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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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The TOXIK Opening Night Review by a Drowned Rat!
Reported by Steve Milton
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Submitted 25-10-04 15:21
This review very nearly didn’t come to fruition. There was one point in the evening, standing as I was, at a wet and wind swept station 40 miles up the Kings Cross to Peterborough line, absolutely soaked to the skin and thinking I’d rather be at home, in the warm, with glass of Chardonnay and DVD. The 20 minute walk from my house to the railway station was done in conditions that most people would describe as “p*ssing it down”. The wife had disappeared with the car so unfortunately the walk was my only option and my usual clubbing clothing had all the water repellent properties of a sponge. Still, a promise is a promise so undeterred I soldiered on and by the time I’d met up with a friend in a pub a short walk from the venue I had all but dried out although still slightly damp all in the wrong places.
As mentioned before I had my reservations with regard to using Heaven as a venue for an opening night and reacquainting myself with it was less painful that expected. Last time I was here Tiesto was playing and to say it was packed would have been an understatement of epic proportions. Not something I ever wanted to repeat. A decent queue was already forming outside and with the usual formalities negotiated without delay we were in and having a nose round. The main room had been reorganised from the last time I was here with the DJ booth being situated half way down one side, the stage being where Nüw Idol had his PA equipment set up and behind space for where the evenings other entertainment would no doubt take place. All seemed to be getting going nicely even at this early stage of proceedings and the potential for a really good night was plain to see.
By now El Greko was having an absolute ball behind the decks chopping and scratching his way through and really energetic set. His enthusiasm certainly got the better of him as the needles decided to join him by having a jump themselves although it didn’t really detract much as everyone loves to see the DJ’s enjoying themselves. I think I heard a Tony De Vit classic but was then distracted by the highly colourful and truly bizarre collection of alien UV performers on the stage. I have to say it looked totally trippy and very effective indeed and added another little something to make this event stand out from just any other.
Time for a wander upstairs to check out Tin Tin B2B with Jim Wild and what greeted my ears was one of my favourite tunes of the moment and one from my own record collection – “Sinister” from Dark by Design. So it was time for a quick stomp before it was time to go back downstairs again and see what is fast becoming one of THE live PA’s on the scene at the moment, Nüw Idol. His dark and driving yet uplifting form of hard trance never fails to get the crowd going and this was no exception. A few minor technical glitches half way through his set were soon rectified and tunes like “The Quickening” definitely made up for any previous errors. At this point in the evening I decided to take a step back and just think about how things were proceeding and what made it for me over anything else was the atmosphere. All the acts were playing good sets, the continuity of the music flowed and the attention to detail obvious for all to see and yet these all paled into insignificance when you saw all those happy faces having such a great time, the Sunrider Great-Stuff-O-Meter was again called into action and registering on the high nines. Getting wet was going to be worth it after all.
BK was now tearing up the main room in the way he’s famous for while I rested my ageing bones and made a few notes. I then bumped into Gorfy who was intent on spreading a rumour that his set was the best so far upstairs. I explained that I’d unfortunately missed him and was therefore unqualified to comment although his lovely girly friend (Gifted Pixie) could come home with me if she so wished (although I suspect the wife might complain), but unperturbed he went off to stir things up some more with, alas, a Gifted Pixie in tow. Anyway, listen to me, where was I, oh yeas, that’s it . . . Eryk Orpheus. I’d not seen him since many moons ago back when he was part of Orpheus 2 and performing at one of the Recoverworld nights so was looking forward to see how the sound had developed now he was on his own. I was not disappointed. His catch line is “Intellitrance” and I think it’s fairly apt. I had a good old stomp to some nice techy sounds with enough purpose to keep things bouncing along at a fair old pace. I don’t think I’ve danced so much at an event for a long time (it’s the age you know), so that in itself speaks volumes.
Time was now kicking on towards dawn and I was starting to feel the pace. As a reviewer I try and take in as much as I can but I can’t be everywhere so concentrated my efforts on the main room and the second room so to those I missed I’m sorry and I’ll try and catch you another time. Ed Real now made his presence felt with the final set of the night and weary legs were given no respite as the mentalist himself (sorry Ed) had a wild old time. There were some real classics thrown in his set, including the final tune of the party - “BAD ASS”. Just what the doctor ordered and a great set to end the proceedings.
I had my doubts. They proved me wrong. All the TOXIK crew should be pleased with what they have achieved and build on this strong platform for I suspect next time round no type of soggy rodent will be any sort of an excuse. 
Photo's courtsey of Greg Lubel
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Other Features By Steve Milton:
The Final Zoo
The Death of Clubland?
Trousers, Caps and Trance Anthems - It's Dave Pearce!
Boom Box, Bulldog Breaks and V1 - It's Time to Reload with DJ-X(lab4)
Clubbers Guide to Photography: Part Two
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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