Review
Publication date : Monday, April 21st 2008 - 7 052 views
Bashment U-Night
A whole night devoted to sound systems: that was the programme of the Bashment U Night, which had plenty to draw in every fan in the region last weekend in Montpellier: the seven most active sound systems in the city were gathered on the same bill.
To last the whole night, the party is organised in half-hour sessions, with each sound system setting up behind the decks twice. So there is no respite for the crowd, who have no time to tire. When we arrive around midnight, the room is already full. Jah Works Promotion is on the controls, setting an intense pace right from the start with an energetic roots and cultural selection, with Rootsy handling the MC duties. Mission accomplished: by the end of their set the room is on fire.
The Exodus Family, who will celebrate ten years of activity next year, take over. Their selection, which swings between foundation, rub a dub and new roots, struggles to convince, weighed down by some rather haphazard pull ups. No time to dwell on it: Mellow Vibes, the veteran of the local scene and dean of the night, steps up, accompanied on the mic by one of the organisers, Isiah Shaka (of Ruff and Kultcha), for the quality MC work he has a knack for. When Golden Touch Sound takes over the decks, it is for a very clean, energetic new-roots selection with (at last!) a few new tunes. In charge of the MC work, Stef treats us to a nice turn on the mic. Golden Touch has only been around for three years but is establishing itself as one of the most active sounds in the region.
Irieness-Inity Vibes goes in a completely different direction with one drop remixes of unreleased new-roots tracks, practically impossible to find. The crowd is in party mood; it is a pity, though, that one of their MCs put a slight damper on the performance, not really knowing his place, not to mention a few dubious remarks aimed at the female audience. Formed a year ago after the long individual careers of Isiah Shaka and Micky San, Ruff & Kultcha follow with a very well-animated new-roots set from Isiah Shaka.
The penultimate sound is none other than Parisian exile Fury Bass, just arrived in the region, who returns behind the decks for a foundation session in very good taste but not necessarily suited to the occasion, when the other sounds had moved on to more recent tracks, or to remixes from the back of the cupboard. With twelve years of activity behind it, Jah Works Promotion closes the night with a well-judged set, in keeping with the general standard of the evening, which testifies to the quality of the sound system scene in the Mediterranean city.
Report written by Nicolas Swartebroekx
Tags : Sound system (191)
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