Wednesday once again brought with it the midweek interlude for Cape Town's growing base of Trance lovers. however, this particular wednesday held the tone of closure as it was the last time Fiction was to host Lab on its dancefloor.
Lab has been a stalwart of the weekly social calendar and has occupied a spot in the evening agendas of midweek trancers for years, and through numerous different venues. but why would it stop? maybe there was a way to make Lab a bit more seasonal- to get the hoards of people who grace our shores in the sumertime? and it was not until a shared a few words with event organiser and DJ, Dean Fuel, that it all started to make sense.
Lab's closing plans didn't appeal to my growing economis intuitions, and it was purely for that fact that LAB was so great. LAB was not a weekly event looking to harness drabs of seasonal tourists, but rather an escape for those true to their trance. it offers the chance to get out and have a 'stomp', even when the nights are cold and miserable, and the outdoor trance scene hibernates. LAB truely is for its people, and not the conceptualisation of potential economic profits from a rapidly growing trance community. to the LAB crew... thanks for staying true to the mission.
But why go then? Dean was quick to assure me that this was not the end of LAB, but rather the opening and closing of another chapter in its marvelous story as had been the case with its passing from Opium to Fiction before. the establishment has changed, but the spirit never will... and that's why we love LAB. it was at this point that Dean eluded to there being a 'Rhino in the Room'... but with my attention now turned to the mesmerising bass resonating from the dancefloor, and an inability to multi-task, i had to halt the chat for the reason we were all there... Banging Trance!
the night was Alive with wonderful spin artists putting together their best works to celebrate LAB. Broken Toy threw down the standard early, masterminding a set ,LIVE i might add, that put the benchmark out there for the rest to follow. but it was not a competition to be best, we were all there in celebration, and that was felt from the unison of bouncing boddies engulfed by every breaking beat. Headroom followed on and kept it cooking. his closing track, titled 'it will never end', is the sort of madness that has people institutionalised in straigh jackets.... sheer mayhem. FUEL closed it down with another display that has to surely snub anyone who wishes to critisise an artist who has been so prevalent in the Cape Town music scene over the last few years. from his electro and funky house base he has now been able to extend his repertoire to the those of minimal and trance. a more versatile DJ is hard to find.
the night was amazing. full of praise and fun times for all who attended in a mass of celebration. Long live the LAB. until we meet again... wednesdays will be lonely.
Thanks Dean & Sam (in no specific order) and all the rest who have made LAB such a success over the years.
