Marc Houle in Dublin

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  • Having first frequented "Nightflight" some six or so months ago to witness a majestic set by Dirtybird label owner Claude VonStroke, The Button Factory has, for me at least, become a regular haunt on Friday nights. Tripod aside, it's perhaps the only club built specifically for clubbers in Ireland's capital. From the crisp sound system to the theatrical feel of its raised platform overlooking the main stage, it is in essence what Gianni Versace would have designed had he been more into clubbing than designing expensive suits. But that's not why I'm here. While Tripod basks in its "big club—bigger names" ethos, Nightflight's motto is a simple one: Book the most innovative and exciting names in dance music from disco (Todd Terje, Prins Thomas) to techno (Steve Bug) and everything in between (Francois K). It's a tactic that has paid huge dividends; attracting clued-in clubbers by avoiding commercial dance music like the clap. Tonight is no exception, as it's the turn of M_nus starlet and Richie Hawtin's right hand man, Marc Houle. The fun eventually started at about 12:30 AM when Houle arrived on stage to rapturous applause and accompanying claps and whistles. He instantly let the bat out of its cage in the shape of his MacBook Pro and what seemed to be the Yamaha Tenori-On. (There was no sign of the Korg Monopoly he used to produce "Techno Vocals" however.) Houle wasted no time in unleashing his vast repertoire of catchy tunes on a highly receptive crowd. The first of these signature productions played out to the waiting crowd was "Edamame"—a perfect tune for getting the crowd onside and thus a brilliant start to the set. Houle toyed with the crowd throughout by manipulating his productions to include teasing loops and gargantuan breakdowns. As the night wore on—and things got more and more frantic—I jetted upstairs to take a much deserved breather and catch a few videos on the ever-reliable Nokia. Luckily, just as I did Houle's 2006 classic "Bay of Figs" came on—a sure sign that this was turning in to a very enjoyable night indeed. Looking down on hundreds of people chanting and clapping was a great moment, but I soon made my way downstairs to catch the finale of what had already been a relentlessly banging set. Houle eventually snuck in the haunting sounds of "Techno Vocals" and the lesser-known but equally brilliant "Extreme." My only regret for the night was that it was in Dublin—possibly one of the most repressed European capital cities due to its 2:30 AM closing times. It'd have been nice to see Houle in an environment where he wasn't constrained by. None of this can be blamed on the promoters of course, who really pulled out all the stops for this gig. And, as the crowd left, they seemed equally euphoric. Even the girl who previously told me, "I really don't get this, everyone dancing to some guy playing with equipment on top of a stage" eventually came round to admitting it had been a fantastic night. The girl in question is my girlfriend. Marc Houle: DJ, producer, relationship counselor.
RA