re:cord presents KiNK (Live) review

Images: re:cord

Some people might say it's a risk having a experimental live act play on a Thursday for a debut club night. We can safely confirm it's a gamble that paid off, as party promoters re:cord's first shindig with the sonic sounds of KiNK was a roaring success.

At first glance, Amusement 13 doesn't look like your standard typical club venue for techno enthusiasts. It's hidden away in the heart of Birmingham's bustling gay quarter and the intimate confines of the joint mean only dedicated party heads make it through the door.

This rave den holds its own against the night time shenanigans that take place a few meters away in the heaving warehouses and established discotheques of Digbeth.

As we entered the venue it seemed like a promising night ahead, DJs Karrem Sandiland and Josh O' Mally were warming the decks up in Room 2, whilst Room 1 witnessed Okoko laying down some vibrant jams in the shape of Riva Starr's 'The Loft', a homage to the house tracks of yesteryear. Low Steppa's throbbing remix of Hardrive's anthemic 'Deep Inside' kept the crowd of merry students and 'up for it' rave fanatics going mad until the main event had arrived.

When the clock finally struck 1am, it was time to bring out the analogue whiz that is Strahil Velchev aka KiNK to you and me. Having built up an impressive live show, a globe trotting DJ carrier over the past few years and a mixture of heavy hitting productions to boot, this guy keeps going from strength to strength.

During his insanely energetic two hour live show, he didn't once let the party wind down. KiNK just kept letting the beats hit us, with the likes of his unique remix of Cajmere's classic cut 'Peculator', a play of feel good track 'Existence' and a mention of filthy favourite 'Fantasia'.

The punters hands were in the air as he ripped through pulsating beats, encouraging us to grab the stranger next to us for a big fat sweaty hug before we continued to dance the night away to the gyrating rhythms and melodic vibes into the early hours of the morning.

Other highlights of the mavericks ridiculous set included a bit of crowd interaction, as KiNK keenly handed over one of his sampling pads to an eager raver for him to get a piece of the action. The end of his set saw a mass sit down during the breakdown to one of his own bangers, a suitable rapturous send off from the brummie merrymakers.

The goodness carried on even after the enigmatic extraordinaire had left the building, with a blasting remix of Orbital's old skool anthem 'Chime' finishing off the nights wild proceedings which resonated with the raucous revellers.

With a host of top line ups in the next few weeks, that include eclectic Berliner Hunee (read our interview with him) and house honchos Detroit Swindle landing in the city, it turns out that Thursdays in Brum may well be the new Fridays for The Black Country's riotous ravers.  

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Tickets are no longer available for this event