From: Jon Freer (jon-freer_at_excite.com)
Date: 2005-11-12 21:38:28
Jon Freer’s Club Reviews: Hupendi Muziki Wangu?! Friday 21st October 2005 at The Underground, Morley St, Stoke-on-Trent.
It’s difficult not to be over-awed by Hupendi, when every effort has been taken to make it a truly special experience. For one night a month, The Underground, a dirty grey walled gig venue is transformed into a late-night discocentric playground, complete with a flamboyant meeter and greeter called Hollywood. The distinctive, high ceilinged yet rather cosy space, takes on a cosmic appearance, courtesy of purple drapes that adorn the ceiling, gleaming fairy lights and a centrally rotating disco ball. The simple banner on the wall exclaims ‘Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!’, and provides a focal point away from the waterfall fairy lit DJ booth. Alongside the unassuming bar, the battered red sofas and cheap chairs that sit by the dancefloor provide an earthy feel that helps to keep feet on the ground.
The ‘Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!’ soundsystem, presided over by Hupendi engineer and partner Dave Hargreaves, puts many other club systems to shame, either due to equipment inadequacies or sound delivery errors. This impressive beast gives records an extra dimension, due to the clarity of the sound produced. Despite an imposing appearance, the system is not just about power, and thus whilst loud enough, it is restrained in a way as to make conversations away from the dancefloor pleasant.
‘Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!’ means ‘You Don’t Like My Music?’ in English. As well as being the name of a wondrous K.I.D. record, which sometimes gets an airing, the title represents the philosophy behind the Hupendi. It is an event where attracting the ‘right’ crowd, who will enjoy the music, is vitally important. This is not highbrow pretentious elitism, but a wish to connect with the type of people that will feel at home with the Hupendi experience. One way in which this is done is by promoting the parties via handing out CDs, thus giving potential visitors an idea of the music on show. Hupendi is certainly going against the grain in Stoke, and thus the tireless work of promoter and resident DJ, Annabel Fraser, must be applauded. Annabel has filled The Underground with guests such as re-edit master Greg Wilson, ace record chooser Danny Webb and the entertaining Jigsaw Music collective. Other visiting vinyl selectors have included London disco don Sean P, rare record
hunter Balearic Mike and Stoke’s own Kelvin Andrews.
A wonderful plus point of Hupendi being angled towards who understand what the parties are about, is that even when the club is not very busy, such as for this residents affair, the atmosphere was sparkling. Deck duties on this evening went to Daniel Donnachie, former mainstay at the sadly now defunct Bomb in Nottingham, and the inspiring Annabel Fraser. Each record spinner got the chance to play two sets each, with Ms Fraser’s selection ranging from Balearic beauties to dreamy Disco and deranged House bangers, whilst Mr. Donnachie played Discoid lovelies, House groovers and a whole lot more besides. Highlights of evening’s musical entertainment included Herb Alpert’s spellbinding “Rotation”, the animated instrumental of Johnny Chings’ “Phone Home” and Tiefschwarz’s crazy refix of Unit 4’s “Body Dub”. Hupendi is one of those amazing parties, which remind you exactly what clubbing should be about.
Jon Freer(jon.freer_at_gmail.com)
*Website: www.mosoul.co.uk.
*Freelance journalist.
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