An electronic insitution — Rotterdam's Clone Records have been releasing, selling and distributing great electronic music for the last 20 years.
Many were aghast when the label announced its closure in 2009 — so central was their position in dance music circles. But they shouldn't have worried. Just a few months later, Army of Darkness style the label was resurrected and remade (nay, Cloned) in a number of sub labels – eight and counting, each focusing on a different area of dancefloor futurism. Two of its finest imprints will showcase the hottest names on their books tonight — you'd be best to take notes.
Room One tonight is host to Royal Oak – if anything Clone’s most straightforward House wing – offering some of the finest sounds from the label’s Dutch base and beyond. Swedish duo Genius of Time made waves in 2011 with their ace “Houston we have a problem,” a Whitney-referencing earworm of a track. The sampling of the late diva was a move as prescient as their music — an astral-gazing, laid-back take on classic house. Dutch resident Gerd looks to bring things up even higher with his breezy takes on the timeless sounds of Chicago. Finally, the King of the Clones – label boss Serge himself will see things out with the latest tracks to catch his ear.
If that all sounds a bit easygoing, things are racheted up a notch in Room Two with the sounds from Clone's Basement. The label has taken the role of an audio sandbox, a place for forward thinking producers to share their visions of underground techno. UK Bass artist and Hemlock-label boss Untold's release last year streamlined his usually frantic percussion for a sound designed for main-room destruction, see him in full effect tonight. A stalwart of the Dutch scene, Conforce's sound is unmistakably techno-centered, but expect plenty of left-of centre detours to keep things fresh. Things are rounded off by Dexter, on inspired form recently, guesting on Rush Hour's Amsterdam All Stars compilation and restlessly experimenting with his sound. After working in a number of styles over the years - electro, house, techno - no doubt he'll work some of these in tonight.
Clone Records: Basement Series vs Royal Oak at Hidden, Vauxhall SE11 5EQ, Friday 11th May. Tickets are available here.
Image used with permission from Clone Records.
