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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 King is back! Andy Farley finally returns
Reported by Ben Gomori
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Submitted 18-02-08 19:18
Andy Farley has been DJing since before the birth of hard house music. He's watched the scene emerge, grow, evolve, shrink and grow again and his outlived any trends - remaining one of the most popular, respected and talented DJs around throughout. Back in 1999 he became a resident for Frantic and became a key part of the club's Camden Palace heyday. Now in 2008, after a lengthy stint away from the capital's biggest hard dance party - he's back to wow the Timeless crowd with a 2-hour classics set at The Colosseum on February 23rd, reminding us all why we fell in love with his tough, uncompromising sound in the first place.
Now part of the same Red Management roster as Paul Glazby, Paul Maddox and Justin Bourne, Andy Farley is rarely seen in London outside of his Party Proactive residency. He remains a busy producer, with forthcoming tracks and remixes of Tripoli Trax, Tidy and Hardasfunk - showing no sign of slowing down anytime soon. In fact he's producing more than he was 5 years ago - showing that his hunger and passion for hard house is in no way waning. Will Paterson, promoter of Frantic, spoke to Andy and rekindled their long-standing Frantic love affair!
So Andy, when did you first hear what you would call hard house?
I guess I can trace it back to around 1994 when I used to go to and play at a club called Tin Tins in Birmingham. At that time is wasn’t really called hard house - that term came a bit later! The term “hardbag” was used sometimes, but essentially it was just pumping house music.
When did you start playing hard house in clubs?
Around the same time as above - when I was taken on as a resident in mid-1994. I used to play a real mixed bag then. A typical set would include house tunes mixed in with lots of the early Hooj Toons tracks, Ugly Bug Records, Sharp Boys, Dillons & Dickens, up to harder German trance tracks like Marmion – Schonenberg, Jens – Loops & Tings (yes way back then!). As I said above it wasn’t really classed as hard house at the time, though if you listened to the tracks now you would probably class it as such.
What was Tin Tins in Birmingham like? Was it mad as Sundissential promoter Madders always says?
Tin Tins was an institution in Birmingham. It is probably one of, if not the best night I have ever been to. Always a great atmosphere, friendly crowd which was mixed gay/straight, and the sort of place you could go on your own and know where everyone would be within the club. It was pretty mad I guess, just a mad clubby crowd who knew how to party! It was also one of the first ‘after hours’ clubs in Birmingham running from 2AM till 9AM. A sign of how of an impact it had on people is the fact that it has its own group on both Myspace and Facebook despite being closed since late 1996!
When did you first go to Trade? What impact did it have on you as a clubber and a DJ?
I first went in 1996 and was totally blown away. The musical progression in there has always been a benchmark for me - total perfection. I’d heard so much about the club, and had bought Trade Volumes 1 & 2, so when it was time to go for the first time I expected it to be full on music all night, but of course that is only a part of what Trade is about. Essentially the music is ‘hard’ house music, from the tough tribal & house sounds at the beginning to the harder stuff at the end, but each DJ complimenting each other rather than trying to outdo each other, so that the music flows from start to finish. And of course I shall be there for the last party at Turnmills on 16th March!
What was Insomniacz like in its hey day?
Insomniacz was crazy, it just seemed to grow and grow! My favourite days were when it started at Europa. People would come over from Gatecrasher and it wouldn’t take long to be really kicking with amazing line-ups every week. I knew people who’d drive there from all over the country to be there on Sunday morning.
Why do you think the hard house has always thrown up some of the most colourful clubs on the Planet?
It’s the crowds that make the nights. Unlike other musical genres, there are no pretensions; people are out for a good time. It’s also a community of people that know each other, so that if were out in London, then Storm or a Tidy Weekender, you could bump into people you know at each event and this gives it a great family feeling.
Why was Sundissential North so special?
