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Features
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UK hard trance master Steve Blake finally returns to Frantic for Timeless
Reported by benz
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Submitted 20-01-06 19:11
One of the pioneers of the UK hard trance sound (which came to popularity by combining energetic, pacey hard house beats with the uplifting, euphoric melodies of trance music), Steve Blake is somewhat of a legend round these parts. It's been far too long since he graced Frantic's main stage with his powerful, rush-inducing stylings (April 2004 was the last time) - so thank god he's coming back to play his finest classics at Frantic presents Timeless on January 28th! Sure to bring back tons of long lost memories, his back-to-back set with Marc French is not to be missed for anyone who likes their trance that little bit harder.
Big releases for labels like Tidy (‘Expression), Tripoli (the massive ‘I Get A Rush’) and Fevah (‘Venom’) have complimented the steady, high-quality output of his label Impact Recordings, which was originally one of the blueprint labels for UK hard trance. He has collaborated on many occasions with Phil Reynolds to bring us some of the biggest tracks that have ever been heard in hard dance clubs (just check the reaction anytime their dancefloor-destroying remixes of K90’s ‘Breathe’ or their epic rework of Pants & Corset’s ‘Malice In Wonderland’ gets dropped). Basically, he is one of the best-loved and consistently excellent producer in hard trance, and his DJ sets are always invigorating and packed full of excellent tracks. Impact continues to go from strength to strength with the addition of its new digital output and exclusive online Impact Digital offshoot.
So what’s Steve got to say for himself then?
Hi Steve, and a happy 2006 to you! How was 2005 for you?
Thanks Benz and a happy new year to you too!
It was a very busy year for me but more behind the scenes with the building of the website, which has took all year to get it how I want it to be!
I’ve also been playing abroad in Ibiza, Thailand and the crazy boat party to Germany, which was great fun!
Have you been DJing as much as you would like? Which sets really stood out for you last year?
I haven’t been playing out as much as I was a few years ago but to be honest I’m fine with that as I was overdoing it before with all the production, DJing and full time work as well.
There’s quite a few sets that stood out for me, all the boat parties I played on, I just really like the vibe you get on the boats, they always go off! I also did a couple of back 2 back sets with Ian Betts that were great fun too and more recently the set I did at our website launch party Maximum Impact.
You are a resident for Sunday night party Hue at the Colosseum in London. Are there still lots of people going at 2am on a Monday morning? Do these people not have jobs?!
Yes there’s quite a big network of Hue followers that are there every week, my guess is that they’re probably people that work all weekend and have Sunday nights and obviously Mondays off… or maybe they don’t have jobs!
Do you find that DJing at all hours takes its toll on you or not really?
It does sometimes, but that’s normally down to what I get up to after playing… self inflicted really, but it’s all good fun!
What’s been going on with your label Impact? Have you stepped into the world of digital downloads yet?
Not much regarding vinyl releases last year but like I said there’s been heaps going on with the building of the website which has geared us up for the future. One of the main features of the site is the digital downloads. We now have all our back catalogue vinyl available to download as 320kbps MP3s, which is the highest quality MP3 available. We’ve also just started our digital label Impact Digital that is going to have, you guessed it, exclusive tracks available in digital format only.
We recently kick started the digital label off with two storming tracks, one by Brad Thatcher called ‘Your Dream’, a highly uplifting hard trancer engineered by Technikal and the other by Dave Lochrie and that’s called ‘No Turning Back’. These both went off big time at Maximum Impact!!
What can we expect from the label this year? Any exciting releases coming up?
Our next release on vinyl is a track by Twisted resident Trevor Mclaclan called ‘The Voice’ which was engineered by Technikal and has been remixed by Phil Reynolds. We’ve had huge support on this track already from the big guns and it’s shaping up to be a big release for us!
As for your productions, will you be sticking with the hard trance theme or will you be diversifying a bit?
For the time being I will be as there’s not really much else that floats my boat apart from trance… hmmmm maybe I should do a trance tune!
You will be taking a trip down memory lane on January 28th for Timeless, Frantic’s classics event, at Renaissance Rooms in Vauxhall. Have you been to this venue before? If not, have you heard much about it?
No, I’ve not been there at all, which makes it something to really look forward to when you don’t know what to expect!
What eras in clubbing past hold special memories for you?
