- The apparent demise of UK nightlife has been well documented of late. In London it's plain to see, with Plastic People, Cable and Crucifix Lane all closing in the past couple of years. One venue that has thankfully managed to withstand the wave of closures, evictions and gentrification is Corsica Studios. In a way it's a venue that epitomises everything that's good about London's resilient underground scene, combining solid facilities with a musical outlook that lets the bookings do the talking. For these reasons it makes a great host for musically-committed outfits such as Make Me.
The lineup for Make Me's latest edition was intriguing. Geigling is one of the most enigmatic and admired labels to emerge from Germany in recent times, winning a cult fan base for its groove-led, experimental soundscapes. It's the perfect accompaniment to Berlin's legendary Perlon, who were represented in Corsica Studios' main room by Margaret Dygas and Cabanne.
Though it would have been a treat to hear Giegling acts Konstantin and Kettenkarussell in the club's bigger, more emphatic room one, the pair still managed to get across why their label's sound is special in the smaller space. Both turned out absorbing sets, rich with the elements that define the imprint, like the haunting melody and skeletal beat of Edward's "Slipslow."
The layout of Corsica's main room is a little awkward and always feels somewhat makeshift, but Margaret Dygas and Cabanne, who followed the excellent Make Me residents, more than made up for this slight shortcoming. Cabanne was great, keeping things classically Perlon-esque. The best of the bunch was Ricardo Villalobos's sprawling remix of Raresh's "Vivaltu." But it was Dygas that made the night. She has a gift for making the floor move to some of the most sonically adventurous rhythms around, like those found on DJ Qu's "In This Society." Her set was the perfect finale to this expertly curated event.