VURBan Legends

Liberation


Publication title: Vue Weekly
Page: 27
Publication date: May 25, 2000
Document type: Article
Article author: Dave Johnston
Transcribed by: MW

To get rid of a ghost, you usually need to have an exorcism. Ground Zero has chosen to shed the lingering spirit of Rebar with a healthy dose of acid techno. This Saturday, the Whyte Ave club will welcome British DJ Chris Liberator back to Edmonton. Partner Aaron Liberator will follow up the attack on Friday, June 2.

The arrival of the Liberators comes in the middle of a small resurgence of acid techno on our scene. With local champion Tryptomene manning the decks downstairs at Therapy every Friday night, the heavy-tweaked thunder is slowly winning people over as they seek an alternative to the lofty sounds of trance and house.

The Liberators made their debut on the London scene over a decade ago, when raving was still an underground movement. At a time when club culture was heading further into the mainstream and mega clubs were cropping up across England, the Liberators plunged further toward the fringes. Armed with hard squelching beats, the followers of the London acid sound pack alternative venues on a weekly basis, dodging the law in the process. It's the sound of defiance, of people who would rather be dancing than trying to get through the long line-ups and hefty cover charges at mainstream clubs.

Chris Liberator is the highest-profile member of the bunch, with numerous releases under a number of pseudonyms for such labels as Stay Up Forever, Cluster (a Mark E.G. favourite), Prolekult and Smitten. He also maintains an intense touring schedule, playing around the world for most of the year. He was one of the first western DJs to work in the former Iron Curtain states, as well as spread his trademark sound around such places as the Pacific Rim and South America.

If you're curious, head down early and bring a few extra bucks—Ground Zero will have a special event cover price in effect on Saturday.


Can't stop the Rock

For people who favor, funky breaks, the Back Room will present San Francisco turntablist Swift Rock on Tuesday night as a guest of DJ Spilt Milk's Roots night. He will be spinning a set, as well as showcasing his mighty skills.

He started out as simply Brian Lucas, a kid with an appetite for battling. He took on the name Swift Rock and entered numerous competitions in the Bay Area, eventually hooking up with fellow DJs Relm and Streak. The trio began performing as SuperNatural Turntable Artists, or STA, juggling beats and stunning audiences with their elaborate and self-effacing sets.

On his own, Swift Rock has won considerable acclaim in competition, eventually taking first place at the 1998 Vestax World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. He has also made respectable gains in the DMC contests, nearly sweeping the West Coast title away from Invisibl Skratch Piklz/Beat Junkies member Shortkut in 1998.

He is currently finishing his first break record, aptly called The Nameless Break Project, while also instructing his younger brother Kid D on the finer points of turntablism.

Swift Rock's guest appearance on Tuesday night will also feature Spilt Milk and Calgary MC Nucleus.


Fish in a barrel

Despite the glowing reviews of Carnival II in the media, local harm reduction group RaveSafe sported a black eye after two of its members were arrested with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a narcotic and possession of the proceeds of crime, according to a report made public by the Edmonton Sun.

The incident has severely damaged the legitimacy of the group, which was formed a few months ago to address the issue of drug usage in the rave community. The mandate of RaveSafe, according to their official release, is to provide ravers with "accurate, honest and objective information about recreational drugs and their effects and risks, so that they may make informed and responsible decisions about their lives and their health." The group makes no claims for or against drug usage.

RaveSafe spokesperson Michael Peebles says the rest of the group is understandably alarmed about the situation, but stresses that appropriate measures will only be taken once certain details are clarified. "This is in no way reflective of the mission of RaveSafe, and will be dealt with accordingly," says Peebles.

He adds that the group has asked Fish to step aside from his position pending the criminal investigation. The group is also conducting an internal investigation. Nick Delgado of Nexus Tribe, the promoters of Carnival II, is "very disappointed" with RaveSafe, stating that the organizations will not be allowed to participate in any of his future events. “We have always had zero tolerance at our events, and we always will," he said. "We have to maintain that. No exceptions."

The arrest has not only tarnished RaveSafe; it has also affected Nexus Tribe and, ultimately, the scene. Such irresponsible behaviour by an important member of the community in the glare of the media casts a bad shadow over the entire rave scene. "We don't want to be associated with them anymore," said Delgado. “It's kind of unfortunate, but it's damaging for us because we were associated. It's like when a bad promoter throws a bad party—it hurts everyone."


 

Photo Caption: Chris Liberator