Aperture Presents: LTJ Bukem & MC Conrad - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - 8th October 2011 (Live Review)
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Written by Elliott Batte
Some had been waiting for a decade to finally see him, some had been waiting years. Some may have not even heard of him. But you can guarantee by the end of the night, LTJ Bukem had become part of Cardiff’s and Aperture’s musical history, and a memory that no-one will forget.
But before Bukem and his partner in crime Conrad stepped forth to the stage, there was a host of strong resident DJs as per usual to kick off the night – starting with the gifted Mikey-Ro and Motive. The pair of jockeys went back to back to introduce the crowd, which was as full of first-timers attracted by the appealing Bukem headline as it was faithful regulars, to Cardiff’s Wales’ number one night for drum and bass. The mix of Mikey-Ro’s DJing skills combined with Motive’s song-choice (including his own productions) can only mean one thing – an hour of quality tunes. The early birds were spoilt this Friday evening, as after the talented two had finished, another two took to the decks.
This time it was the turn of Cardiff’s own Fluidity and Sundance, who once again went back to back to bring you twice the diversity of their normal sets. Their carefully selected choice of tunes complimented the atmosphere that Bukem had brought (even before his set had started) and got the night rolling and the crowd moving. Both of the two are great DJs in their own rights, so combining both of their skills was only ever gonna lead to one thing – an hour of brilliant drum and bass. Check out both of their Soundclouds here and here, where you can listen to DnB mixes from both of them. When these two finished off their set, it was almost time for the main event – but not before an hour of power from the birthday man and Aperture favourite Kooley.
And an hour of power it was! Every time I’ve seen this man step up to the plates, be it for an audacious hip-hop set or a blend of drum and bass beats, Kooley pulls out all of the stops. And for his birthday celebrations, he blew the dust off some classic 12” plates and rewound the clock. Kicking off with a Bukem classic, ‘Atlantis’, before smoothly moving between tracks of new and old, including Adam F’s ‘Circles’, S.P.Y’s remix of ‘Delilah Go’ and the timeless ‘Pulp Fiction’, by Alex Reece, Kooley’s set was a favourite with the crowd, which was chock-full of old heads and real drum and bass connoisseurs. Although it was his birthday, when it came to the last one he decided to treat us – by giving Aperture the exclusive first in-club play of High Contrast’s new track ‘The First Note is Silent’, featuring Tiesto and Underworld. In a club where High Contrast first made a name for himself, listening to that track certainly brought on a family feel – we’re definitely proud of our homegrown hero. Big up to Kooley’s TV presenter brother Alex Winters too, who made the trip down from Manchester to see the legendary Bukem on the decks.
But, in fairness, if he had flown in from Mexico to see the headliner, it still would’ve been understandable – that’s how good Bukem truly is. Partnered with the smooth-voiced and mind-bogglingly atmospheric MC Conrad, Bukem In Session is an experience like no other – not one DJ in the world can merge and combine liquid rollers like this man can, and not a single MC in the universe could work with, sing , and rhyme over them with the style that Conrad has. They work like clockwork. The pair performed perfectly and powerfully for two hours, and I can promise you that I and I imagine most of the crowd didn’t leave room one for the whole set. Everyone was captivated in a way I haven’t seen before – there were countless resident DJs watching on from the side of the stage in awe, the smoker’s area was probably empty of any Aperture attendees and I’m sure even the bouncers were enjoying themselves a little bit. Reuben MC told the crowd before they made their entrance “this is a man who I looked up to when I was growing up”, and it was soon evident why he is held in such high regard – and why he’s considered the Godfather of liquid. When Conrad and Bukem bought their set to a close, it was the end of one of the most special and electrifying two hours Aperture has ever seen.
Usually, by the time Bukem would have finished, us sweaty clubbers would have begrudgingly ushered out of the Welsh Club and onto the streets of Cardiff town – but that night, we’d been allowed to stay until 4am – something which I (and probably everyone else) think is great. So, if you’re reading Mr Clwb Ifor Bach, more 4am finishes please!
To fill the hour long gap between 3 and 4am was one of Cardiff’s finest bass-loving artists, Tolerance. Though he’d been out of the DJing scene for a while to focus on his production, he’s now back with a new mix and a whole range of new tunes on the way, including a release on N-Type’s label Wheel and Deal Records. Trawl through his Facebook page and you’ll see hundreds of comments complimenting him on a tune, a transition, or the choice of a song in a mix – he’s an all around talented musician. He put in a good graveyard shift, floating between big tunes like Loadstar’s ‘Link to the Past’, before travelling into a drumstep and dubstep fuelled half an hour. It was a nice set, and a good way to mark your return after a number of months away from the Aperture turntables – it’s good to have you back!
Aperture co-ordinator Dan Aperture stopped for a few words after the show: “Wow. That’s all that really needs to be said after Bukem. I’d like to say thanks to all the residents who helped put tonight together and obviously, a huge thanks to Bukem and Conrad for giving us an experience we’re never ever gonna forget. What an incredible night! But remember, Aperture doesn’t sleep! Make sure you’re at Goldie on the 28th of October – that’ll be another un-missable night.”
Shout outs go to Reuben MC for once again hosting the night with unmatchable charm and love, to Yusuf Rustem for photographing the night, and to Clwb Ifor Bach for letting it finish at 4! Roll on Goldie.
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Usually, by the time Bukem would have finished, us sweaty clubbers would have begrudgingly ushered out of the Welsh Club and onto the streets of Cardiff town – but that night, we’d been allowed to stay until 4am – something which I (and probably everyone else) think is great. So, if you’re reading Mr Clwb Ifor Bach, more 4am finishes please!
