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As far and wide as the techno spectrum and its numerous offshoots have conquered the world, reassuring constants have continued to make sure the genre still spurns consistency. Very few remain as consistent as Dave Clarke.

In the continued cross-pollination of electronic music across a multitude of genres, Dave Clarke’s uncompromising take on techno has won him plaudits and made him a reliable choice for those who like their beats a little ‘harder’.

Headlining at Timbuk2 for Das Ist - newcomers to the Bristol techno scene - this represented a bold booking, not least for the weighty door and ticket price, but also because it’s safe to say that historically, Bristol hasn’t been a hotbed for hard-edged techno. But tastes change and the city’s demographic now offers a much more rounded spectrum of weekend electronic delicacies.

For his two hour set, Clarke set things off at a relatively pedestrian pace, even introducing a few soulful vocals, but this lasts all of 15 minutes before the trademark kick-drums and frenetic chops and build-ups give way to surging, pulsing beats and techno sounds in their traditional form. Forging the fullest possible noise from the excellent Timbuk2 sound system, the atmosphere is hyped from the off.

Huge name DJs in relatively intimate venues are amazing when it comes off and a disaster when it doesn't. It can often prove be dynamite, and the noise levels in Timbuk2 have a lot to do with the electric atmosphere. Too often club speakers fail to cope with less complex sounds, let alone the abrasive punch of Clarke’s trademark onslaught.

Nicknamed the 'Baron of Techno' by John Peel, Clarke’s reputation for no-nonsense has made him an icon of British dance music. Standing expressionless behind the decks and with a towel draped around his neck, his demenaour is one of a fighter, which definitely suits the music Clarke presents to a tee.

Post-Clarke sounds came in the form of Bristol based Damien Schneider, whose stock continues to rise with a set drawing heavily on the progressive side of techno, perhaps a necessary move after the hard dramatics of Clarke.

After booking the likes of Marcel Dettmann and Alex Smoke for previous events, the bar has been set very high for future Das Ist parties. The intimate nature of Timbuk2 certainly suited the hectic music on display tonight, and the production in the club was a credit to those involved. Das Ist could be a continued winner for Bristol's techno loving crowd.


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http://www.daveclarke.com/

http://www.tb2.co.uk/

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