astraboy

Its always refreshing to see promotors trying new ideas and venues out. A change is as good as a holiday and in that respect, doing something different is just as good. So when Hardcore Heaven announced it was doing a rave at Koko (or the Camden Palace as its better known) I was well up for going.

However, there were a few caveats to consider. "Alliance" is defined as "a state of union", which explained why Frantic had been brought in as well as HH, together with the addition of loads of Hard House jocks to the lineup.

I werent too worried, despite the ominous suggestion of Sy going b2b with Andy Whitby. This was becuase the rest of the lineup was well worth attending. Joining Sy in the main arena was Hixxy, Styles, Brisk and Dougal, while the top room was occupied with Sharkey, Gammer and Robbie Long. the MC lineup was also taken care of with Storm and Whizzkid headlining the night. Hard House isnt really my thing, so all I could do was hope the Hard House and Hardcore was evenly spaced so all I had to do was make a climb of the stairs to hear the music I wanted.

That was the best thing about the venue. I have only been to one other Hardcore night at the Camden Palace and that was a fair few years ago. I was VERY excited about the prospect of raving to the music I love in that main arena again and in that respect alone I was more than happy to make a welcome return to the Palace.

When I arrived it was a little after 10pm. Strangely enough the ticket queue was non existant and the guestlist queue was a good 20 feet long. But it moved down slowly but steadily and after a search which was firm but fair by security, I was in.

Despite not being there for a while, I knew where to go. The main arena was playing out HardHouse when we arrived, so a few drinks were sunk at the bar while we waited for the real music to start Eventually it was found out that Gammer was due to start in the second room at 11pm so I got as close as I could to the entrance and chatted to the friendly faces who were around me.

Eventually, closer to 11.30 than 11, the second room opened and Gammer was treated to the sight of herds of Hardcore ravers thundering into his arena as he started his set. This was a standing room only deal and he took full advantage, giving the ravers what they obviously wanted to hear.

Gammer made sure he came up with the goods in an MC free set which was as upfront as it was dancable. He included "Music is moving", "So real", "Getting better", "DIDO R.I.P" and best of all, the awesome "So Damaging" in his set. I really enjoyed this one and judging from the heat generated from the party crew in the place, so did everyone else.

Finally, he finished off with an awesome Gabba selection that I was loving till he lifted the needle. However, I was out the door as soon as he did, Why? Upfront Hardcore in the main arena son, thats why.

Hixxy and MCSquared were well into their set when I arrived, with a hyped and bouncing crowd loving every minute of what they were doing. The amount of time I spent fighting my way to the front was very telling. This should be good.

And good it was. With three of the best in the business all aiming for the best party set they could provide, I was loving every minute of it in no time at all. Hixxy was busting out tune after tune and I was raving as hard as I could throughout, especially when MCSquared, with a mic each (as it should be) got on it.

Tunes were coming thick and fast, with "Angel eyes", the remix of "Let me be your fantasy", "The theme", "Crack *****" and best of all, the tune of the night, the remix of "Injected with a poison". Fantastic set.

The crowd were going for it throughout as the Hard Housers got aquainted with the Hardcore sound and the Hardcore in the place rocked it down to what they knew and loved. I was utterly exhausted when it all came to an end cos I had to go and get myself together after Hixxy had finished.

Fortunately, I was at the best venue in the country to take some time to chill, with the rear of the venue, all the way up to the Gods, being a wafflers dream. Numerous cubby holes that you can go to to collect your thoughts and chat to your friends are always available, so that exactly what I did. For the next three hours.

The next set I caught was another I wanted to see. Someone who does not get to play out as much as I'd want him to, Robbie long was well into his MC free set upstairs when I walked in. The amount of time between walking in and starting stomping was very short indeed.

Best of all Robbie was playing the best set he could (IMO anyways) namely a breakbeat Hardcore set of the highest quality. This was what it was all about. Main room? you could keep it, it was all about robbie long and the upfront breakbeat Hardcore he was supplying.

Interspersed with numerous vocal samples, such as "This is the Robbie Long Sound" and more amusingly, "Heerrrrrrrreeeeee's Robbie!" he was knocking out the tunage such as Hams's "Close attention" and best of all "Get Hard!" The rest of the tunes were immersed in the realm of the unknown as I got on it till the bouncers pulled the plug on the room at 5am.

