[HKClubbing]

So, it's 21/6/08 and David Dunne is touching down at JJ's with a twisted bag of Kandi-land krackers. He's accompanied by the mighty Ian C. on Roland electronic drums and more traditional percussion. They've been playing about 20 minutes by the time I get inside. The place is rammed. Same old Hed Kandi visuals from the previous show. Volar has vibier visuals. There's some nice proggy bits going on underneath while mutant disco and New Romantic melodies are layered on top. The bass is twangy elastic at times and there are bouncy bubble beats here and there. On top is Ian's frenetic drumming. He's a veteran of many live gigs and has played on some of the top mixes. He and David are meshing very well. Sometimes, Ian forces the pace. Explodes into flurry-bursts of percussive action while David selects the next choice number. Other times Ian chills out. Leaves the stage on occasion while David lets the mixes play out. Some are played nearly straight for about 7-8 minutes. Others are layered into long segues. Even the vocals, which are the most Andy Norman part of his set, don't grate on me tonight.

The styles vary from deep tech salsa  at one point to disco snippets and Chembros style big beats. Some nice grungy noise, meets tinkly Italian house piano. There are freaky synth squalls, bursts of what sounds like Viv Stanshall's Bonzo's on bad acid. There's some technoir Scorsese movie music and some delightful displays of darting digidelix. Um, me likey. Hell, I think The Sixties would have loved the set. The Fillmore/Avalon/UFO/Round House trips updated, remixed and remastered in full on swirly sensurround. One ringing anthem chant of "Freedom: rings out over the syndrums while another tune "Rock the DJ", washes in and out of the mix. Jaw-dropping aural fun. David does the same trick later with a long tease using part of "Sweet Dreams" before playing the remix. There's echochords bouuncing round the room and other progtastic trickery. Back to soulful stuff with "Music is the Answer". His set seems to peak and alter about every 20 minutes or so. Much like Andy Warburton. I'm Having A Good Time Now.

All too soon, (about 3 hours), it's over, Tai Pan Dan is rounding down the night and it;s time to go. DD is on my list to see again. He's shown a lot of tricks and styles. He says that Lamma-based DJ Nipper taught him to mix and they hosted a radio show together. Nipper sends his regrds. Thanks Nick W. and Manek for turning me on. See you at the next one.

Review by Nick The Bookman