Audiosalad @ Joshua Brooks, Manchester

09.12.2005

Manchester 's D'n'B scene is pretty healthy at the moment with a host of regular events happening. There is rarely a weekend without 1 or 2 nights to check out. The success of so many different nights is due to each event aiming at a particular crowd within the scene, trying to cater to all types of Drum n Bass fan, from the hard, jump up nights to the melodic liquid funk nights.

Audiosalad, just over a year old, offers an alternative to these two extremes in the scene, being geared towards any style with more depth, or focus on the breakbeat, featuring previous guests such as Paradox, Spirit and Seba, plus hosting special 'Underground classics' nights focusing on the scene from 1990-2000, featuring DJ's like Doc Scott and Nookie. Tonight, Commercial Suicide's head honcho Klute tops the bill, along side Amit, promising a live PA.

Things are getting off to a good start in Joshua Brooks (home to the origins of Markus Intalex's now renowned Soul:ution events) with residents Buda and Esetek taking us through a journey from old school jungle techno and classic Metalheadz tunes to present breakage style tracks.

Klute's up next, and really gets the crowd going with a tight and varied set. Klute plays everything from classic drum n bass sounds to upfront dark and fierce pieces, no doubt including some future Commercial Suicide releases, judging by his use of the CD deck. The club was pretty quiet at the start of Klute's set but by the end the club has filled up and most people are bouncing around to the beats. A big cheer and round of applause is well deserved; Klute proves himself as top class DJ as well as a top class producer.

Amit steps up next, wielding his own set up beside the decks, controlled via a laptop. Amit's set takes in a huge variety of sounds, styles, beats and tempos; from amen-tinged drum n bass tunes to half step dub numbers, it is a refreshing change to hear in a drum n bass club. The movement on the dancefloor was a bit less frantic than during Klute's set, but I believe most people enjoyed Amit's take on things.

The night is rounded off by resident D-Heightz dropping a heavyweight set to keep people dancing until kicking out time.

All in all another successful night by the Audiosalad boys, proving there's room for all styles within an every growing scene.

Review by React