| What What is here after
all with Mission Impossible. This is the Herbaliser,
unmistakeable. We quickly realise that we are being played the new release Very
Mercenary. On CD. But why, when they are here ? A frantic organiser wants to
explain and barely succeeds in hiding her horror. What's Up ? An unimpressed Ollie
Teeba steps forth to explain and barely succeeds in hiding his frustration.
What's Up ? The Midi system doesn't work. PC at the ready, warm decks waiting to be
caressed, speakers on hold, an array of LCDs winking in our direction and the MIDI system,
Central Nervous System of the whole chebang, has crashed and burned. "We
wanted to play a live mix for you, here, tonight" says a pained but
diplomatic Home-Counties accent. Small, short-cropped ginger hair, left eyebrow pierced, DJ
Ollie - master of scratch - awkwardly fidgets from trainer to trainer and, palms
up, surrenders, disillusioned. "But the Midi system doesn't
work." Then the CD jumps and the evening's fate is sealed. Arranged as a surprise (even for the organisers, it appears), the early
evening gig at the What's Up? was intended as a taster of twenty-four
hours of Press get-togethers and interviews in Paris and Brussels
for the up-coming release of Very Mercenary. A bit of fun, before Ollie
spends his Tuesday morning commuting to Brussels and Jake jumps from
journalist to journalist. Not very mercenary but that's Showbiz, guys. And this, this was
just a disaster. A reknown Parisian Club which could not assure a fully-functioning sound
system for one of the best scoops going... Even the microphone could not cope with an
improvised chat, vain attempt to try and salvage something from the evening.
Exasperated, the courageous duo don't hang around for post-mortems
which already see another organiser on the verge of tears. As we leave, a glance at the
room and I catch sight of DJ Volta on the decks. Called in last minute to
save faces, and of course to bring his decks, DJ Volta, distracted and
rather uncomfortable, plays us out with unconvincing hip-hop tracks, a pale substitute for
what he and all of us would have wanted. Another tragically aborted soirée and
another tragic waste of DJing talent.
Outside, the Herbaliser, the professionals, adopt
a philosophical stance. Well, nevermind, let's go back to the Hotel - got to get up
tomorrow. Now's not the time for an impromtu interview. No pen. The new single ? And the
album ? Yeah, go and talk to the girl with the red-hair and we'll organize something when
we're back at the beginning of May.
With Mr Scruff and Amon
Tobin.
Ninja Tune Night.
It's a date. |
