It was one of the
steamiest nights that Oxford Art Factory had seen in recent months and as
anticipation set in, Flume took the stage to open for Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.
The fresh-faced
producer opened with fluttering synth and floating vocals coupled with deep
house elements that have been unrivalled in days of late. Wood whistle breathed
out and added an original flair to the set.
There seemed to be
an obvious hip-hop influence in Flume’s set with constant and heavy beats being
a stand out point.
The bass warbled
throughout Oxford Art Factory and created a sea of bobbing heads as he splayed
his fingertips across the decks to indulge in even more deep and elusive beats.
Flume’s track, ‘On
Top’ featured hip-hop thumps and cohesive rapping measured equally with
squealing synth. He leisurely took sips from a beer as he brought Notorious
B.I.G back from the dead mixing ‘Juicy’ which splashed out into the excited crowd.
‘The Anthem’ a
remix of the Onra tune lived up to its reputation live and pierced ears with
viscous strings and curly bass.
Flume’s hit,
‘Sleepless’ began in a sweet symphony of shrieks from the sweaty crowd on this
hot October night mixed with the tell tale cascading synth that makes this tune
such a hit.
After a short set
from the Future Classic DJs, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs took the stage
adorned in a turquoise Stegosaurus suit. Smoke billowed from the stage,
engulfing every sense as he twirled the knobs to make synth echo forth.
He clutched the
microphone as wood clock peppered the set coupled with tropical themed bass.
‘Trouble’ zapped
and weaved like lightning that was built from the most perfect storm. Twisting
beats came down with shattering bass that created a welcomed deep house
element. Drinks were held high in the establishment as a tipsy salute to the high-pitched
beats and the myriad of genres that TEED seemed to cover from techno to electro
right through to atmospheric house.
Confetti spurted
from the stage as the tunes took climax and the crowd reveled in the scratching
of the decks and the wash of rainbow rain.
The set was
schizophrenic and wild as the pulses flickered and piano pounded into ‘Your Love’,
which had synth that squelched like warm mud. Splices of galactic electro made
this tune memorable.
‘Stronger’ was
melodic and had bold vocals from TEED mixed with deep house but ‘Garden’ was
the track that made this set so diverse. Frothy synth became one with the tip
toe of the beats and demonstrated the succinct sound that makes TEED such a
multi-faceted act. What he had in gritty techno and dub step, he could also off
set with a delicate melody such as this.
East London drum
and bass made a welcome appearance and created much turbulence within the venue
for ‘Solo’. It was dark, dirty and appealed to the baser instincts causing many
in the pack to have to repent their sins the following morning.
The sapphire
strobe and confetti set the atmosphere for the chaos and debauchery taking
place amongst loaded beer jugs. “Tapes and Money’ was the highlight and was met
with blinding golden lights and devout singing from the pack. Deep bass and
skittish beats set the scene as the punters begged that their feet don’t fail
them now.
‘Household Goods’
completed the uninhibited set with TEED’s vocals being a stand out as they
flawlessly echoed forth. The beats were loud and pounding as they barged in
without warning. Confetti burst into the venue for the third time tonight
marking one of the most flamboyant and gritty nights that many had seen before.
TEED had proved that although dinosaurs may be extinct, raw and inviting house
music certainly is not.