Sundissential was pretty special full stop. When it first opened in October 1996 at Pulse no one quite knew what to make of it. I can remember the very first one, going down there at 4 in the afternoon with Tony De Vit hammering it out and this set the tone for the club. The Bank Holidays in there were just unbelievable - the place was at fever pitch. When you walked in you could just feel this explosive atmosphere. Again, like Tin Tins, which made a proportion of the crowd, it was a real hedonistic, mixed party crowd and to put it simply IT WENT OFF!
When did you first play for Frantic? What was it like back then?
I first played way back in 1999 at The Rocket. I can still remember it really well to this day. It was only my third gig in London, having previously played at Club UK in 1996, and the 414 earlier on in 1999. I remember playing lots of OD404 stuff when they were relatively new names on the scene. I think Will must have been sufficiently happy as he offered me a residency not long afterwards!
Lots of people talk about your infamous closing sets at Camden Palace. Why do you think they took on such legendary status?
Ah Camden Palace, those were the days! I think the quality of the line-ups made for an amazing night, again each DJ complimented each other. The crowd were always on a high when I came on as Phil Reynolds was on before me, so I used to take them up from where he left off. The Camden crowd were really open-minded musically and you could drop new tunes they hadn’t heard before and they would just go with it. Happy days!
You've played Global, Creamfields and all the big festivals. How do they differ from club gigs? What festival sticks out in your memory?
You have to remember at a festival that there is a bigger cross section of people so I always adapt my sets accordingly. I always try and pull out some great classics, and ones that people wouldn’t necessarily expect me to play like System F – Out Of The Blue, Binary Finary 1998 or Underworld – Born Slippy, all of which I have played at previous Global Gatherings. The one festival that sticks in my mind has to be Dance Valley which I have done four times. It’s amazing - really well organised, great crowds, very extensive choice of music and one of the friendliest festivals I have ever been to.
You are well known for always playing new music, and for pioneering many of the biggest acts in he business, but what 5 tunes never leave your box?
Legend B – Lost In Love (Paul Janes Mix)
Tony de Vit – Are You All Ready
Andy Farley & D.A.V.E. the Drummer – MBS
Miss Shiva – Dreams (Paul Glazby mix)
R R Fierce & DMF – Rock Da Spot
If you could go back to one era in hard house when would it be and why?
Tin Tins 1994-1996 definitely.
If you could put on your ultimate Timeless event where would it be and who would play in the Main Arena and why?
It would have to be KOKO. DJ wise I would have:-
Steve Thomas – One of my all time favourite DJs
Phil Reynolds – Playing all the Frantic classics
Paul Glazby – For the harder end
Nick Sentience – Big Room DJs era set
Ian M – Banging it out Trade era 1994-1999
And me of course! I’d also have everyone playing a minimum of an hour and a half set time!
Enough about the past! What are your plans for 2008, a decade since your first London gig!
Lots going on for 2008. I’ve got gigs coming up in Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and loads over the UK including Gatecrasher Summer Sound System and Storm’s Birthday, my residency at Party Proactive and Tidy Weekender 14. I’ve got lots of new tunes coming out. Bail Out/Quiche Or Noodles is out any day on Tripoli Trax. Mezza 9, a collaboration with James Lawson is due out next month on Hardasfunk Recordings with amazing remixes from Ali Wilson & Matt Smallwood and Paul Janes. The Jinx, a collaboration with Base Graffiti will be on Dom’s Producers Series album due out on Tidy next month. I’ve also done a remix of a Jon BW track for Tidy called Alpha. There’s also something tasty in the pipeline for March, watch this space!
Frantic presents Timeless6
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On:
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Saturday 23rd February 2008
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At:
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The Colosseum [map]
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From:
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22:00 - 07:00
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Cost:
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£16/20 advance, £25 OTD
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Website:
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www.franticuk.net/timeless6
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Ticket Info:
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£16 Saver Tickets LAST FEW REMAINING!
