Pictorial: DJ Blastique at Momo Penang.

DJ Blastique dropped by Penang to wreck a havoc amongst Penang clubbers. Here are some pictures taken this morning. Excellent party, lively company. Thanks for droppin' by Blastique!

DJ Blastique at Momo Penang.

Blastique's next...

ligh7ness: A generously-budgeted flop.

The usual clubbing crew of mine were treated to the first major clubbing event over at The Mansion, Penang on the 31st of March 2007, thanks to Mild Seven through 7aste.com. I felt rather bummed out recently and thought a little change of scene would help me get over some long-withstanding issues I have with my life. I wasn't really forward to the alcohol but trying a rather different approach to life as it is.




The last event organised by Mild Seven sounded groundbreaking but overall monotonous. How wrong were we to think that things would have changed this time around when we were treated with commercial R&B music right from kick-off. Most of us have sorely misinterpreted the event as a one-off 'fresh and unique' event. I sat across of my friends in hopes that the second half to be covered by the Groovedoctor wouldn't be as bad. As we waited for the clock to strike 1, we had a bamboozle of laughs as we watched fellow Penangites still trapped in their clubbing culture of "sittin' it out". No movements; well maybe only horizontal ones!




At 10 minutes past 1, the crowd had been rejuvenated by the sheer presence of DJ Groovedoctor behind the decks. Bodies flung around like busy bees and my group of four began feeling a little upbeat that all this might just have a happy ending after all! Split between techno and house, DJ Groovedoctor knew that everyone needed a jolt of freshness and speed into his own setlist and he has done it in a superb manner.


The doctor is in, finally!

On the upside, attendees were treated with quality giveaways and free-flowing liquor all night long, as promised. Unanimously people would have said that this party was far from being a hard-thumping classic but the second half with the 'groove doctor' practically saved our lives from sheer humdrum. Last year's fusion of traditional dances and modern music saved the day. This time around, it was none other than a practitioner of melodic arts that made it worthwhile.



I went home and thought to myself that maybe there was a great comfort in being around strangers for once. How I have forgotten how great freedom tasted!

Momo Penang: 'Be'.

Tagging off a Calvin Klein ad?

Penang clubbers be on the alert! Next Thursday, 4th of January 2007 will see Momo Penang hold their house-warming party at their club premises. For those of you dance-crazy people with a fondness for funky casual clothes, suit up for the best ever kick-start event of the year promising groovy, funky and intoxicating (you sure it ain't the beer?) vibes of house music.

Entry is free for the crowds before 2200 hrs. After that period, there is a cover charge to be imposed (MYR 25.00 for the ladies and MYR 35.00 for the men; inclusive of 1 drink).

This clubbing event is sponsored by Bacardi Rum.

New Year's Eve 2007 in Malacca!

A'Famosa Resort, a premiere family resort located in the vicinity of Malaysia's landmark Portuguese fortress, will play host to this New Year's Eve party, 'The Carnival'. Details are rather sketchy but expect big local DJs to showcase their talent on this massive turntable roster due to kick-off on New Year's eve at 1900 hrs.

'The Carnival' will be a collaboration of 4 major dance labels/brands in Malaysia - playing in four separate rooms. Representing the event will be Hotel Scandalous of Zouk KL fame (tech-house, electro progressive), Hard Sequence (trance), Excessive Bongo Loops (breaks, progressive, d&b) and Regenerate (techno). Among a comprehensive list of performers for the night include Bryan Burger, Ben Katana, Sista Yang, Eugene, Spacebar, Callen, Ray Soo and The Bass Agents.

Tickets are now available by contacting:

Excessive Records (Bryan's joint),
Jalan Walter Grenier, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 012-220 9931 (Bryan)

A'Famosa Sales Office,
Level 18, Menara Safuan,
Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2781 8833 (0900 to 1700 hrs; office hours)

Klan Concept,
G21, Plaza Mahkota, Malacca.
Tel: 06-288 9160 (1300 hrs onwards)

A'Famosa Resort (Clubhouse Guest Service counter),
Jalan Kemus, Simpang Empat,
78000 Alor Gajah, Malacca.
Tel: 06-552 0777

Tickets are priced at MYR 30.00 if they're bought through selected parties during the pre-sales ticket window (13th to 30th December 2006) and MYR 40.00 at the door. The ticket includes admission with 1 drink.

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

Momo Penang: 081206

Just when you thought you'd have enough of the local clubbing scene...here comes another club to feast your eyes upon!

Momo has come to Penang (excuse the pun, dear) and will be opening its doors to the general public tomorrow, Friday, 8 December 2006.

MOMO PENANG is characterised as, 'A nightlife experience set to transform the Penang night scene and place it on the map of Asia's best clubbing cities. Experience cool, intimate clubbing at Momo Penang where you are spoilt for choice - the club is divided into several stylish areas with five selected bars around the club.'. Their intro, however, only made mention of commonly known genres to be played there; namely house, hip-hop / R&B. (oh, how revolting!) Turntable duty is currently held by TheSlayerz.

