The Hip Replacement

Due to financial constraints and gig activities, I didn't make it to Sonar this year, but I did have a look at the list of off-parties that accumulated online in the months and weeks leading up to the festival. Whatever about the line-up for the festival proper - which contained some interesting acts, especially Jeff Mills' attempted return to the rings of Saturn - the names that stood out were Dan Bell and Rob Hood. I have been a fan of both producers for a long time, but it was notable to me at least that they had been booked to perform as part of a series of events that is perceived to encapsulate contemporary electronic music. In this sphere, transience abounds, so the notion that two veterans - of the non-haircut and laptop variety of course - would have enjoyed such a visible presence.

On consideration though, it all makes perfect sense. While both have been as busy as ever for years, the resuscitation of Hood in particular this year has been impossible to ignore. Spurred on by an admittedly excellent mix for Fabric, his profile has shot up, with wall-to-wall interviews appearing with the normally reticent producer. There is no sense in this re-emergence that Hood or Bell are ‘getting their dues’, because both have received adulation before and have kept busy when the media chose to ignore them. However, it is tempting and not inconceivable to posit that the reason why they are in the spotlight now is because they represent, unwittingly of course, a groundswell of opinion that will hopefully turn into a backlash against poorly-produced, soulless electronic music; the homogeneity that comes from digital music buying; the lifestyle-driven, hipster mush that has been sold as techno and the consensus-driven coverage thereof. Hood and Bell have always made raw, peerless music, still spin with vinyl, emphasise quality over quantity in their releases – in stark contrast to the two releases a week net label-loving laptop warrior - and don’t give a damn about fads and trends. It makes me happy when I see a cheesy house DJ I know saying on a forum that his Sonar highlight was Rob Hood. Maybe he’s just sheepishly following trends – and was all over hamster’s fart-style mnml last year - but maybe, just maybe, people are finally sick of being bombarded with pap and, for once, the media has helped them to make the hip replacement.

Comments

[Kenny]

I think the fact that Hood has toned his style down a little bit is probably helping. The Fabric mix esp is less aggressive than what he is capable of.

It's still pretty silly that it is has taken this long for some people to actually realise that what they have been fed by the media in the last few years, all ze ping pong that is, is disposable tosh. Course some people think that dance music is more disposable than most music but the remergence of Hood as a major dj and producer completely rubbishes that theory.

[Daragh]

I caught the last hour of the rings of Saturn set, it was thoroughly excellent!

[Jonny7]

" especially Jeff Mills' attempted return to the rings of Saturn"

This sounds like you have some doubts about this show? A hint of Sarcasim maybe?

It was a great show, but you'll never know!

[Brophy]

This sounds like you have some doubts about this show? A hint of Sarcasim maybe? - no, not at all, just that it must have been difficult to recreate live, but by all accounts, it was a great show.

anyway, how are all the other jonnys 1-6? that's sarcasm.

bye bye

[Jonny7]

Jonny 5 is alive, its the rest of the fcukers who have settled into Dinner parties and Ryan Tubs on a Saturday night!