- Infamous break beat night, Eargasm, was once again hosted by the Plump DJs last Friday at Fabric. In anticipation of all the usual fanfare and plumpness that has come to be expected of this night, all the movers and shakers of break beat (and rock too - yes, even Tommy Lee turned up!) were out on the town.
Sadly, I was disappointed to arrive and find only a gentle humming coming from within the deep dark depths of Fabric. With the hype surrounding their new album on top of their grueling schedule, it seemed that perhaps the Plumps were suffering from a bit of fatigue and not quite hitting their usual mark.
But it was also evident that they were not the only ones; the sound quality tonight a little dense and slightly distorted. Likewise Freeland's set could only be described as mind-numbing and when Soul of Man dropped 'Smack My Bitch Up' with Enya's 'Orinocco Flow(Sail away)' over the top, I knew it was time to move on.
Seeking solace in Room 3, unbeknownst to some, the Freestylers had decided to get the party started and let go in true funked-up, raw bassline fashion.
However set of the night, without a doubt, would have to go to Italian DJ/ Producer, Madox whose touchdown in London added fuel to an already burning fire. Receiving praises from the likes of the Plump DJs and talk in magazines and online forums quoting him as being 'on fire' and 'the next big thing', Madox showed this weekend that his touch has now extended past the ears of the 'educated' and out to the masses.
His first appearance at Eargasm saw the same level of acceptance from the punters he was 'playing' with. I say 'playing' because this was one DJ that fully interacted and connected with the crowd. His technical abilities were flawless and it was evident from the outset that this was going to be a game that people on both sides of the booth could play.
Consistently showing an ability to reach out and whip the crowd into a frenzy with seamless effort, he knew what we wanted because he wanted it too! Somehow he managed to get us on that balcony, whack us upside down and have us teetering precariously over the edge. And when the bass finally dropped, everything else followed.
Tune after tune, turmoil was thrown at us from all directions and then in an instant, just like that, he had us landing upright on our feet again just in time with the dramatic effect and flair of a class musical maestro.
With his consistent approach and style, what we saw, what we heard and what we got were all fusions of his time, energy, eclectic musical taste, and passion coming together to yes, once again seal our fate with a delightful auditory and heightened performance. He played a blinding, screaming set which was also mirrored again the next evening at the Fez Club in Reading.
Given all of the plaudits it was questionable whether he could in fact reproduce the same raw energy again or just merely be able to live up to this 'man of the moment' hype. However with support from The Freestylers, Hyper, Koma and Bones, Madox found the groove and touched the spot; knowing exactly where to take us.
"Somehow he [Madox] managed to get us on that balcony, whack us upside down and have us teetering precariously over the edge."
Drawing his influences from techno, acid, house and his cultural homeland music, he was able to manipulate and use his inspiration to create a unique musical signature as is evident on his soon to be released 'Smells like Naples' single. Having teamed up with fellow label compadre, Santos, the two are also churning out tunes together under the name of Trouble Soup with sure fire summer anthems like 'Enjoy the Sirens' and 'Via Chicago' already stirring the pot.
Whatever Madox' secret, it is something that will transcend time and evolve over a long musical and production career since there is nothing that he is doing that would seem to signal a short appearance in the arena.
With his next UK appearances currently scheduled for June 13th in Brighton and July 15th at the Glade Festival, he is sure to amp it up in the hot summer heat. His jumping performances this weekend have revealed that he does indeed hold the trump card and has begun to etch his mark as a driving and innovative force within the music community.
No doubt, the Plump DJs and Fabric will be wanting him back for another dose and for those that will be able to hear and see him perform at Glade, you are definitely in for a treat.
Unfortunately the night ended with me succumbing to an excruciatingly mind-numbing set by Adam Freeland, which from a programming point of view, just didn't fit the night.
Perhaps we are becoming less forgiving because we have come to expect no less than the best from these guys. Or perhaps maybe the time has come where we are now seeking new sounds, new tunes, new personalities and new talent to inspire us once again…