Preview: Homoelectric with Todd Terje

We catch up with Homoelectric resident Will Tramp! for a chat about the forthcoming appearance by Todd Terje, Homoelectric's colourful past, and favourite disco chuggers.

Recently voted Manchester’s best alternative clubnight by Citylife (and with damn good reason), Homoelectric returns on February 3rd to the hedonistic maze of partying known as Legends. 

For those of you who’ve never visited, the club consists of three very distinctive main rooms and numerous bars, including one resembling a magical forest, as well as the ‘Mineshaft Bar’; a small facility in the basement that’s best described as ‘enigmatic’…

Appealing to an open minded and musically savvy crowd, Homoelectric covers disco, house, techno, weird pop and everything else invested in making its dedicated patrons get up and dance. Although a stone’s throw from Canal Street, ‘Homo’ as it’s often affectionately known, lacks the brazen commerciality or contrived airs and graces of other Canal Street venues, as well as affordable drinks, pleasant bouncers and that increasingly rare commodity; excellent music.

Whilst Homo’s residents are some of the most on-the-ball DJs in the North regardless, you can also expect a string of some of the most exciting and straight-up DJs in a sweaty and classic environment they often come to love. Over the years these have included the likes of discos from both Simian and Horse Meat, acid madness from legends like DJ Pierre, and broad ranging sets from the likes of Optimo and Erol Alkan, who last year lost several pounds of bodyweight over three hours behind the decks. Although, we wouldn’t go as far to advise Homoelectric as good for your health…

The HomoElectric Mixtape by jamiebull

February 3rd sees the debut Homoelectric appearance of Todd Terje. This still reasonably rosey cheeked master of both disco edits and originals has, along with peers such as Disjokke, Prins Thomas and Lindstrom, helped define Norway as a centre for funk. And groove. And jazz influences. And jackin’ house. Not to mention pop, and all the other telling influences this former physician quotes.

After making his name and playing world over off the back of 2004’s still classic ‘Eurodans’, Terje seemed to disappear in terms of releases, and whilst still blowing those in the know away with club and festival appearances, fans of his shockingly fresh releases began to wonder when new Terje material might be available to define a night on dancefloor. 

After a long wait, 2011 produced results with the unveiling of both ‘Ragysh’ & ‘Snooze 4 Love’; two masterful and joyous records from one EP, although it wasn’t infrequent to see both in numerous end of year lists. As the likes of Andrew Weatherall and Sasha continued to rinse both worldwide into winter, rumblings emerged of yet more Terje masterworks to come. A few even hand their hands on them…

The recently released ‘It’s The Arps’ EP, on his own new label Olsen, is notable for two reasons. Firstly, the whole endeavour was produced on Terje’s Arp 2600 synth, and secondly,  the lead track ‘Inspector Norse’ is a genre defying, unifying smash that would even cheer up Sir David Jason after a full series of ‘The Royal Bodyguard’. It nails, as Resident Advisor recently described it, “the elusive feeling of having a supremely, impossibly good time." Terje may have been away, but he’s certainly been doing his research.

We spoke to Manchester’s impossibly reliable disco connoisseur and Homoelectric resident Will Tramp!, about Terje, Homo and what he himself has planned for the night...

How would you describe Homoelectric to those who haven't been before?

When Homoelectric was born in the late 90’s, it was created for two principal reasons…

1. As an alternative to the city's stagnant and over commercialised gay scene and…

2. That the founders of the club wanted to play the music they loved to a crowd they loved. The fact that the crowds were mostly gay was coincidental and pretty irrelevant. It was an alternative to the village which was fast turning into a tourist destination with questionable clientele and and even more questionable music policies. To some extent this still rings true today.

Although the club has been through quite a lot of changes through the years, the agenda and ethos still ring true. Homoelectric is the black swan of the gay scene and all are welcome - whether you’re Homo, Hetero, Lesbo, Don’t Know or just a Disco Asbo. On a normal night you can expect three or more rooms of contrasting styles. The Tunnel plays host to House, techno and music of an electronic leaning. The main room - manned by Jamie Bull - is all things disco and its bastard offshoots, and last but not least, the piano room is hosted by the wonderful Trash O Rama DJs where anything and everything goes but retains an alt. pop sensibility. Guests are a regular occurrence in all three rooms. On a normal night you can expect to hear everything from throbbing basslines to camp classics, forgotten pop gems to the latest under the counter disco edits all expertly blended by the residents and guests.

What's your favourite Todd Terje record?

His newest track ‘Inspector Norse’ has been on repeat since I first heard it. Hell of a record. ‘Eurodans’ has been a staple in my DJ sets for six years now and shows no signs of being put to bed. Edits wise, I love the Paul Simon one he did a few years back. A dubby version of ‘Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes’.

Have you seen or played with Todd before?

 Yes I’ve seen him DJ a couple of times; once in Glasgow, and once at the Big Chill festival whilst I was down there playing. Unfortunately we were playing in separate tents so I didn’t get to meet him or warm up for him. Needless to say, he blew me away on both occasions. His DJ sets have a real sense of fun and he doesn’t take himself too seriously. This is clear by the tracks he chooses to edit.

Can you tell me about the recent addition of DJs from local night Content and what role they'll be playing?

They have been on our radar for a while. The calibre of guests they have had in one year of trading has been phenomenal. It's been like a who's who of seminal artists in the realm of house and techno. Anyone who has the balls and enthusiasm to do that is down with us. We know they are great DJs with a real passion for what they do so it was an easy choice for us to pick them. Manchester’s underground clubs seem to relish working together rather than competing, which I think is great. Looking forward to them experiencing the tunnel. Bring it on!

And lastly, as a man of good taste, what current disco chuggers will you likely be spinning before he takes to the decks?

Current top 5:

Dorsia - ‘Nightwalker’ (forthcoming on TRAMP! music)

Auto Jack Ensemble - ‘Not Everyone Understands’ (forthcoming on TRAMP! music)

Maxxi Soundsystem - ‘Never Stop’ (Needwant records)

Psychemagick - Ass Nation (Healin Feelin records)

Blondes - Water (Bicep Remix) (forthcoming on RVNG Intl)

Words: John Thorp

Catch Will Tramp! with Todd Terje, Content, Adam Ross, Jamie Bull and Trash O Rama at Homoelectric Manchester on Friday 3rd February. Advance discount tickets are £10 and available through Skiddle below. 

Tickets are no longer available for this event