Astonishingly Aggressive…
Rampagingly Rough…
Compellingly Cataclysmic…
Obsessively Overwhelming…
Vein-infecting FILTH!
It is thus and only as such that the uncompromising sound of Marco V may be verbally reproduced.
Whenever a new organizer penetrates our local scene, we are often suspicious of disappointment and fearful of failure, namely due to our past experiences with most (but not all) organizers besides the usual suspects. But after the first mini-success exhibited on their first EDM event at Art Lounge, Frenchy B Entertainment pull it off again, in collaboration with Radio One, importing a living EDM legend, a scene giant, a musical icon, a DJ whose signature sound is so explosive that it mutes a detonated nuclear warhead, and a producer whose technical mastery and musical innovation is so genre-defining that he puts genre-influencing producers to shame!
I was unable to make it in time for the opening set, but did for the better half of Ceasar K’s warmup session, and I can safely state this: if one DJ knows his breaks, it’s this DJ right here. Musical harmony and technical brilliance intertwined to morph a sharp-sounding set which set the mood and pace for the mayhem to come in the way done best with this particular EDM sound. I also had the chance to chat a bit with Ceasar after his warmup, where he told me about some fresh production projects of his which can be sampled on his MySpace, and it’s always a Kodak moment for me to hear of rising Lebanese producers so I was thrilled at the news; be sure to support your local artist at http://www.myspace.com/gmeandceasark
Meanwhile, a swift visual scan of the venue satisfied my iris; a sea view, giant screens projecting visualizations, a flamboyant light system, a relatively low/near DJ booth, a huge dancefloor, while the visual “center of attention” would have to be that giant lit “M” right above the DJ booth. Sound system was relatively good too; a slight lack in midrange frequencies which were somewhat shadowed by the lows and the highs, but overall a powerful and crisp sound was vibrating the Marina Convention Hall and even the surrounding neighborhoods… I wouldn’t be too surprised if there were citizen complaints!
Another area of improvement for the organizers would have to be the ventilation system of the venue; I know they are not directly to blame, but rather Movenpick, but it needs to be pointed out that sweaty armpits and teary eyes were dominating the crowds primarily due to poor ventilation. What I particularly loved, though, is the choice of a virgin venue, and the scene needs new venues to explore!
Marco was introduced by an MC (who is that guy?!) and if there’s one thing we could say about our DJ’s entrance, it would be that this DJ goes straight to the point – no melodic intro, no hands-in-the-air prelude, just a tweaked acidy sample for around a minute of aural noise immediately followed by a flat kick… and it was kickoff! The filthy journey into industrial noise was inaugurated. For the next 4 hours or so, Marco delivered a spine-breaking bone-shattering ear-damaging heartbeat-accelerating adrenaline-rushing pulse-driving set of energy, filth, energy, dirt, energy, bass, energy, and some more energy! Marco re-asserted his status as a “genreless DJ”, for his sound extends beyond one specific genre, beyond named genres even; sure, some tracks can be qualified as Tech Trance, others as Electro, some as Tech House perhaps, a little Progressive here and there too, but most of what he plays is simply genreless, while the rest blends in so smoothly that you feel as if Marco is developing an entirely new spectrum of sound in his DJ lab up there, with us ravers as the lab rats. Ah well, if that’s how it feels to be a trained rat being experimented upon for the sake of music evolution, then bring on the pain, doc!
Insanity, chaos, and mayhem were the game, and Marco V was the name. A set that shall be imprinted in Lebanese clubbers’ minds for a long, long time, as one that truly stands out from the rest, from a DJ who truly stands out for the rest.
Followup set was by Shiva, but I couldn’t hang around for that, so if anyone did (and if anyone was early for the opening set) please feel free to share a brief review! All in all, it was one memorable night, one we all desperately needed after the harsh times our beloved nation has been witnessing and enduring. Perhaps my utopic highlight of the night would be not the music, but the backstage view of thousands of Lebanese ravers, each screaming out from the top of his/her lungs:
I don’t love life…
I don’t love life in colors…
I love life in music.
(but actually my real highlight of the night was Life Less Ordinary
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.. hope next unmissable rave i'll be there!
