Features > Audio
Awakening
Audio Awakening By: Audio
Metamorphosis
Date: June 7, 2003
Review: Lauren
Gallagher
Photography: Element
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After weeks of anticipation, "the chrysalis" of Audio
Metamorphosis' 3rd "Audio Awakening" was set to dazzle the crowd
last Saturday, June7th-and dazzle they did.
Eyes widened and the senses sizzled at the spectacle set before
revelers upon entering the first of three thumping chambers:
gorgeous handcrafted fluoro-flowers flanked Gretshi's decks in the
front room, with a massive, neon caterpillar glowing mischievously
in the corner, as if to tell ravers "just you wait!" Sure enough,
after strolling beneath the twinkling stars which decked the walls,
a veritable fluorescent jungle presented itself in the form of giant
green "chrysalis" bursting with light, more flowers (thank you
Seth), and a menagerie of creepy critters climbing the walls.
Electrifying the experience with cascades of viridian bliss were
lasers by Stimulights.com, adding the final touch to Audio
Metamorphosis' nocturnal microcosm.
Musically, "Audio Awakening" was set to take ravers on a journey
within the paradise of "the chrysalis." Jinx's sonic sorcery sent a
few dancers into a frenzy, although it was still early in the night,
they couldn't help but dip, dive, jump, and jab at his magic
rhythms. Scepter and DJ E-Light continued to build up the crowd,
preparing them for DJ Foxx's set of "tidy" anthems whose synth
stutterings constitute addictive, pulsating melodies, emoting pure,
communal euphoria. Aleks's set perpetuated the exalted glee, but
once Dingo and Cooraw slammed their wax on the decks, the slithering
bodies were sent throbbing into outer space. |
With tracks like Anne Savage's "Hellraiser." Dingo and Cooraw created
an intoxicatingly complex staccato soundscape that launched bodies into
overdrive, with dancers slicing and slashing the air. While bodies
proceeded to practically pummel Dingo and Cooraw's tables-everything died.
The music stopped, the massage room went black, and rumor had it a fizzled
fuse was the culprit. Bodies pulsed to a hopeful, imaginary beat while
they wandered into one another. Recovery was not far away, however, and
despite these few technical difficulties, Dingo and Cooraw were able to
bring the masses back to a fully swinging sway every time. It takes some
suave moves to successfully survive such difficulties, and Dingo and
Cooraw did so with flying colors-a minor glitch to their stellar set of
hard house.
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After Uphonic's digital wizardry on the psy-trance side of
things, Dragn'fly's crossover milange of trance, NRG, house, and
mystery beats took dancers on a ride of fascinating variety and
build-up. The master of the cross-fader, Dragn'fly teased the crowd
with her sound snippets of upcoming tracks, getting us geared for
the full-blown slam-dunk of a track that ended her set. She stacked
up a set generating an exhilarated pandemonium prepping the crowd
for Paul the Fanman's NRG, which began as an almost silent intro,
but then gradually exploded into scintillating vibrations, with
aqueous rumblings beneath it all. The Audio Metamorphosis crew
crammed behind their Fanman, as mutual supporters and as manic
cheerleaders for the crowd. They deserve to be satisfied with
themselves: 8 hours of dance, music, and friendship ended with
floor-stomping kids and music that was still crashing the sound
barrier in all three rooms. |
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(author's note: since there were over 20 dj's, i could not cover every
moment of the evening, and instead had to write about what i remembered
best. all the music was stellar however, i heard bits of everyone's sets
while meandering in and out of the rooms all night. apologies for
'omissions' i did my best, and you probably wouldn't want me writing about
something i didn't hear anyway. i loved partying with you all! cheers!
bliss out- lauren a.k.a. danzcrayz, rhythmzslave-- "i am a slave to the
rhythm")
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