£20 Standard Tickets
From:
Ticketweb // 08700 600 100 // www.ticketweb.co.uk
Ticketsellers // 0844 870 0000 // www.theticketsellers.co.uk
View Tickets // www.viewtickets.co.uk
Clubtickets // 0870 246 1840 // www.clubtickets.co.uk
Ticketbank // 01702 345 050 // www.ticketbank.co.uk
See Tickets // www.seetickets.com
More on the Door // www.moreonthedoor.co.uk
Dont Stay In // www.dontstayin.com
Cash Sales //
Frantic HQ // 020 7247 4121
Cyberdog Camden // 020 7482 2842
Never Enough Maria // 07813 684 399
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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Once upon a time in the land of Hard House…..
The heavenly Kingdom of Hard Beats lay cold, dormant and desolate following the enormous New Year’s Eve celebrations ordered by the mighty sorcerers Frantic. Dark gloom and boredom spread across the land like a plague, sapping the energy out of all and sundry. Only the mischievous goblins of Hard Dance Showcase provided any respite from the harsh, unforgiving weather of the month of January with their intimate shindig at Hidden.
Now the time has come for the might of Frantic to rise again and bring happiness and joy to the Kingdom, with a night of classic, anthemic, spine-tingling hard music - Timeless 6: The White Ball! Only a truly special location would be fit to stage such a magnificent party….
And so the resplendent palace of The Colosseum in the Queendom of Vauxhall was chosen as the venue for this musical feast; a much-favoured den of debauchery of that was chosen in favour of the originally proposed venue, following careful consultation with Frantic’s loyal subjects. This gargantuan 4-chambered ballroom will be transformed into a magical, white-themed magical wonderland by Frantic’s army of decadent pixies – and in keeping with this stunning theme it is suggested that all attendees wear at least 1 item of white clothing!
A truly stellar cast of guests have been invited to provide the entertainments for this unmissable banquet of musical pleasures. Queen Farley and King Reynolds grace us with their presence, presenting 2-hour sets of highest caliber, while the Welsh Wizards Cally & Juice join world-class conjurers like Alex Kidd, Kevin Energy and Kutski in a battle of magic, skill and wits. The enchanted lovers Prince Whitby and Princess Gage will dazzle with their youthful energy and impressive command of the crowd, while contenders to the throne like the beautiful damsel Frisky and the fearless soldier Steve O’Brady will show us all that the Kingdom is in safe hands.
Court Jesters Matt Pickup & Andy Rise, from the depths of the Northern Kingdom, will be on hand to entertain all with their high-octane, enthusiastic ways, while a very special guest comes in the form of the intrepid Antipodean explorer Steve Hill – joining us after another of his lengthy excursions into the far-flung corners of the globe! More exotic performers from lands afar come in the shape of the fiery French dancefloor-slayer Karim and the fearless, crimson-locked Scottish warrior Phil York, with more delectable fayre from the likes of Vinylgroover, and the next generation of feisty young Frantic soldiers showing their wares in the Hard Dance Showcase chamber!
And by special decree of the Emperors of Frantic and their deviant army of Twist, an extended afterhours session known as FT will see the most dedicated revelers continue the celebration well into the later hours of the morning at the nearby fortress of Hidden!
All are united in their quest to bring some excitement into this barren, chilly time of year! You are cordially invited to join us for the first unmissable chapter of 2008’s Hard House fairytale….
More info: www.franticuk.net/nye // Will or Chloe Frantic HQ 020 7247 4121 // will@udjs.net // chloe@udjs.net
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Flyer:
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Photos courtesy of Red Management. Not to be reproduced without permission.
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Other Features By Ben Gomori:
HF exclusive SouthWestFour preview: Sasha vs Digweed
Scott Attrill aka Vinylgroover: The Bass Junkie
The Bluffer's Guide to Detroit Techno
Riot! memories as hard dance returns to The End
Vandall brings his Warez to Timeless: The White Party
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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Thanks for all the great memories!
