acid house pioneer Rotation

New promoters on the scene Rotation will be hosting one of the original forces behind the UK acid house explosion in a Japan tour that will also feature a live set by UK synthesizer wizard Random Factor. The tour will pull into town for an event entitled Breakthrough slated for Womb this Thursday.

����������� A DJ with over a decade of experience, Ralph Lawson is best known as the original resident DJ at the legendary Leeds club Back to Basics (B2B), but actually launched his career in the early days of the northern acid house scene at Joy club in 1989. Lawson developed a reputation with regular, marathon “Ibiza style�Esets each week alongside some of the world’s top DJs, and remains resident at the new B2B incarnation to this day.

���������� Despite his long career, the upcoming gig will be Lawson’s first in Japan. In a recent exchange with Metropolis, he explained why it’s been so long coming. “I haven’t been to Japan before, but it has been my ambition for years. The first single I ever recorded was called "Otaku" for Soma recordings when I became interested in their culture in the early �E0s. I think it took so long because from my understanding Japan was first more into techno and the classic New York House sound and well, our sound is neither of those. We make hybrid electronic music encompassing many styles and perhaps now is the right time for Japan to hear this as hopefully something different and interesting.�Eo:p>

����������� Lawson, who says Haruki Murakami is his favorite writer, cites Susumu Yokota and Ken Ishii as influences. He adds that his ongoing residency at London’s Fabric is going smashingly, with additional residencies planned in Barcelona and Paris, and, if things go well, maybe Tokyo too.

Since its founding in the mid-�E0s, the DJ has also seen his label, 2020 Vision Recordings, gain international acclaim with over 60 releases including this year’s commended compilation, Visionaries Volume One. 2020 Vision are also known for producing and remixing the likes of Blaze and Fatboy Slim. Lawson says that he will be bringing over lots of his own new material as well as other 2020 Vision projects that will not be available until next year.

Random Factor, meanwhile, is the stage name of 2020 Vision stablemate Carl Finlow. Receiving his first Moog synthesizer at age 12, Finlow began working with Lawson producing house tracks before branching off into techno and electro. Performing live as Random Factor, Finlow has played the likes of the Big Beat Boutique as well as headlining the Amsterdam Shine Festival.

Providing backup at Womb will be Tokyo-based DJs Vishal, Big John and Itchy.

Breakthrough@Womb, 11/1, 10pm, ¥3500, w/2d. Tel: 5459-3939. www.womb.co.jp