- With its metal stairs and modest dance floor, Milan's Dude Club looks like the kind of nondescript venue that's a dime a dozen across Germany and the UK. Over the last couple of years, the club has established itself as a key player in the city's electronic scene, building its reputation on a diverse and international array of techno artists. As a result, the place is usually packed, and the crowd is pretty intense. So when Jon Hopkins and James Holden were announced on the same bill at the start of February, everything pointed towards a particularly memorable, sweaty event.
Hopkins' began his live set around midnight, teasing the crowd by dropping and then suddenly withdrawing his thumping kicks—a playful approach that formed the basis of the London producer's performance. Dude Club's massive soundsystem did justice to the heavier moments, sending the crowd into a headbanging, finger-pointing frenzy (at times, it looked more like a rock concert than a rave). Theatrically manipulating a Kaoss pad, Hopkins mostly plays cuts from Immunity, but also fit in the likes of "Insides" from the 2009 album of the same name. Though the set was undeniably solid, Hopkins slightly over-egged his build-ups and breakdowns, too often pandering to the crowd's insatiable need for yet another thumping drop.
Between the two headlining acts, there was time for the dubby, haunting techno of monthly resident Hiver. While most of the crowd used this as an excuse to hit the bar or go for a smoke, it was a classy, subtle interlude, delivered entirely on vinyl.
After an hour, Hiver made way for Holden. DJing instead of playing live, the Border Community boss opted to steer clear of the krautrock or spiritual jazz moments that populate his mixes, leaning instead on the type of ethereal techno he's most famous for. Faced with a completely up-for-it audience, Holden played three hours of powerful, cosmic music, dense with arpeggios and psychedelic sounds. The DFA remix of Delia Gonzales and Gavin Russom's "Rise," Four Tet's "For These Times" and Holden's own remix of Caribou's "Bowls" were particular highlights. Smiling and smoking right until the last note, Holden rounded out the party with renditions of "Illuminations" and "Renata," sending the crowd home in a warm, trippy haze.