Guti was the last hurdle before the Desolat main man was to take over and like Martin Buttrich he was playing live. I am a huge fan of Guti and in my eyes he can do very little wrong. His productions show real essence of musicality, something that is often lost in electronic music and his live performances are full of energy. As is usual with Guti he pioneered a real Latin infused sound and showcased much of his own music, including tracks “The Other Side Of Hustler”, which I am still awaiting for release since hearing last June. Watching him bound around his array of hardware behind the decks is always inspiring to see and he was responsible for what was the magical moment of the night. The lights were up, everybody had their phones recording and a warm melody partnered with some serene chords captured everybody’s heart, like an excitable child I quickly went to facebook to ask him the track name, he tells me its a new track off the album!

This meant it was now time for the infamous Loco Dice, the dance floor had started to ever so slightly thin out, leaving a dense crowd of Loco Veterans. Straight from the get go he played a much harder sound. Short breakdowns, fast mixing and heavy use of delay, reverb and echo, this is the Loco Dice trademark. It is obvious once you go and see Dice play why he is revered as one of the greatest DJ’s on the planet. Accompanied by some extravagant visuals, the production of his set came into its own, mind bending shapes and images spiralled around the backdrop of Dice, leaving on-line an outline of him jolting behind the decks to be seen. Armed with his Desolat vinyls he played much of the 5 Years Desolat album with tracks like Shlomi Aber’s “Mancha” but also some new favourites like Pirupa’s “Bam” (out on 08 April) and Stop Files “Cichito”.

Desolat have once again shown they can throw an exquisite party, my only criticism is that I would love to see more of Guti and Buttirch Live, unfortunately there are just not enough hours in a night. Electric Brixton also did a sublime job, it was an event that could of easily been oversold and run risk of being ruined, thankfully this didn’t happen. Everything about the people we met, the music we heard and the service provided was top notch. To both Electric Brixton and Desolat… I look forward to hopefully seeing you again soon.

Extended Loco Dice visit…

Lock N Load are renowned for the events that they organise, from John Digweed’s Bedrock nights to Clapham’s South West Four. This time they present London with an impressive night that has received such an overwhealming response that it’s not to be missed, as they team up with Loco Dice for the Loco Dice Weekend. Taking place across the Easter weekend, Loco Dice brings to London his distinctive, self-composed sound, for two of the most anticipated club shows of 2013.

After selling out his scheduled Easter Sunday date in just one week, Loco Dice has responded to the phenomenal demand by adding a second night at Brixton’s beautifully converted 1930′s cinema, Electric. The Desolat co-founder will demonstrate why he remains one of electronic music’s most influential and inspiring figures, as he is joined by a hand-picked selection of the world’s most prolific DJ talent.

On Easter Saturday 30 March Loco Dice will be joined in the main room by Guti [Live], Robert Dietz and Hector, whilst Random hosts room 2. By fusing curious, ironic and creative ideas with electronic music, Guti has quickly become one of the most interesting producers to emerge from Latin America in recent years. Following his partnership with the Desolat family, Guti’s live show has leapt from strength to strength, forcing its way into the world’s leading clubs. His Electric debut will be a showcase of pure musical brilliance and a unique opportunity to witness the deep musical understanding between himself and his Desolat cohorts.

Having released outstanding productions for the likes of Desolat, Cadenza, Cecille, Deep Vibes and Running Back, Robert Dietz is recognised as one of the most in-demand DJs in deep house and techno. Dietz’s sound captures the celebratory spirit of old-fashioned club music, joining it with sleek, 21st century vibes. His addition to the Loco Dice weekender will be met with huge acclaim, as he showcases his versatility and deep knowledge of the finest underground sounds.

From London to Berlin to Ibiza, Hector has rapidly established himself as one of the most exciting young producers on the planet, effortlessly experimenting with the founding spirit of house. Fully focused on the dance floor’s needs and desires, his sets are full of energy, precision and soul. With standout performances at Fabric, Watergate, Cirque Paradis and Desolat showcases across the planet, Hector completes this line-up of raw underground talent.

WIN TICKETS
Guerilla Sounds has one pair of tickets to give away to a lucky winner and their friend to experience this rare sellout event. To be in with a chance of winning these tickets, simply click here to go to the relevant artwork on our facebook page and leave a comment with the answer to the following question: -
- Who did Loco Dice start the Desolat label with?
All comments / answers must be made by 15:00 (GMT) on Friday 15 March, when the winner will be announced.

