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Features
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| Introducing NEM3SI$’s new label Infinite Resistance! | | Mindbenderz talk ‘Lord of the Rings’ and fishing, as well as the creation of their new album ‘Celestial Gateway’! | | Iono-Music artists One Function, Eliyahu, Invisible Reality and Dual Vision talk Robert Miles, kids, dogs and vinyl, while we chat about their current releases! | | Luke&Flex talk influences, the Irish rave scene, why Flex wears a mask and Play Hard, their new EP out now on Onhcet Repbulik Xtreme! | | Lyktum expands on his new album ‘Home’ – talking about his love of storytelling, creating new harmonies and the concept behind his musical works. | | Pan talks getting caught short crossing the Sahara, acid eyeballs and tells us Trance is the Answer, plus shares his thoughts on his latest release 'Beyond the Horizon' - all from a beach in Spain! | | Miss C chats about living with the KLF, DJing in a huge cat’s mouth, training her brain and the upcoming super-duper Superfreq Grande party at LDN East this Saturday, 16th September! | | NEM3SI$ - I Live for the Night – talks superficiality, psychopaths, and bittersweet success, ahead of a plethora of evocative, emotional, and passionate upcoming melodic techno releases! | | Psy-Sisters Spring Blast Off! We talk to DJ competition winner ROEN along with other super talents on the lineup! | | Blasting towards summer festivals with Bahar Canca ahead of Psy-Sisters Spring Blast! | | Shyisma talks parties, UFO's, and Shotokan Karate ahead of his upcoming album 'Particles' on Iono-Music! | | SOME1 talks family, acid, stage fright and wolves - ahead of his upcoming album release ‘Voyager’ on Iono-Music in February 2023! | | The Transmission Crew tell all and talk about their first London event on 24th February 2023! | | NIXIRO talks body, mind and music production ahead of his release 'Planet Impulse' on Static Movement's label - Sol Music! | | Turning the world into a fairy tale with Ivy Orth ahead of Tribal Village’s 10th Birthday Anniversary Presents: The World Lounge Project | | The Psy-Sisters chat about music, achievements, aspirations and the 10-Year Anniversary Party - 18/12/22! | | A decade of dance music with Daniel Lesden | | Earth Needs a Rebirth! Discussions with Psy-Trance Artist Numayma | | Taking a Journey Through Time with Domino | | New Techno Rising Star DKLUB talks about his debut release White Rock on Onhcet Republik! | | PAN expands on many things including his new album 'Hyperbolic Oxymoron' due for release on the 14th April 2022 on PsyWorld Records! | | Psibindi talks all things music including her new collaborative EP 'Sentient Rays' on Aphid Records, her band Sentience Machine and 10 years of Psy-Sisters! |
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Review: Spiritualised Valentines Masked Ball @ Electrowerkz – Friday 20th Feb
Reported by clubchick
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Submitted 26-02-04 12:41
It was Friday night and just got home from a long day at the office. Will I stay in and watch friends? I had root canal treatment the day before (ouch) and I was still in a lot of pain. Or would I be a good friend and get my butt off the sofa and go along to Spiritualised? The decision was made when my fiancée dragged me upstairs to get ready, it didn’t take me long…I was on my way to be Spiritualised!!!
My two buddies (Virgin Clubbers) and some other friends, have heard me raving on about Spiritualised for so long, the decided to join us. I was excited to see the Spiritualised Crew, and the friendly crowd we regularly meet there. It’s like one big meeting, the only time we all get to say hi to each other. Rather like an AA meeting, but with great music and lots of alcohol…not that I’ve ever been to AA of course 
It’s a known fact, I hate Electrowerkz, and to be honest, most people I know can’t stand the place either. I find it hard to believe that a place so run down can actually make so much money from the venue . My dad’s hay shed in Ireland is 50 times better; maybe I should tell him how to make some fast cash. But I trusted the crew, I knew they’d put their heart & soul into it, I knew they would make it the best it could be and not disappoint. So we were here, the place was freezing, but when I first saw Clodagh, the big smile she had on her face said it all, it was going to be one helluva party…
There are 2 rooms in the top of Electrowerk; the main room which is a big room with great lighting effects & fab sound which played hard house/trance/uplifting and some seriously dirty sounds. It had a seating area at the end and another bar with seats, which was our meeting place, although your coat was needed. The Spiritualised crew created a sort of ultra violet wonderland with UV hearts, starts, dream catchers & planets hanging from the ceiling. The crew also had some wicked trippy backdrops on all the walls. There was an array of fairy lights, strobes, a bubble machine & spotlights, all adding to the atmosphere! It looked awesome! There was also a stall selling UV jewellery etc, I bought a cool fan, although thinking about it now I didn’t need it as it was cold. Doh! There was a very nice lady doing massages at the end of the room, and she only asked for a donation, so I gave her all the change I had. It was so lovely to get an aromatherapy massage as you hear the music playing!
