With the London 2012 Olympics kicking on the same day, a diverse, cosmopolitan crowd filled Fabric on Friday July 27th with a real united vibe. Many I spoke to were first-timers at the club & were, of course, in London for the Olympics. As is customary for the end of the month at Fabric it was Playaz in room one with Bukem In Sessions in the second room and Civil Music in room three.
 
As expected, the line-up very much represents the Playaz sound, with a couple of exceptions. The general vibe is straight-up, in-your-face party music to enjoy on a Friday night and, wow, how it went off! The room was packed from front to back and was the busiest of the three with a sound system encompassing the highest of clarity.
 
Playaz front man DJ Hype received a thunderous reception & delivered a varied, across the board two hour set showcasing the best sounds from the full spectrum of Drum & Bass. Hype has a personal connection with the crowd, they really love him, they appreciate and respect him for being a key figurehead in the scene. Other artists on the Playaz roster didn't disappoint, the room finished off with a complete tear-out set from Original Sin B2B Taxman!
 
My personal favourite set of the night had to be Jubei B2B Ulterior Motive, they came on after DJ Hazard (the floor-filler, who shifted the night into another gear with his ‘selector’ style DJ mixes, playing a diverse selection of dancefloor, jump-up, liquid & the odd tech tune) & brought the mood down slightly by playing the darkest & moodiest drum & bass of the evening. I recall them taking turns on the decks with three tunes each, both with their own style but still presenting a coherent sound for the hour they were on.
 
My favourite room in the club, room two, was full of smiles & positive musical vibes. We were treated to a mixture of Soulful & Liquid Drum & Bass rollers for the duration of the night. Head honcho LTJ Bukem, entertained us with the most mature Drum & Bass that went down like a fine wine. Receiving a similar reception as DJ Hype in room one, as Bukem is also a key figure-head in the scene. With close friends also dancing on the stage, the Good Looking Records, makes you feel part of the family vibe.
 
The most surprising set of the evening came from Grooverider. I was unsure of what he would play, considering he is well known for playing energetic party music these days. However, his selection was sublime as he joined the general theme of the room by showcasing both old and new drum & bass with emotion and respect. Utah Jazz also impressed, although slightly more upfront than the rest of the room, he managed to mix energy with soul.
 
Whilst room one and two were champagne bubbling, room three was a chilling white wine! At least you could move around freely without getting your toes trodden on. Starkey headlined the room with an intricate set portraying a host of different flavours. Although being very popular within their niche, people may be unfamiliar with the label. They don’t have a particular sound, but instead represent a host of different styles & tempos from a range of different artists. London based label Civil Music have been around for a while, buzzing quietly.

Words by Nydus

Related Links:

• Review: Playaz Tenth Anniversary At Fabric
• Playaz At Fabric Review
• Playaz: A Decade Of Smashing It At Fabric
• Playaz Xmas Special @ Fabric
• Metalheadz @ Fabric

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