LOCO DICE WEEKENDER
Electric Brixton, London
30.03.2013
23:00 – 08:00

Tickets |

Desolat milestone…

Words: Ryan Webb

Marking the Five Year Anniversary of the label, the 2×12″ sampler is set for release in February 2013, and features exclusive new tracks from artists in the Desolat Family; Loco Dice, Shlomi Aber, Yaya, Horatio, tINI, Hector, Lucero en Vivo and Alexkid. Because this is a milestone anniversary, the release also sees Loco Dice supply a mix packed with the brand new productions from the 2×12″, plus a few special extras.

Loco Dice starts us off with “Lolopopinho”, a real fast paced track, which gets the heart pulses up a notch or two. The mesmerism interchanging of beats dances perfectly with the deep line bass. The subtitle breaks in pace is also a highlight, adding depth to a dance tune which has been well thought out. A real thoroughbred.

Shlomi Aber’s “Mancha” begins with a floor beater of bass that builds to the forefront in the opening minute giving a sensation that a great energy is coming closer from afar. This introduces male vocals, which are muffled. The beat from Sholomi Aber is very much bass oriented with flickers of drum percussion, whilst Yaya‘s “Our Connection” uses male French vocals to sex up a slow and driving synth, it struggles to carry the energy from the previous tracks, but makes up for it with a very infectious bouncing rhythm.

tINI‘s “Room 305″ returns the energy with rasping synths tucked together with soulful vocal samplings. The bass intertwines well with the stripped down sound, while Lucero En Vivo‘s “La France” bustles with everything that is French. Shouting female voices give rise to a samba drum beat that tussles and bustles. Drum percussions are later added to give depth. In contrast Alexkid‘s “Enty” is a softer, silkier sound; a little atmospheric gem that mixes gradual synths with a low and cutting beat. The bass cuts in gradually, and the cutting beat grows louder. This is a track that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Release Date: 04 February 2013

Striving to be 2013′s most unique festival…

Launching in August 2013 in the Italian Alps, Vertigo Festival will deliver electronic dance music in an entirely unique way. As the highest altitude summer electronic music festival, Vertigo is set to be a highlight of the 2013 festival season.

Today, Vertigo Festival announces an array of top International brands and labels to the mountains, starting with Berlin based ‘Get Physical‘, showcasing M.A.N.D.Y., DJ T, Smash TV and Betoko, whilst Swiss born ‘Cadenza Records’ welcome Reboot, UNER, Michel Cleis and Andrea Oliva.

Culprit LA will also be bringing their Downtown Los Angeles rooftop vibe to the rolling mountains, with Droog, M.A.N.I.K, Inxec, Climbers and Lula Circus, whilst Manchester & Ibiza powerhouse Sankeys, have ventured outside of their familiar Club environment for the first time, adding to the equation Darius Syrossian and Enzo Siragusa, with several more top headline artists TBA.

Vertigo also welcomes one of London’s most exciting and forward thinking labels in Art Of Dark, who will be showcasing DJ W!LD, Hector and their stalwart residents Jack & I, Colin Chiddle and Charlie Dave Kent, with several exciting additions due to be announced.

Complementary to the exquisite array of label showcases, Vertigo Festival will offer a platform to some of the UK and Europe’s most exciting emergent event brands. From Virunga with it’s forward thinking emerging residents, Departure expanding on its European destinations, Solid Grooves‘ rooftop vibes, Troupe and its unique label artists, plus Malta’s leading brand Panoptic. Festival goers can expect fun-loving vibes as brands join together to assure Vertigo Festival is one of the summer’s must visit destination festivals.

Vertigo Festival brings to the fold further talent including Alex Niggemann, Daniel Bortz, Move D, Finnebassen, Chopstick & JohnJon, Hot Since 82, Flashmob, Fabio Giannelli, Jobe, Saytek live, Silky, DZeta N’ Basile, and many more acts still yet to be unveiled!

Set in a naturally stunning and bespoke environment in the heart of the Italian Alps, Vertigo Festival will embody the essential essence of a festival whilst also combining a truly breath-taking setting.

