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Bigger Better Louder... Reviewed

Reported by josie / Submitted 19-08-04 15:53

Last Friday saw the launch of what hopes to be the capital’s third regular quality trance event – Bigger Better Louder. And indeed, there were moments when it all came together, and you could see what they were aiming at, but it’s got a little bit of work to do before being up there with the big boys. To provide you with a nice descriptive metaphor, it’s hanging around in the background while Knowwhere and Trance Generation sit on the swings and talk to girls. Don’t be downhearted though son, nick a packet of fags from your Dad and they’ll let you be in their gang. But I digress.



BBL was held in Heaven’s Star and Dakota Bars, which I think is their first problem. It’s simply not the most sympathetic of spaces. The whole of the trance bit is one room… on one level, like a school disco. Far be it from me to make suggestions, but wouldn’t The Soundshaft have made a much friendlier, more interesting space? Also, you want to get an officious twat with a clipboard to guard the DJ box, else annoying reviewers will KEEP asking what this track is they’re playing… and why are they getting cross with the decks… and will you sign this girl’s boob. Thanks for your patience chaps. The venue also desperately needs some ventilation, it was hotter than Sunnydale High when someone’s left the hell mouth open.

On top of this, there were fairly momentous equipment problems. JFK complained that through the headphones ‘it was almost like someone had turned the sound off’, and all the DJs were looking pretty pissed off. The sound quality in general was a bit rough, and it’s not the first time it’s happened at Heaven. The last time I was there, it sounded rather like the speakers were full of fluff, and someone needed to have a quick whizz round with the hoover. This time, it sounded to my ‘clubbing-veteran-but-not-technically-minded’ ears as if the sound was a bit too big for the space. But what do I really know?

Don’t get me wrong, the event has its strong points. All DJs turned in competent sets, despite problems with the equipment. It’s hard, and even psy trance, rather than euphoric, and some proper big tracks really got the crowd going. Incidentally, anyone else think midnight is too early for big names like Above & Beyond? Arriving at 1am meant I missed almost the whole of their set, only catching their frankly compelling track No One On Earth. Ah well, we’ll just have to imagine we heard them play their achingly beautiful remix of Oceanlab’s Satellite, featuring the melancholy vocals of Justine Suissa. They’re mad if they didn’t.

Simon Patterson, who followed, is a cute, cute guy, which just about made up for him going through the motions a tiny bit. It’s never nice to see a DJ not really giving their full attention to their set. JFK worked a lot harder, kicking off with the colossal Krystal Dreams by Sundawner. This was closely followed by Sensation – The Anthem 2004, which made me think again how much I wish I’d gone. Thanks. JFK’s was a nice, hard set which still managed to drop in some proper bouncy trance, like Nick Lunn & Yomc’s Energise – a track that feels like proper, old-school, energetic rave.

Reece Elliot, also the promoter, managed to be sufficiently hard and bouncy too (now there’s an image that won’t go away. His set included a nice chunky remix of Airscape’s Sosei, System F’s Out of the Blue – just a perfect, timeless trance classic, and the very powerful Iris, by Ronski Speed. All credit to him for also dropping the AVB and PVD hammered classic The Message by CERN.

It’s not immediately clear how the night is intended to be pitched. The decision to go hard trance rather than euphoric may be one they regret, what with the recent explosion in the popularity of vocal and uplifting trance. There’s even a hint of psy trance, and there were more than one set of dreads in evidence. I don’t mind a bit of hard dance meself – it keeps you grounded – but if I’d had my heart set on a purely uplifting night, I’d have been disappointed.

Along with a few bemused euphoric types, there was also quite a few of the great(ish) and the good hanging about. Ian Betts and Gavyn Mitchell were propping up the bar, and Ehren Stowers was supposed to be there, although I didn’t see him. JFK had Gavyn’s track Insurrection tucked away in his record bag, although in the end he didn’t play it. Bit of a sickener for Gavyn. Serves him right for not recognising me.

It would be easy to be overly harsh about BBL, and that wouldn’t be fair. If they can attract DJs of this quality to a first event in the back room at a club, they’re doing something right. Like I’ve said, there were moments when everything went right, and the place was really lifted. It should only take a few small changes to make sure that happens all the time, and then BBL can really stand up and be counted.


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Other Features By josie:
It's the Generation game featuring Agnelli & Nelson, The Thrillseekers and Lange
Peach at Heaven: Reviewed
The Gallery at Turnmills: Reviewed
The International Indoor Festival at SeOne: reviewed
The double ender: interview with trance legends Darren Tate and Mike Koglin
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
Comments:

From: Shaun on 19th Aug 2004 16:58.14
Hard Trance? None of those tracks you mention are hard are they?

From: Darz on 19th Aug 2004 19:43.56
And Patterson rocked it. End of

From: Monkey Monkeyson on 19th Aug 2004 21:03.07
saying the sound quality was a bit rough is a bit of an understatement... it was absolutely terrible. was still a good night though.

From: Bagel on 20th Aug 2004 00:48.07
An honest review!! Well done for that, though no doubt you'll upset a few apple carts Josie...hopefully BBL see this in the constructive way its been put, afterall this was BBL's first event. Anyway I look forward to seeing what happens and will try and get myself down there next time to see for myself! Thumbs up

From: Ian Betts on 20th Aug 2004 10:39.57
Nice to see a new night of quality trance in London with a great line-up Thumbs up Simon was wicked, he's got such a great sound. Was cool to meet everyone I did, top marks Reece! Smile

From: JKW on 20th Aug 2004 11:50.04
I agree that the venue wasnt the best choice but I thought it was a generally good night.Above & Beyond may have been early as they were playing in Ibiza the next night.
A better small venue maybe Club Supreme or Happy Jacks (which I think is going to reopen again soon)

From: Jurrane on 20th Aug 2004 13:16.58
Nice review - enjoyed the night although I'd like to have seen A&B playing longer than an hour.

From: Reece Elliot on 20th Aug 2004 17:22.24
Many thanks to all for you kind comments.

I agree Si was wicked as were Above & Beyond & JFK.

Above & Beyond did indeed have to shoot off to Ibiza BUT they are back @ WiLDCHiLD on 29/08/04 for another chance to see these Trance legends!

Many thanks Josie for taking the time out to review the event. All points taken on board.

Hope to see you all out and about in our beloved London scene very, very soon!

Ps. Particularly like the bit about me - "Hard & Bouncy" look out Lisa Pin-Up ha ha ha ha ha!

From: andybagguley on 24th Aug 2004 12:27.08
It was a good night and the sound system was hard to work with from a DJ's point of view but all the guys pulled through brilliantly!!!

Roll on BBL 2... Wink

From: Steve Prince on 26th Aug 2004 15:20.20
I AM SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU HAD PROBLEMS MATE
BUT HOPE TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT ONE MATE
GOOD LUCK WITH IT I GIVE YOU MY FULL SUPPORT

From: Trixie on 27th Aug 2004 14:07.22
I think this night was one of the best I have had in a long time. Hard Trance and Hard House is getting boring, I welcome back with open arms the classic trance that we all heard when clubbing was big back in 98 & 99. Then were the days when clubbing was good - can't wait for the next addition of Bigger, Better, Louder

From: Jastay on 4th Sep 2004 11:36.22
I had a great time at BBL, but everything this reviewer said is true. Nice to see someone being honest rather than just sucking up to DJs

From: minced_1 on 13th Sep 2004 12:07.55
Great to see an honest review. I'm so bored of reading reviews that are just plain wrong. Everything Josie said is true, but I still had a lot of fun and its great to see another night starting up in London. I have no doubt that next BBL will Rock

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