words and photos by Dakota Fine
…
So granted, I’m not one to spring for a techno party. Minimalist house music sounds to an unsophisticated ear a lot like bloops and thumps set to futuristic space sounds. That being said, there is a lot of energy to it, and when the beat gets pumping, the fists start flying (a la Pauly D), or in the case of candy ravers (and there were a few on Friday night) the wrists start swirling.
The mnmlife crew out of Washington DC hosts resident party Clinic once a month at The Muse in Chinatown. For those who are fluent in the world of minimalist techno house, I know of no other monthly party offerings inside the District. This past Friday being the one year anniversary of Clinic, the team behind the techno dream flew in world renowned Berliner Philipp Jung of electrohouse group M.A.N.D.Y. fame. Apparently, they’re a big deal.
A former BYT intern (from Berlin) was pretty shocked when I told her the dance floor on the first level at The Muse probably held about 200 people. She was I suppose expecting thousands to turn out to a dingy warehouse rave, and although I had to console her vis a vis the fact that techno and raves just aren’t what they used to be in Washington 20 years ago, crowds did show up for Philipp, and luckily for our former intern, (due to the relative intimacy of The Muse) I’m pretty sure she got an interview (and then some?).
Anyways, Clinic is the place to go for monthly techno parties in DC. Write it down, go to their myspace, check the PHOTOS. I mean, that’s what you should be here for really anyways.
this party was a frickin blast!
January 25, 2010 at 1:34 pmthis was a lot of fun – but the afterhours was much better.
and i wouldn’t really call the music at this party minimal, at least not what i heard being played there.
the former intern did (make it to the DJ pulpit). And then immidiately lost the power of speech, struck by the greatness of the moment. If you ever been wondering what happens if you biggest fan-dreams come true, you have the answer. You watch your idol talk to you, but can only snap like a fish as an answer with no sound coming out.
January 25, 2010 at 2:26 pmyes, but Wlada… can you still make out? i think that’s the question really…
January 25, 2010 at 2:30 pmMinimal? Techno? House? Only monthly party? “Apparently they’re a big deal”, “techno and raves just aren’t what they used to be in Washington 20 years ago”
Just post the pictures and skip the text next time.
January 25, 2010 at 2:31 pmis that what you do every time you lack words?
January 25, 2010 at 3:12 pmSometimes. Or perhaps something like, to use this event….
I’m not really a fan of the music but this party had lots of people, everyone was dancing up a storm, and people seemed to be having a great time. If you’re into the DC {techno, house, minimal, whatever you call it} scene check it out. Here are my pictures from the night.
…would have been much better. The text is factually incorrect and is condescending imho.
January 25, 2010 at 4:23 pmParty was a f*cking blast. I danced my ass off.
January 25, 2010 at 5:42 pmTorrey, my thoughts exactly. At least do techno/house music fans the respect of learning a bit about their music if you’re going to write about it. The producers of this type of music are geniuses and any article needs some fact-checking.
January 25, 2010 at 6:07 pmcarp, wish I coulda made it out to this.
minimalist isn’t usually my scene either, but M.A.N.D.Y.’s sets (that I’ve heard), tend to be a little funky and occasionally very weird (in a good way)
doesnt look like the Booka Shade half of M.A.N.D.Y. was there, tho (?) that sucks.
January 25, 2010 at 6:18 pmMANDY is as much minimal as the Jonas Brothers are a blues power trio. Let’s get some things straight here peeps. :)
MANDY and Booka Shade are two different groups though they are both on Get Physical. I used to get them confused too. It’s the hair.
January 25, 2010 at 6:41 pmgot ye. i have 2 bootlegs whose id tags include all 4 guys (mandy + bs) so I guess that threw me off.
btw, of the dj sets ive heard by mandy (i.e. when they spin other material not their own; fabric 38, for instance), there’s been plenty of minimalist. i guess the distinguishing factor is that tracks BY mandy, their original pieces, are very club/dance friendly.
January 25, 2010 at 6:59 pmLogan you’re probably thinking of the Body Language, and remix, and Donut releases.
At some point you get into a silly/semantic argument around different styles of music but I’d say the fabric mix is more techno than some of their own stuff which is more tech house. Ricardo Villalobos is probably the best example of Minimal….at least to me.
January 25, 2010 at 8:01 pmWant to thank everyone who came out for this! Great photos as always Dakota!
Hope to see everyone out for our next events:
2/05 – Heartthrob + Konrad Black @ Muse
2/11 – Damian Lazarus + Jamie Jones @ Aqua
it was a good crowd and vibe. .. and i smelled people rockin vicks vaporub!?!?! bringing it back old school.. funny.
January 25, 2010 at 1:32 pm