Photo Credits: Jake Davis
fabric welcomed long-time collaborators Lee Burridge, Gorje Hewek and Izhevski, and Lost Desert from the iconic All Day I Dream record label for an exhilarating day rave, celebrating the nightclub embarking on a third decade of being recognized as one of the city’s nightlife hotspots.
Even though London was being taken over by a storm, fabric provided a safe haven from bellowing gusts of wind and torrential rain in its fortress-like venue. The crowd made a beeline to the lower room where all the sets were performed, giving an intimate and communal feel to the event. The PA system used made the mix noticeably bass-heavier, which is not one the main characteristics of the line up’s sound. Nevertheless, it did not take away from the full enjoyment of their mixes.
Russian duo Gorje Hewek and Izhevski opened the night with a beautifully progressive sound that at times ventured into deep house. Their dreamy synth layering created an ethereal atmosphere that was accompanied by soft piano chords. They closely hovered around the 120-bpm mark throughout, allowing the crowd to immerse itself effortlessly. An impressive addition was the diverse and natural sounding percussion in their session, which maintained an upbeat and fresh vibe. This was a storytelling one that focused on long periods of remarkable vocal and synth layers over simple yet groovy basslines that dictated the tone of the mix. An unforgettable highlight was their rendition of The Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition, which displayed a mesmerizing synergy of melody and rhythm.
The anticipation and excitement grew as the crowd saw Lee Burridge preparing to go to work, being greeted by an immense roar as he began his set. The All Day I Dream main man displayed his full array of skill and nuance as he guided the crowd through his intoxicatingly groovy mix, filled with uniquely luscious synth progressions and dreamy harmonies. Initially, he placed a heavier emphasis on vocal and instrumental leads to build a conceptually ethereal and dreamlike session. As the set wore on, he started to introduce the bass more and more, combining his distinctive sound with an old-school approach to house, focusing on resounding drums and bass. This set was defined by its incredible intricacy and subtle changes that made a big difference. He closed in spellbinding fashion, layering the haunting vocals from Zeca Veloso’s Todo Homem over typically progressive beats, which proved to be a perfect ending to a magical performance.
Belgium’s Lost Desert took over where Burridge left off, providing a progressive sound with simpler and more repetitive synth layering. However, what made him stand out were his blistering and electric basslines that kept the crowd moving until the end. He dropped DJ Koze’s Blume der Nacht, being the event’s closest foray into techno, which was greatly appreciated by the crowd due to its much rawer nature. Another highlight was Peter Horrevorts’ ‘Eitan Reiter – Smile’ remix, adding thumping bass with dazzling synth progressions.
To summarize, this line up thoroughly impressed with a comprehensive exploration of progressive and deep house that left the crowd in awe of a masterful display of storytelling mixing.
