- As a music collective, record label and party, meandyou. is one of Manchester's most inspired outfits. Established in 2008 by Alexander Taber, Andrew Lyster and Sam Lewis (AKA Herron), the trio have crafted a strong aural identity and aesthetic, becoming one of Manchester's key sources of murky house and techno. Crucially, at meandyou. it's the residents, not the guests, that matter most.
Listen to the collective's monthly radio shows on NTS and you'll get an idea of the bleak soundscapes in which they trade. Consider too, some of their recent guests—DJ Sotofett, Kassem Mosse, Luke Hess. This greyscale motif runs through everything they do, from the music they release on the meandyou. label, to Lyster's designs and their DJ sets.
meandyou.'s Christmas party took place at their usual home, the Soup Kitchen, and focussed solely on the collective: founders Herron, Taber and Lyster and residents Juniper and Joy Orbison. The space, with its minimal lighting, grim toilets and paint peeling off the old brick walls, suited the soundtrack perfectly.
A discerning and up-for-it crowd packed the floor, as Herron's early mellow sonics morphed into dark techno and dusty analogue house. With no allocated set-times, Lyster, Joy O and Juniper took turns playing a few tracks each. The soundtrack moved from bubbling acid cuts and smooth deep house (RVDS' "Pain" stood out) right through to dubby techno, tough breakbeats and peak-time bangers.
The DJs' relaxed approach behind the decks transmitted through to the dance floor, and people were clearly having a brilliant time. Gritty, raw and decidedly euphoric, meandyou. deserves its place as one of the foremost parties in Manchester.