MOMO PENANG's doors will be opened for the public at approximately 2200 hrs. Early entrance between 8 pm to 10 pm is only by special invitation. If you'd like to give your PR/social skills a try and inquire for a special invite, please dial 6-04-2623030 and ask away to be on the VIP list!

'Hotel Scandalos' @ The Loft, Zouk KL.

Bryan of Excessive Records wrote in to announce that a new underground DJ event, 'Hotel Scandalos' will be spinning every Wednesday at The Loft, Zouk KL starting from the 25th of October 2006.

This weekly intimate event will feature DJ collaborations with Bryan himself on deck-duty, alongside DJ Ray Soo, DJ Point and DJ Sister Yang.

Bryan himself is no stranger to the local club music scene, having pioneered arguably one of the best independent record label & snobbish music enthusiasts' store in Kuala Lumpur. Ray Soo's forte is in the electro/tech-house genre, so the dumbass Melbourne shufflin' kids should find themselves right at home when he's leading the pack. DJ Point (trip hop, hip hop) and DJ Sister Yang (electroclash, breakbeats) are respectively the finalist and runner up for the 2006 Juice DJ Quest.

Admission to the club is free for 'Hotel Scandalos'.

Bassmental returns.

Dance event, 'Bassmental' returns to the club and this time they're touring Penang.



The event will be held in Flix, arguably Penang's premiere dance club. Spicing up this event with be DJs I-Sec and Flik along with VJ Pixel Punk conjuring up the visual feast during the event. So bring on your bloody shufflin' feet along and party all night long if you're jobless/female/know of some doctors who can 'write up' a medical leave for you.

'Bassmental' in Penang will be held this Thursday, 17 August 2006 from 2200 hrs - 0300 hrs. Flix Penang (the location of this event) is at No. 1-01-01, 02, 03, E-Gate, Lebuh Tengku Kudin, 11700 Gelugor, Penang. If you're a self-styled Melbourne shuffler who is interested in joining the 'Shufflers Tag Team Showdown', kindly contact Azani @ 012-4179836 or Jason @ 019-4458865. Upon selection, you stand a chance to win cash and prizes worth MYR 8,000. So what are you waiting for, kids? Kill the Melbourne shuffle scene!

7aste: Intermix

Music: Guillemots - Who Left The Lights Off, Baby (click to download)





After the World Cup, the world was back at its feet again; their dancing feet. I probably wouldn't as far to call it a success but Intermix, a Mild Seven 7aste event held at 32, The Mansion was certainly a trendy welcome to the already tired out clubbing scene in Penang. Members of the blogpress; Lil Tim and I were there to catch DJ Francis Cobb perform in front of an island crowd.



Expectations were set high but we sorta had the hunch that this was going to be a trance music event. What threw us aback was the logistics involved in getting the event started. And there's the human resourcing too! There must have been twenty to thirty Mild Seven hostesses walking around the vicinity promoting death sticks all night long.



Lit and set in blue, this outdoor event makes up for its lack of concern for the masses (rather expensively priced beer and poor air-conditioning) by showcasing traditional and modern dances fused by percussionists with the beats of tablas, bongos and Reinhard Voigt. The DJ consol itself was a spectator's delight brimming with flourescent blue and designed to look like an alien was literally spinning in a flying saucer!


Click on image for a larger res image.

Traditional Tamil dancers took their bow right before the Mild Seven-styled 'harajuku girls' came on and pumped some soul into this event.









Demoted to the background as a mere observer of things, I would stereotype Penang clubbers into two categories now; the clueless and the showy, mostly Melbourne shufflers. We were basically surrounded by a swarm of the former - a mirror reflection of how passionate clubbers are in the city of Kuala Lumpur. After watching the dance performances akin to Basement Jaxx's 'Romeo' video, we took off after a shortwhile - realising that there was a better party elsewhere, Jungle Jerry's @ the Lounge.

Fixated with dance: The epi-log.

Music: Hot Chip - Boys From School (click to download)
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you YS!"

Braving the pulsating heat of KL, I spent a memorable weekend in the capital expecting a rerun of the nights I've spent in Orange Penang. Barring my age and physical condition, it was simply memorable. First off, being given access to the VIP area for this dance event in Espanda Club was too good to be true. After signing into the guest list as 'Snoop Dogg', I stepped calmly into the DJ console expecting hounds of groupies surrounding DJ Lil Tim but the zen-like friend of mine was clearly calm, composed and raring to make a huge impact on the already buzzin' dancefloor at about midnight.

