There's a typical wealth of diverse underground dance parties in Manchester this weekend, with heavy bass from Loefah, weirdo disco and techno from both Hi Ku and Lost Control, and a trip back in UKG time when cult chart success Oxide and Neutrino drop into Antwerp Mansion.
Coded Rhythm Presents: Loefah - Xolo, New Wakefield Street, Friday, £10
A former member of DMZ, a group still influential to this day, Loefah’s ground breaking and forward thinking Swamp81 label maintains it’s clout on today’s evolving musical landscape, having released records from the diverse but uniformly heavy likes of Boddika, Joy Orbison and Zed Bias, not to mention the recent limited pressing of his own ‘Woman’, all of which are now selling for hysterically high prices on Discogs. As a DJ, he retains his talent and aesthetic, still one of the best respected selectors and innovators in the game.
Lost Control 2nd Birthday - The Whiskey Jar, Tariff Street, Friday, £5
It’s been two solid years now since Lost Control began it’s voyage of offbeat techno, wonky electro and mutant disco, and to celebrate, the expanding party is hosting a set from Lord of the Isles, the Scottish experimentalist whose releases on acclaimed underground labels such as Permanent Vacation and Phonica prove he engineers some of the most cerebrally thrilling and pleasurable dance music out there right now. Locally based globetrotter Belly of cult label Rothmans will be playing a live set of his own offbeat house, while Black and Oli Byrne provide eclectic support behind the decks in the basement of The Whiskey Jar.
Oxide and Neutrino - Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme, Friday, £8
Bound for the, bound for the, bound for the… Rusholme? One of the most iconic breakthrough acts in UK garage in it’s purest form, Oxide and Neutrino are still best known for their 2000 breakthrough hit, Bound 4 Da Reload, which memorably sampled the theme from Casualty. They’ve since remained a pair staying notably true to their roots, with a stack of gigs and productions since, although never afraid to dip back in time for a few classics. The notably grimey aesthetic of Antwerp Mansion should suit the pair well.
Hi Ku - 1 Primrose Street, Ancoats, Saturday, £8-10
Two Norwegian wizards of properly oddball and utterly pleasurable disco and house, DJ Fett Burger and Telephones dig deep and dig weird, while always maintaining an accessible, groove laden party atmosphere. As producers, they create the sort of records on labels such as Sex Tags and Running Back, that fly off shelves like hot cakes iced with funk, and together, they meet their match in terms of sheer party starting power. Joining them is ‘DJ’s DJ’ and Manchester’s finest, Jon K; if anybody can catch up with these two in terms of Shazam boggling obscurities, it’s Mr. K.