| Clubbing |
By James Coulson |
2Many DJs
Inventive and eclectic brothers
jump out of the womb into Ebisu
 |
Debuting in 2004, Womb’s annual Mobile Project Club Phazon events have become an absolutely necessary engagement for Tokyoites partial to parties of epic proportions. Amazingly, even the Shibuya superclub was not man enough for this one, so recent Phazons have been held at the vast Roppongi Laforet Museum space and featured the likes of minimal enfant terrible Richie Hawtin, superstars Sasha and Digweed, and Argentinean house authority Hernan Cattaneo. The latest edition is even more ambitious, and is set to seriously disrupt the tranquility of Ebisu Garden Hall via the sharpshooter beats of 2Many DJs.
For the last decade Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele have earned a reputation for inventive, unpredictable DJ sets, blending, cutting and splicing warm-and-fuzzy nostalgia with thumping techno. On 2002’s As Heard on Radio Soulwax Pt. 2, where infamously Dolly Parton’s “Nine to Five” is found only a few tracks away from the stomping French electro of Vitalic’s “La Rock 01.” Particularly in London in the early 2000’s, they created plenty of uproar via notorious live mixes on XFM, and the hi-jacking of more purist-based nights at superclub Fabric.
2Many DJs’ productions blur with the duo’s main musical outlet—electro rock band Soulwax—and straddle the favorable space between commercial success and the underground, alongside the like-minded LCD Soundsystem and Justice. Recent releases have included the prog-esque “Any Minute Now,” the menacing, throbbing and riotous “Krack,” and “E-Talking,” whose controversial video received a watershed ban for its hilarious depiction of clubbing characters consuming the entire A-Z of recreational drugs.
Perhaps testament to their appeal, 2Many DJs are also extremely prolific and in-demand remixers (both official and unofficial), and have re-shaped tracks for a who’s who of pop and rock, from The Rolling Stones to Kylie Minougue to Felix Da Housecat to the Klaxons. Completing the lineup at Phazon are Masatoshi Uemura, Shinichi Osawa (house/jazz guru and producer for the likes of Chara, Dragon Ash and UA), and lighting and laser artist par excellence Aiba.
Club Phazon @Yebisu the Garden Hall, Mar 14. See club listings for details.
Got something to say about this article? Send a letter to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
Listen to the Metropolis Podcast, the coolest guide to what goes on this week in Tokyo.
Looking for international friends? Check Japan, Inc. Friends now - it's 100% free!
 |
|