The crowd's enthusiasm was reminiscent of the days when Penang was famous for its clubs rather than its health tourism. However, I have to comment that I noticed a lot of teenagers lurking on the dancefloor these days, mostly excellent native Malay 'Melbourne shufflers'' - isn't the fad getting a wee bit overrated now? Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the company of former wax pioneer of the Penang clubbing scene (or what's left of it); DJ Odin! He was there to show his full support of fellow former partner-in-crime Tim's setlist even though he looked dead tired from over-partying.

Some snapshots:


Drinks, complementing the event - I was a little cautious about these.


Tim starts his setlist with some housey beats accompanied by some tabla drummer on the dancefloor.


"There ain't no friggin' dance setlist without me sparkin' an owl first, mate!"


Tim feelin' the crowd and doing the best that he can to sustain the heat on the dancefloor.


Turntable deck workin' out the magic. Timmy's gonna werk it out!


Crowd shows appreciation...


Crowd moves in anticipation...


Hello...hello...wot have we got here? Legendary DJ Odin in da houze!!!


Odin and his bodyguards. Better recognize...

Fixated with dance.

Click on e-flyer to enlarge.

Sunday scribbles.

Music: Sonya Cotton - Guard Your Heart / Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (YYY = Tegan & Sara?!) (click to download 2 tracks in one zipped file)



- This just in! Tiesto will be performing a massive 5-hour DJ set at the official Renault F1 team pit party on the 19th of March 2006. More details can be found at tiesto.com. Supporting Tiesto for this gig will be Jess (on vocals), Derb & Drum Connection from Germany, and Malaysian/Australian collective Bass Agents.

Tiesto will start his set at 10pm sharp as the event must legally close up by 3am. Tickets will be priced at RM65 (presale) and RM80 on the door (includes one drink). Doors open at 6pm. Presale will be available from Feb 27 at Music Valley outlets at Sungei Wang Plaza, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur, Rock Corner at 1-Utama and Fantasy Music Center at Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway.

- Rounding about the latest leaks on the Internet, you have Belle & Sebastian's 'The Life Pursuit' and Mogwai's 'Mr. Beast' on your favourite torrent network right now. Please buy the album once you're done sampling them! I got tracks from each album posted up on the music navibar on the right so feel free to leech them up ASAP!

- Mancunians rejoice! CMJ reports that the much-celebrated master of grainy black & white prints, Anton Corbijn, will get his first feature film directorial debut in the Ian Curtis biopic ironically titled as 'Control'. One of rock's shortlived icons will be played by newcomer, Sam Riley (possibly thankfully a Brit). Samantha Morton (last worked with Corbijn in U2's 'Electrical Storm' music video) will be playing Deborah Curtis.

So not quiet on New Year's Day.

Music: U2 - New Year's Day (click to download) / Miss Kittin - Live @ Flex, Vienna (15 Nov 2005)

Special dedicated track: Roger Sanchez Feat Gto - Turn On The Music (Axxwell Remix) (click to download) | This one's for you Lil Tim!

New Year's eve. How do I begin to reflect on the things that have happened in 2005?

The last massive pixel post I've done...I've sincerely regretted it because of the considerable waste of bandwidth posting images of someone I've come to know of her true hypocritical colours. This time around, the end of the year was celebrated with people whom I've known all my life as a youth and I can put a little bit of faith on unlike some circles who can backstab you at any possible opportunity.

Enough of my cynical ramblings! It's 2006!

Spanning across two great nights which started with Friday's pre-New Year's eve dance party at Chic, courtesy of the mighty turntable skills of Ray Soo of Zouk KL, who kindly decided to drop by and sparked the mundane 'r&b fixated' Penang clubbing scene a little. I just couldn't believe my ears when I entered Chic with my mate, Lil Tim grinning wildly at me because I know that he knows that electroclash music is the good 'shit'! :) Ray Soo is arguably one of my favourite club DJs at the moment. Thumbs up to ya mate!

Unlike all New Year's ever parties that I've been to, tonight's event was simply magnificent. Hundreds (probably in the thousands...I didn't really bother to keep count) of Penangites and ex-pats gathered just outside the TESCO supermarket in E-Gate to witness one of the rarest outdoor rave parties ever held in our quiet little island.


__________________________

Managed to grab a lot of pictures that night. Here's the massive pictorial post that I was talkin' about.


Getting ready for the pre-party at Chic!


Mobit's gettin' ready for the funk too...


Another Mobit shot.


It ain't too crowded eh?


Ray Soo, behind the decks!


Electroclash-meister! All the way from Zouk!


Lookin' for his Fischerspooner stash I suppose? Heh!


Alicia doing the Melbourne shuffle?!!?


Mobit clearly dressed for success...plus with a brand new hairdo!


Ok this is me...not looking too happy...I think the beer's too warm or sumfin...


Lil Tim flippin' the birdie to the cameraman...goddamnit!


Another shot of Ray Soo masterminding the night's event.