- The Arches lurks menacingly underneath the streets of central Glasgow. Like the city itself, the club matches beauty with grit to marvellous effect. Just as Victorian buildings stand alongside grey council estates on the city landscape, crumbling arches inside the club tower offer dark nooks and crannies that mask the activities along the fringes of the venue.
Tonight, Darren Emerson was in town as part of his world tour off the back of his acclaimed Global Underground Bogota mix CD. Headlining the second of the venue's arches, whilst Ajunabeats hosted the main room, it was Emerson who engaged the crowd, drawing fans over into his room throughout the night. And it was no surprise: Having spent ten highly successful years in Underworld, the enigmatic DJ decided to go it alone in 2000 and has spent the last nine years bringing fans over to his sound through the aforementioned celebrated mix series, well-received nights and a thriving label.
After an intro that boldly announced the change-over of DJs with brash noises and a sound bite which proudly proclaimed "to interrupt this broadcast," Emerson ploughed into the set, flying off the mark with a string of high tempo, upbeat numbers from the likes of Dennis Ferrer and Jamie McHugh, tracks that you could imagine booming out over the sun drenched clubbers at the WMC in a few weeks. Again veering off in a new direction—after a quick trip to South Beach—we were back underground in Glasgow: Emerson ventured into darker territory, courtesy of some hypnotic Detroit techno. By now, a collection of spellbound devoted fans had set camp at the foot of the stage in adoration of the established DJ. Ever amiable, he showed his appreciation with warm hearted gestures, alongside healthy servings of bass that grumbled and murmured below synth lines that raised the hairs on the back of your neck.
Come three o'clock, Scotland's usual but frustrating closing time, Emerson could take his headphones off a happy man. Once again, the renegade superstar had done it alone and on the back foot. And, yet again, he managed to come out smiling and on top—even more impressive considering he spent the entire night underground.