My two mates (the virgin clubbers) were overwhelmed with the friendliness of it all. They’ve only ever been to ‘regular bars’ where girls stare each other out, guys grab them, you know the general concept. They were a little nervous that people said ‘hello, how are you?’ or ‘nice to meet you’, ‘you mean to say nobody pinched my bum’, ‘people actually like each other here’ were just a few of the comments I heard from the two girlies. We were set; a great night to be had by all.
The funky room was smaller but still had all the decorations that I mentioned above. The bar staff were friendly and also the security were helpful and pleasant. Everyone arrived in masks, which added to the fun. It was a lovely surprise to be given free lollipops, sweeties (the sugar kind), ice lollies, half way through the night. Music was pumping from both rooms, oh, decisions, where to go? I kept it funky for a while, to warm up before exposing my mates to the ‘harder’ side of clubbing
My friends Simone & Jane were enjoying the thrill of dancing to great music and having fun. It was a new experience for them. Although Jane was still dancing round her handbag, but as the night moved up a notch, so did Jane and I caught her bopping hard to Clodaghs set, with no handbag in sight. She definitely found her groove!
So far, I’ve not mentioned who played so I better get on and tell you more about the music. It was hot hot hot. I felt bad for the DJ’s in the funky room cause hardly anyone stayed in there due to the coldness. This factor definitely put people off. So guys, don’t worry, it wasn’t the music. So, in the funky room, it all started up with our resident from Spain, DJ Nacho. Although looking at him play, you’d think you were in Hawaii with his funky tropical shirt. For the next few hours the funky room was givin it some with Jurgen Wurfel with some wicked tunes but also a great guy, then Steve B2b Chay, (an exclusive break set), Craig Gunn, Active Sense from Spain. I was in and out of this room but every time I was in here, I was really enjoying their sets. I never really liked funky but am getting into it more and more. I like the different flavas of funky and it all sounded very chunky. Last but not least Brent Clark (Bassism) played the last set in the funky room. I stayed from 4-5am and was well impressed. His funky style has a lot of soul and great rhythm. I really enjoyed it & hope to see him around soon.
The line up in the Main room was also scorching. First up we had DJ Ped [who won the Harderfaster Spiritualised DJ Competition], played a great set and enjoyed it! Then we had DJ Nacho. This man loves his decks. Nacho gets his kicks from fusing Acid Techno with Trance, he loves it! As he said: ‘It just gives me the sound I've always been looking for, soft trance with acid techno. It is a bomb combination! It definitely works for me!’ It sure does Nacho! He’s got a great energy for life and I see lots of potential. He’s transformed his music in the last few months and he always has a cheeky smile.
Next up was my old mate Clodagh (Joy of Decks). I was still a busy bee speaking to lots of people, but dragged all my friends up to the front row to see her.
So Clodagh put on an amazing show and even managed to fit in a few Brazilian tracks for my friend (she’s from Brazil). She played ‘Street Carnival’ by CAVE on Carne Levale EP. A techno samba track from last year! Let’s just say it went down very well with the crowd! Another great tune Clodagh spun out was ‘Rockin’ by Alphazone, Matt Silver & Tony Burt Remix, on Nukleuz. This is a new great hard uplifting trance track. It really got the crowd going! I can’t normally see Clodagh’s feet from the DJ box, but she was higher up on stage, so I could see. And I almost swear she was doing an Irish jig to her music. Her feet never stay still! She looked the picture of happiness.
Next up, DJ Franky, and I just want to add, is playing at the huge Frantic/Wildchild event on Mar 20th, which will be amazing. I love watching Franky play. He’s a calm, relaxed dude and doesn’t need to jump around; he just plays his music and watches the crowd go wild. He has a knack (as I’ve said before) for reading the crowd and knowing what we want next and also for surprising everyone with great tunes with the odd oldie thrown in for that nostalgic feeling.
The problem with Spiritualised is they have so many great DJ’s, it’s hard to catch them all, and I believe I was in the funky room when Luke Smith (resident) was up on stage in the main room. Luke plays a mixture of hard trance and hard house. When I asked Nacho what makes Luke stand out, he said: “The element that is very characteristic from Luke's sets is the uplifting melodies over the driving bass lines! This makes his sets very energetic!” It is my aim for the next Spiritualised party to catch his set. Watch out Luke, next party, I’ll be keeping notes! Last but not least, I want to mention that although she doesn’t DJ, she is a vital member of Spiritualised – Terry, who is definitely a hostess with the mostess!
I reckon this was my best night out in 2004. It was perfect. I enjoyed myself, danced a lot, talked a lot, met old friends, met new friends, listened to some awesome DJ’s, fab tunes, and quite frankly, I had a ball.....well after all it was VALENTINE’S BALL!
Catch these wicked DJ’s play at the next Spiritualised event, 10th April. I promise if you visit once, you’ll become a lifetime member! 
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Other Features By clubchick:
Fiasco welcomes Deporpatas @ the River Bar & interview with Nacho
Interview with Ms ?
Witches, Elvis, horns - Must be the 'Spiritualised' Halloween Ball - 30 Oct
Ready for the TOXIK launch party? Let’s ask Ed Real if he is!
Interview with Clodagh
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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