Review: Meganite @ Sankeys, Manchester

Date: 4th June 2010

Reviewed by: Tim Cook

Meganite. The name suggests it all really. Tonight is showcasing the best in Techno with Christian Smith, Mauro Picotto and Adam Beyer. On top of this we also have the pleasure of listening to the lads from the successful night, Colour.

To kick things off Christian Smith plays the hottest, funkiest tech house and house. An extremely groovy mix caught my ears and the songs – though completely unknown - made me shake my fist in some form of bizarre and unnatural way.

We then proceeded upstairs to Spektrum, to check out a couple of the Colour guys’ set. Phil Denton was extremely notable, playing extremely heavy techno reminiscent of early Liebing, Beyer and Speedy Jay. Absolutely pounding mixing was the name of the game up here.

Mauro Picotto, ultimately known for Lizard (in the same way Zombie Nation is known for ‘that song’), played a set I was not expecting. Once a pioneer of the Trance-Tech crossover that hit the late 90’s, tonight he played an incredible set of groovy tech house. From what I remember he didn’t play Lizard, I may be wrong though. Even though Meganite is Picotto’s idea, I didn’t find him as entertaining as some of the other DJs to have graced Sankeys in the last few months. However, the hundreds of other people dancing and throwing their arms wildly in the air may have something different to say.

Adam Beyer, arguably one of the best DJs, not just in Techno, played an absolute blinder. Many of tonight’s attendees were here for Beyer, since he had to cancel last time due to volcanoes and aeroplanes not mixing. It was well worth the wait. I have literally no idea what he played, but it sounded distinctly Beyer. The driving bass combined with the heavy percussion made it a Swedish Techno night all of a sudden. The Tech-House of the past two DJs disappeared completely and was replaced with uncompromising groove. From front to back, people were dancing and rocking out in the way that only Beyer does best.

And who could follow someone as renowned and praised as Beyer? Someone from the absolute underground -Colour’s Ed Mackie. Without a doubt, a DJ that keeps getting better every time. Tonight he fitted the bill with a much more early techno set featuring the likes of Green Velvet and co. The last few zombies were still shouting for more when he had to say enough is enough.

Blinder of a night.

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