| Release Date: | 2003-08-15 |
By kashika
Originally from In The Mix
The Enigma2 CD Launch at GAS was a worthy showcase of three of the artists signed to the Sydney based Enigma label. It was fantastic to see so many people out and about in support of our local talent! Liquid M, Xenobis and Spinner Breed played live and were supported by DJs Archie, Nervous, Dynamix, Mickey D and Vixen. The sound was top quality, and there were plenty of noticeable additions to the lighting rig which contributed to the quality and atmosphere of the night no end.
While each of the live acts had their own distinct sound, they all shared the same qualities that separate the average apart from the excellent. Unfortunately there still exists the opinion that trance, or music in general, from overseas is superior to our own. The live acts certainly proved that this is not the case. Their music was uplifting, yet did not err toward cheesy, the construction of the tracks was equal, if not superior to a lot of music on the market, and the production quality in general was world class.
A standout feature of the sounds on offer by all three of the live artists was that rather than barraging the crowd with build up after build up in rapid succession, there was more of a tendency to develop both the track, and the energy of the crowd to a point that was, somehow, spot on. The performers sense of the crowd, and some well thought out programming, ensured that when a track broke down for the inevitable build up the crowd was well and truly there with it. Too many build ups just seems to stunt energy, which more than defeats their purpose. Skilled placement of the breakdown and it's reconstruction within a track, and ultimately its placement within a set, is what keeps the punters cranking from start to finish. No musical coitus interruptus with these guys, they had the packed dance floor eating out of their hands.
The DJs on the night seemed to respond to the positive crowd and didn't fail to please. Nervous in particular played an excellent set that had the crowd up and ready for Liquid M's live performance.
The crowd was the usual mixture of people that GAS seems to attract. It was good to see so much human action on the stairways, which indicated that the live acts downstairs were creating plenty of interest among the house crowd who happily populated Bohem, and also that the punters who were out for some hands-in-the-air trance and progressive gave some quality house a try as well. Different styles in the one venue is always a bonus, and its nice to have supposedly different scenes mingling.
If you haven't had a taste of what the Enigma label has to offer, do yourself a favour and get your hands on a release or two!