The late eighties and early nineties hardcore were pretty special for me, which was when I first got into the whole dance scene, the massive illegal outdoor and warehouse parties were incredible!
What’s your view on the glut of remixes of old tracks that have dominated the scene in recent times?
That depends on the track and the quality of the remix. Some tracks just shouldn’t be messed with, while others can actually be improved with an update.
There have been quite a few that I’ve cringed at that have been done badly, as the originals were huge favourites of mine. I think we do need to have some more original music injected into the scene though.
You will be playing back to back with another Hard Trance master on the night — Marc French from Heat. How far back do you two go?
I think we probably met around 1998 at Fevah when it was at the Tube or Fahrenhite at the Soundshaft. I can’t pinpoint exactly where though… Marc maybe you can help out on that one!
Who else in the hard dance scene have you known for many moons?
I first met Daniel Bunter in the very early nineties at The Labrynth in Dalston, I think he was only about 15 years old at the time or something like that. I used to go there quite a bit in my hardcore days and played there a couple of times.
What would you like to achieve in the next year? What ambitions do you have?
I’d like to do a few more Impact label parties after the success of the last one, so any promoters out there reading this… bring it on!
What about outside of dance music? Is there anything you fancy trying your hand at?
I’ve been getting into graphic and web design since starting the website. My friend who did the technical side of it all has taught me quite a bit in the last year, which is wicked as I was totally hopeless with the graphics side of things before, it makes a nice change to do something other than audio!
And finally Steve, please can you tip one DJ or producer or club that you think will blow up in 2006!
Technikal… he’s already conquered the production, now I think his DJing is gonna blow up! Also Greg Brookman’s A.L.I.V.E. PA....
Thanks to Steve for the photos.
Timeless
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On:
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Saturday 28th January 2006
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At:
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Renaissance Rooms [map]
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From:
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2100 - 0600
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Cost:
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£14/17/20
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Website:
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www.franticuk.net
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Ticket Info:
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Frantic HQ 07949 618 035/ amanda@franticuk.com (No Booking Fee/ Group Discount of 1 FREE for Every 5 you buy!)
Ticketweb: 08700 600 100 / www.ticketweb.co.uk
Clubtickets: 0870 246 1840 / www.clubtickets.co.uk (Group Discount of 1 FREE for Every 5 you buy!)
Vince Coach/Tickets in the Midlands 07835 626 226
4Clubbers www.4clubbers-shop.net / 0870 0423 581
Never Enough Maria 07813 684 399
Cyberdog Camden Markets 0207 482 2842
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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After the last Timeless we realised that 2 rooms wasn't enough for the
UK's No 1 Hard House and Hard Trance Classics event! This time we are going bigger and better with London's newest multi-arena, purpose built venue! We are the FIRST Hard House and Hard Trance promotion to use the massive and truly exciting Renaissance Rooms in Vauxhall!
The people behind the award winning Heaven in Charing Cross, home to HardHouseHeaven, Wildchild and many more have taken over the Renaissance Rooms. They are spending a small fortune in making this into the Capital's most exciting new venue in years! Set just 5 minutes walk from Vauxhall tube this is going to be the venue that Hard House clubbers love in 2006! With 3 wicked arenas giving ample room to dance, loads of seating, toilets and bars and brand new Funktion One Sound in every Arena this is a very welcome addition to the clubbing capital of Europe.
Talking to the thousands of clubbers that attended Frantic's sell out events in 2005, we now know that you would like dedicated arenas for Hard House and for Hard Trance. We aim to please; so for the first time in the History of Harder clubbing Frantic will be breaking new ground at Timeless by having a glittering Main Room as well as the finest Hard House and Hard Trance DJs in their own committed arenas! This means if you love Hard House you can listen to classic after classic of Hard House all night long. If you love Hard Trance you can dance all night to anthem after anthem of the World's biggest ever Hard Trance tracks!
Whatever you think about Harder dance music, Timeless will now be the place where all tastes and loves of all things hard are catered for in the UK's biggest ever celebration of the music we all love and the scene we all live for. Timeless in 2006 will continue Frantic's never-ending ambition to put on the biggest SHOW in the whole UK club scene. We will be totally transforming this scintillating new venue into a WONDERLAND! Only Frantic will be giving you £320,000 of Lights, Funktion One Sound in every Arena, Lasers, Decor, Pyrotechnics and our biggest ever visuals display. No Frantic night is ever ordinary. We want every event to be truly SPECIAL. It’s not like going to a club you can go to on any old weekend. Timeless only happens 3 times a year and uses different venues every time. This Timeless is the result of weeks of planning to put on a show that will leave you literally begging for more!
