Live Review: XXL At Warehouse House Project
XXL returns to the Warehouse Project (WHP) with a lineup full of the biggest names in art. Produced by Manchester-based Teletech , the event sold out months in advance as eager fans snapped up tickets for the massive line-up. Of course, Amelie 's Lens was the big draw, but it was the smaller, more intimate venue, The Archive, that was really the night's memorable deal.
The Warehouse Project continues to amaze me with the crowds they gather. People from all over the world come to Mayfield Depot for a night of dancing fun. A friend of mine traveled 5 hours by bus from Cardiff and 5 hours back overnight. I can easily guess which part of the journey the bus driver prefers, but how far people are willing to go to take part in one of the best clubbing experiences in the world speaks volumes.
Every subtype of rave was represented and each outfit was as amazing as the next. The venue was a cross-section of the techno scene in every Air Max 95 (110) shade, from thick-looped techno-goths and Doc Martens to Nike tech wear.
I spoke to a woman in her fifties with her teenage daughter and I could hear the pleasure in her voice. What makes WHP so special is its ability to bring everyone under one roof, regardless of their differences, for a full night of racing.
Arriving in the main room, I caught the end of AndD's set , which by then had set the tone for the night and was moving and scratching its feet. It was very difficult to watch, and Marcel Dittmann and Helena Hoff struggled to recapture the energy of AndD's peak, but I appreciate the team's precision. It gives a more detailed visualization of the techno.
From there it was a short walk through the crowd to see Richie Houghton . The venue was packed in the back with almost no room to get out, so Hawtin would have been better served on a bigger stage. It won't be returning to Depot Mayfield this year, but when it does, it should be in the depot phase!
One of the best things about an event like XXL and WHP is falling in love with a new artist who is completely unknown before the event. In this case, a misreading of the exact time led me to the archive , I thought to see Brutalismus 3000 , but found Clara Cuvé instead .
Kofi, a regular player on the Berlin techno circuit, faced an hour and a half of obstacles that assaulted all the senses. Beautiful pictures, ringtones and not a single song that caught my attention. Each point was accompanied by raucous cheers from the crowd. The agony of all who die on their feet after an hour of continuous trampling; The incredible set was an absolute throwback and probably the best of the night.
To make matters worse, a verb I wasn't sure about before the event after Cuvé, Brutalismus 3000. Originally from Slovakia but now based in Berlin, B3000 consists of Theo Zeitner and Victoria Vassiliki Daldate on live vocals . To describe Brutalismus 3000 as a technical act would do it a disservice. They are unlike any other technology company in the world.
They describe themselves on their Instagram as "nu gabber post techno punk" and that covers them, but this kind of style has to be experienced to be fully understood. From their most famous song "Satan Was a Baby Boomer" to Underworld 's "Born Slippy" to the Sugababes remix of "Push the Button" , everything was weird, weird, but great! The scenes were messy and confusing. The crowd went to the first song and the file was completely full.
When Brutalismus returns to WHP, I can almost guarantee they'll be on one of the biggest stages, if not front and center. Their performance over the past year has catapulted them to the top of the tech world, and it's not hard to see why. The London Estate Boiler Room 2021 set has over 2.3 million views on YouTube and is one of the most unique collections I've seen in recent years.
Now it's time for Emily Lance. I've never seen Lance live, but I've seen in videos and on social media that his energy is infectious. From the middle of a shed, I could see her constantly dancing and waving her hair. The music played and the audience enthusiastically danced and stomped along with Lance. The song selection never stopped, and the opening three notes in particular gave me goosebumps. In the first 20 minutes he told everyone present that they would bring something special.
Unfortunately, there was a small glitch at the end of Lance's set, which he later explained on his Instagram that it was a problem with another artist's mixer on stage, but it didn't take away from his incredible 90 minutes. Techno Vitality by Belgium's best player.
With three months to go before this year's WHP, it's hard to highlight this team. The XXL row is stacked from top to bottom. Teletech are to be commended for putting together one of the best lineups at a major festival this year and I can't wait for next year.
