Cup Weekend in Melbourne is usually your bland mix of your typical parties and boring DJs. So big ups to the Bass High sessions then for choosing Sunday 4th to host a performance by one of the main men in dubstep, DJ Pinch. Pinch hails from Bristol and runs his own night there, as well as releasing some of the heaviest dubstep cuts on his label Tectonic [which is home to Sydney’s Moving Ninja].
(DJ Pinch @ Laundry, Melbourne)
The Bass High sessions started at Laundry back in May this year and have held up a constant presence for dubstep in Melbourne. Benga performed there at the start of September and I was pretty impressed with the setup – nice sound system, decent decks and a good crowd. So I’ve gotta say – I was pretty excited about this one.
I arrived about 11pm and one of the local guys was warming up the crowd nicely with a mix of ragga and dubstep. People were cruising up from the street and from downstairs (d’n’b DJs)
Enter Pinch. I don’t think I saw one ‘official release’ label on a record throughout his whole set! Pinch built the vibe nicely – starting off with some lighter bass and exotic percussive pieces and building up to the heavier stuff. His skill in moving a dance floor is just amazing to watch. As a selector he knows just the right tunes to play – and not a rewind in sight! He kept it to mainly dubstep flavours with some tech here and there (I had warmed up by listening to his set on Mary Anne Hobbs’ show from earlier this year which was quite heavy on the tech vibe).
Check back here for an interview with Pinch about his new record Underwater Dancehall (just out on Tectonic) soon.