We have thought long and hard about how we can make the MUSIC at this first headline grabbing Timeless of 2006 the best ever! Where better to start than with the headline act? Over the years we have all heard about classic tracks and Timeless anthems, but in the last 10 years few albums have taken on quite the legendary status of 'Lab4 Live at Samsara'. This is the album that broke the biggest Live Act in Hard House and Trance and made them a worldwide phenomenon. It sums up the all or nothing, harder, faster and tougher qualities that made us all fall in love with the music in the first place! For ONE NIGHT ONLY Lab 4 will perform this album in its entirety as the ULTIMATE Timeless experience. See you down the front for the
biggest rush of your clubbing life!
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Other Features By benz:
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Coburn bring their live show to UP^^
The return of The Colosseum
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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.
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Comments:
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From: Miles Gorfy on 20th Jan 2006 21:29.17
Top bloke, top producer and top dj - good work fella - c u soon 
From: damian@heat on 20th Jan 2006 22:10.15
A DJ that delivers every time but never at crack ons!
From: benz on 20th Jan 2006 22:36.53
hahah oh is he a bit of fettle Damo?
From: James Jaye on 21st Jan 2006 14:24.05
Nice one Steve. best of luck for 2006 mate! Can't wait to see you tear up the Oblivion room at Hard House Academy as well
From: Nickbackonit on 21st Jan 2006 22:23.18
Great work Stevo, keep up the great work mate. Gotta get you down to play in Cape Town soon!!
From: Stevi D on 23rd Jan 2006 10:31.47
Cant go wrong with a STEVE BLAKE SET!!! Legend
From: Andy T on 23rd Jan 2006 11:16.19
Absolute Legend See ya soon buddy 
From: ~deleted1390 on 23rd Jan 2006 11:27.26
Top DJ and Producer. Hopefully we'll see him again at Zoology soon. 
From: bennett on 23rd Jan 2006 11:54.15
you gotta love him! top lad
From: brad duke on 23rd Jan 2006 15:02.41
Top Bloke, Great Interview!
From: Karl Schmidt on 23rd Jan 2006 15:17.47
Rocking, great DJ and a real cool dude...
Can't wait for Timeless!
From: Richard Launch on 23rd Jan 2006 16:16.26
Nice one Steve...!
From: Tina Martin on 23rd Jan 2006 18:21.17
Steve is a legend.. one of my fav dj's - he never fails to deliver in his sets imo.. looking forward to seein him at Timeless 
From: dean peters on 24th Jan 2006 10:28.20
Top man, top dj, top producer...what more can you ask?...keep up the good work Steve
From: 00Frenchy on 24th Jan 2006 10:52.52
Julia from Odyssey introduced us at Fahrenhite I believe. "Thats the geezer that done Expressions" or something like that. Damo, Ive seen Steve cracking on, or was it Michelle?
From: sexyminx on 24th Jan 2006 16:42.50
OI OI to a top geezer!  love ya Blake (oi where's my t-shirt) see ya at Timeless 
From: Charlie Bradley on 24th Jan 2006 16:58.20
legend!
From: luke warner on 24th Jan 2006 22:43.21
Steve is a legend and a top bloke. looking foward to warming up for him
From: luke warner on 24th Jan 2006 22:43.42
and marc too 
From: anushka007 on 25th Jan 2006 17:56.09
Wicked read I saw Mr Blake play at last Twisted and I really, really, really enjoyed his set I know this party will rock as ALWAYS Timeless does. Have fun people, wish I was there! Hope to see lots and lots of fotos
From: *Ting* on 29th Jan 2006 13:34.47
Steve I love ya man.. SPLOOSH...
From: Steve Blake on 30th Jan 2006 01:57.32
Hey all thanks for the comments 
Damo I don't know what you're talking about, i always play at crack ons......just not very often on the decks!
From: Ian Betts on 30th Jan 2006 16:23.42
Those gigs in Ibiza and after SW4 were soooo much fun mate - always a pleasure and never a chore
From: Mike Harris on 31st Jan 2006 21:26.19
Super top dj and bloke to boot, one of the nicest and approachable dj's your ever meet.
Steve is another legend of the scene!
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