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| Roger
@ Hive |
January,
2004. A musical Armageddon is in full swing and casualties on both
sides continue to mount. Westlife persist in pulverising the audio
landscape while SS Operative Peaches returns from a successful mission
to implant her lo-fi, libidinous nonsense into just about every
current film soundtrack.
At
the front line the electronic movement continues to regroup following
successful sorties through the decades; disco-funk (70s), acid house
(80s) and trance (90s), stumbling into the light of a new millennium.
But what next? The likes of Aphex Twin, Autechre and Plaid bunker
down with the heavy artillery allowing Fischerspooner, Richard X
and yes, even Girls Aloud to prance about the battlefield in moon
boots and tasselled fringes - leaking irradiated beats in their
wake.
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| Roger
@ Hive |
Hive
is a new monthly residency in The Box at FACT that aims to educate
citizens in the language of electro. Forget what you think you know;
be it Chris Lowe fingering his Yamaha or Gollum-like creatures locked
in bedrooms sampling the screams of social isolation. Instead Rob
Strachan, David Sorfa, Alex Spiers and Matt Smith combine in true
Power Rangers fashion for a technical team-up that combines audio,
visuals and a native colony of red sofas.
"When
confronted with some bloke with a laptop in a club environment,
you never know how to react: whether to sit, stand or shuffle",
explains Rob.
"This
way you can lie back and relax, move around and go to the bar. The
sofas play a big part. It's fair to say we wouldn't be doing this
if FACT hadn't come on board."
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| Testcard
@ Hive |
Each
event is themed, so whereas the last threw a dart at the ballooning
sack of synth-pop, the next is a local affair with live and recorded
sounds from entirely North West based musicians.
Such is the night's popularity that all previous events have sold
out, with early birds receiving free CD samplers. Future plans include
a DJ in the ground floor café bar to cater for the inevitable
overspill and a possible record label is in the early days of gestation.
"We want this to be an extension of your living room, a conduit
or platform for new projects," enthuses Rob.
"HIVE isn't some high art performance - there's no barrier
between us and everyone else. If you bring along your laptop we
can incorporate any audio or visuals into the set, which allows
for immediate feedback.
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| Roger
@ Hive |
"The
problem with recording at home or posting on internet forums if
the lack of audience response. This way you know immediately if
something works or if it doesn't quite gel."
With
the rise of shareware and low-cost music/mixing software together
with web access (albeit illegal) to the building blocks that are
the loops, samples, raw vocals and breakbeats, anyone can now produce
their own hybrid concoction.
"Music software is relatively cheap and of a very high quality,"
says Alex.
"More
people than ever before have the opportunity to create their own
music and even burn it to disc. We don't care whether it's obscure
or popular, abstract or familiar. It's all part of the many colours
of electronica."
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| Testcard
@ Hive |
This
Benetton-esque approach means that any snob value is eradicated
at the door. Ambient sounds blur with indie singers on sabbatical
and go-go dancers bop in a psychedelic fog. Robotic frequencies
re-programme those present to go out and spread the word. Or the
bleep.
"I was watching music TV the other night and a mix came on
of The Strokes v Christina Aguilera," recalls Matt.
"How great is that? It should be all about dipping and ripping
from whatever appeals. I'm a huge fan of R&B which is right
at the cutting edge. Missy Elliott's latest tune 'Pass That Dutch'
has got so much going on in there you can't apply a label to it.
"That's
what we hope to achieve. To reach a point where you can't even describe
what Hive is about."
So
it's like this thing, right. With people. And music. And stuff.
So go. Have fun. You will.
Tickets
cost £3 on the door or in advance from FACT. Arrive early!
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