The location can be found within a secluded mountainous valley, with a capacity of around just 4,000 people, all those lucky enough to attend Vertigo Festival, will be able to indulge upon 18 hours of hand-picked music, across each of the 3 days and nights, in the most intimate of surroundings.

The festival will take place at the internationally acclaimed Ski Jumping Hotel. The venue is located at an altitude of over 1,500 meters, in the remote village of Pragelato, at the heart of Northern Italy’s Piemonte Region. Nestled between the panoramic valleys of Chisone, approximately 1 hour drive from Turin, this venue boasts Olympic heritage, having hosted the Ski Jumping, Nordic Skiing and Cross-Country Skiing at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics.

Early bird tickets have already been release on general sale, and special limited weekend passes released at £69 for those looking to book with accommodation and transfers included.
Vertigo are ensuring that party goers can reach the secluded location with relative ease, by providing an extra service of transfer coaches to transports people to and from the Festival for those reaching prime locations such as Turin airport, numerous Milan airports and main train stations in both cities.

Vertigo maintains a strict music policy, showcasing only the finest cutting-edge music from its carefully selected line-up of Deep and Tech-House DJs and Producers.

Imagine blue skies, crisp mountain air, 28 degrees at Europe’s highest altitude dance music festival; welcome Vertigo.

Vertigo Festival
Ski Jumping Hotel, Pragelato, Italy
15.08.2013 – 17.08.2013
12:00 – 06:00

Vertigo | Facebook | Tickets | Event |

Desolat ready for ADE with Used & Abused 12 hour marathon…

As Desolat joins a whole host of industry professionals for the annual ADE in Amsterdam, they will also be providing their instalment of entertainment with the label taking over Studio 80 on the Friday night. But Desolat seem to want to give a little bit more to anyone who is lucky enough to already have a ticket, as they will be going for a twelve hour marathon, with a line-up of the usual suspects; Martin Buttrich, tINI, Guti, Livio & Roby and Hector, all being joined by Enzo Siraguza and a very special guest. This is looking like the party to be at as tickets are all sold out with a limited number of 200 tickets being available on the door.

Used & Abused
Studio 80, Rembrandtplein 17, Binnenstad, Amsterdam
23:00 – 11:00
19.10.2012

Desolat | Studio 80 | Facebook | RA |

Zoo Project delivers an unequivocally powerful evening of pulsating clannish house music…

As the opening parties take-shape on the magical island of Ibiza, Zoo Project is the musical phenomenon on the cusp of most party revellers’ tongues…

Located in an ‘abandoned zoo’, more commonly known as ‘Gala Night’, and positioned at the heart of the Island, the distinctiveness of Zoo Project’s origins have provided the Ibiza party calendar with an unrivalled fixture for a Saturday afternoon.
With tickets to their opening party on Saturday 28th May some of the most eagerly sought after, and on a weekend that also saw We Love Space Sundays welcoming-in their new summer season, Zoo Project’s Channel Zoo Label united with Southampton’s Junk Department promotions, to deliver some of that tribal hedonism to the streets of London…

Less than 24 hours after Zoo Project opened its gates for what will surely prove to be their most prolific season on the island since its naissance in 2008, Shoreditch’s Hewitt Street Car Park was blessed with a party to rival that of its Ibizan counterpart.

Desolat Label’s Hector was joined-by Zoo residents Gow, Nic & Kaleb, and Michael James, all of whom embraced the fervent capacity crowd as though they were at Gala Night itself, delivering an unequivocally powerful evening of pulsating clannish house music. Not only were the spinsters on top of their game, an inspirational percussionist stole the show with his relentless ability to maintain a continuous vivacious drone on his impressive collection of kettledrums.

More notable however, was the exquisite line-up afforded to Room 2; Zombie Soundsystem posed circa 500 revellers with a problematic choice of allegiance, encapsulating an exalted-calibre of music throughout the course of the night.
Zombie Soundsystem’s residents Shane Watcha, Raymundo Rodriguez, and Clint Lee, delivered a tight, emotive and absorbing sequence of deep tech house classics, inspiring an invariable and vibrant atmosphere to ensue long into the early-hours of Bank Holiday Monday morning.

So all that is left to say then, is if you thought that fancy dress parties were a thing of the past…think again! Guerilla Sounds recommends you invest in some animal print attire, and keep your ear to the ground as to the next such tribal event…Don’t be afraid to unleash the Zoo in you!

Words: Luke Farrugia