The last set of the night was the enigma of the evening. Sy b2b with Andy Whitby. I've never seen a Hard House/ Hardcore cross over set before and as such I was interested as well apprehensive about what was to come.

There are a lot of ways to articulate my feelings about the last set of the night, but to make it clear, I'm going to put it into the terms I know best. Car terms.

There are two kinds of Escort Cosworth, the big turbo version and the small turbo version. The big turbo was the original and some say the best. It was the version that was designed with holomogation in mind, so the Escort could carry the same turbo in the World Rally Championship and be competitive. It was laggy, difficult to drive, snapped your neck back when it came in and sucked fuel like no tomorrow when it did.

To counter these problems Ford produced another version after the 5000 big turbo examples for holomogation had been produced, with a smaller turbo. This was more driveable, more fuel efficent and a lot more driver friendly than the big turbo version so in every respect, it was an improvement over the original.

However, the people who bought the small turbo version were not happy. it was the compromise, the meeting half way, the compromise of the principles that they were not happy about. Needless to say the cars attracting the best prices these days are the sought after big turbo versions and tuners did a brisk trade in small to big turbo conversions for those that could not find the big turbo car they were looking for.

What I'm trying to say is the "Big turbo" is a good, solid, pumped up Sy and Storm set you and I both know and love. Unfortunately, him going b2b with Andy Whitby at Alliance was a "Small tubo" set. IMO at any rate. "Compromise" is the word that sums it up best.

It was weird. It was the same, yet not. Sy was up there, so was Storm. Certain tunes were evident from solo Sy sets which brought back so many memories of what it should be. "Makin me wanna dance" is a prime example, as was the remix of "Fly away", but this was not enough to change a set that was fundamentally different from what I am used to.

I have been watching Sy play out for near on 5 years now. Not once has he let me down. Never. This time the only difference was Andy Whitby taking 50% of the mixes. However this subtle difference was all it took to change things.

The irresitable urge to dance like crazy was not there. The mixes were different (and they are an important part of any good Sy set), there was a subtle but noticable difference in the pace and tempo of the kick which was just not what I was used to. The sound systems deficencies meant you could hardly hear any of Sy and Storm's Trademark scratch battles. Even the crowd were producing a different vibe which all added up to a set which I just did not enjoy.

I'm hating writing this because on every other occasion Sy has always come up with the goods for me. Every single time. In terms of consistancy he has few equals. He makes a bad rave good and a good rave better. Especially when he goes b2b with Storm and he takes the "Power Hour" final set. However I feel its important to be honest so I have been. I can honestly say that becuase of the compromise, this was the first time since I first saw him 5 years ago that I have left a rave after Sy has taken to the decks without a smile on my face and a sweat stained tshirt on my back. Gutted.

Things I liked:

Hardcore at Camden Palace - I've always liked this venue. So coupling it with the music I love was always going to be a winner.

Second room - I spent most of the night here and despite it being a little warm, the musical rewards made it all worth it.

Production and decor. A hefty laser and lots of mobiles in the Camden palace that night. I liked em.

Robbie Long's set. - For dropping breakbeats when I asked him to. Nice one

Hixxy's set - What it was all about that night. Peak time set, lots of hyped ravers and two of the best on the mic. Nice one.

MCs in the second room - I never heard any. Its always nice to have an occasional MC free Hardcore set.

Security - Cant say enough to praise these guys up. Top bunch of people who helped me out when I need it. Massive respect to security in the place.

Things I liked less:

Sound - In the main arena, the sound was not all it could be, more clarity was needed, if not more volume.

The compromise - Its my honest opinion that Andy Whitby's and Sy's sets should have been kept seperate.

Despite my feelings for the last set of the night, I still enjoyed myself at Alliance. Hixxy's set was fantastic, clear winner of the night for me, but the best bit was the way the crowd reacted to the different styles of music. A little biased I may be, but there was always more movement during the Hardcore sets and that told me all I needed to know about the crowd's preferences.

As well as that, the good attendance, the blinding music (during the Hardcore sets) and yes that fact I was totally ratted meant I enjoyed myself when I was there, like I said, its always nice to hear Hardcore at the Camden palace, sorry, Koko, I hope it will happen again in the near future cos i will be there like a shot if it does.
astraboy.