MANTRA COLLECTIVE WAREHOUSE 002: IN REVIEW
- Charlie Kang
- Aug 29, 2014
- 3 min read
Charlie Kang gives the lowdown on Mantra Collective's second warehouse party in Sydney. Mantra Collective performed in front of a sell out crowd last Saturday night in Sydney’s industrial heartland. Mantra Collective Warehouse No.2 was the perfect remedy for those underground house lovers who weren’t deterred by the wet, cold winter to venture off into the night. The warehouse location was released only hours before the event, excitement growing evermore by the mystery of it all.
Comprising of Sydney based DJs SpaceJunk, AboutJack, WhiteCat and Antoine Vice, the night showcased each of their individual talents while coming together to bring one unified experience, like having your favourite Messina ice-cream flavours meshed into a single cone.
The warehouse interior was filled with Chinese lanterns, dream catchers, the trademark Aztec-esque Mantra Collective banner just above the main stage, and a simple wooden bench supported by two oil drums. Classic.
Kicking off with a quick warm-up set from the Collective, supporting German acts Gerrit and Geisy and SubFM’s Casting Out soon took over the scene, laying a strong foundation for the massive night ahead.
As the clock ticked past midnight and into the morning, the first of the main acts begun. SpaceJunk’s highly elevating intro could be only described as a galactic entrance; the piercing lasers and baseline beats letting us humans know he had arrived for the sole purpose of taking the night to the next level. His inclusion of Sidney Charle’s single ‘Hurricane’ towards the end of his set had the blood pumping with its tribal drum line, fiery vocals and gritty organ stabs.
“Respect the Vibe” posters were displayed throughout the venue; people seemed to be more relaxed and open than your usual established venue, creating a house party warmth with festival level sound quality. “It’s all about the people,” one replied after being asked what makes a good warehouse party. Some glammed up while others wore casual clothing, but all came to get down to good house music. The BYO alcohol was a sure incentive also.
The beauty of Mantra Collective is that as one finishes their set, another pops up to bring a new burst of energy into their music. This channeled through to the audience as the whole place became rejuvenated with their well sequenced and tightly mixed sessions.
Like passing on the flames of the Olympic torch to the next runner, Antoine Vice was given the reigns and he didn’t disappoint. Beesmunt Soundsystem’s ‘How I Wish’ was a standout moment of his set with its echoing vocals and defining piano line. When asked how he defines the music of the Mantra Collective, Antoine replied, “Everyone brings their own flavour, but we also have our own collective flavor,” considering Mantra as a crew who create a “journey” through their music.
At 2am Whitecat and AboutJack were well into their back-to-back set. Whitecat spun ‘Whole Life’ by OXIA, the minimal trance number creating suspense and teasing the crowd constantly but never letting the euphoria completely loose. He wanted us to know there was plenty more to come and he’d get us through the night. Tit for tat, AboutJack hit back with ‘A is for Acid’ by Anonym, taking us to another reality; the deep, driving acid mix melted the crowd down to rave satisfaction.
Once the pair wrapped up their set it was a Mantra Collective free-for-all. SpaceJunk must of called first dibs and the circle began once more. Like the name suggests, tonight they conquered the hearts of fans that came to see them, the individual talents collaborating together to create a mantra, a voice to represent them. The Sydney collective strived to create something different from the usual club night and they did just that with their second warehouse party, delivering a collaboration of well selected and well timed song choices to create a musical oasis in an industrial desert. Until next time. CK.
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