- ''Twas the fortnight before Christmas and the friendliest crowd of breaks-fiends that ever vibed the lasered labyrinth were in attendance.
After a Polish pash at my work Christmas party (how original) and four glasses of Cab Sav I hook up with my Phabric *Phosse and we hit London''s premier club.
Stanton Warriors are doing their thing, a boom-boom-boom and a bam-bam-bam. They raggaed it up, bringing in each snaking basslines with barely a smile -- these boys are seri-arse. Hot chiquitas everywhere too.
Beautifully mashed. What better state to be in watch Infusion tear it up, stomping out their spontaneous, booming breaks. Their new album is nearly upon us and the all-konquering trio gave us a slight taste tonight.
Jamie Steven's black and white striped tie flips around in front of his chin as Infusion jump straight into their 4/breaking/4 style. Pogoing with a head jerking forward action, he appears to be whipping a space hopper down a race-track. Fresh single ''Better World'' has crazy urgency, with Manuel sailing over the dirty kickdrum, politically charging his lines "They pushhhed us dowwwn / On the wayyy to make a better world."
A major Australian contingent is bounding around, with more of the Antipodean tongue being heard than geezer-speak. The trio''s chemistry buzzes feet into a flurry, and Fabric''s regular crowd is in phull phorce, phanatically phond of Inphusion.
Plumps lift the place again, and some late reconnaissance finds 5 square metres of muthafucking space for some muthafucking bass. Friendly cats are shuffling and jacking elbows. Creepshow rocks the house.
The sideroom is ideal for Krafty Kuts, aided by A-Skillz as they drop (literally) hot CDRs and a tight mix of Mylo''s "Drop The Pressure". I would have looked over and had a peak at ze mix but by that stage I was hanging on by one hand to the rafters, watching the Trickas weave hip hop and broken phunk, pushing hips all over the room.
"You gotta fight for your right to party" (Beastie Boys) Freq Nasty slaps his nimble fingers at the cross-fader and we roar the chorus, somehow, after a morning of crazysillyfresh dancing. Freq''s table-top dreads bounce and hold - like earlier moments in his set of dark, sprawling mixing. Again and again he winds us up. Jamie of Infusion gets shaking in the middle of the floor with the punters too. So much love. Energy levels go up. A bootleg of 7 Nation Army and Bring Tha Noize comes out at a stupid BPM. A bit of an obvious no-brainer, but he slightly redeems himself with the breaks mix of Rez by Underworld.
And then it''s time to wind down - a 45 minute wait in the cloakroom queue is tuff, but the night was more than enuff. Buff.
ROCKERFELLAR SPANK
Alter Ego''s Rocker was violently sprinkled in at least three sets, sounding even fresher from remix treatment through Sanjeev Bhardwaj''s various soundscapes. Krafty took the honours with an acidy link via Josh Wink''s Higher State of Consciousness. Beautifully mashed.
Oh, and thanks Mel for the plus one!
*Silent ''h'', holy h.
Infusion - 9
Krafty - 9
Stanton Warriors - 8
Freq Nasty – 7