Something is definitely going on with Prague music scene. There used to be times when finding an interesting party with a different sound was almost the highlight of the season. However during the last aprox. 2 years, new crews have showed up on the scene and suddenly there are several very decent options where to spend Fridays or Saturdays nights. These crews bring to the city fresh talents from abroad and what’s more important, talents who remain to be quite unknown to a larger audience yet. One of those small and hard-working crews is the duo of two friends, Mike.H and Nina who stand behind the MOSAIK parties. So far, this series of parties presented mostly, let’s say, bass-music producers and djs but for the latest edition, which recently happened at Neone club, they invited a bit of an unexpected artist — Samuel Kerridge. A combination of artist with such an unique musical manuscript and a venue with such a good soundsystem, it just calls forth the highest expectations.
It’s one of those freezing February nights and time shows almost midnight. The surrounding of Neone is occupied only by a few folks and I’m quickly running inside to hide from those uncomfortable temperatures. The small crowd on the dancefloor and around the bar slightly moves to the rthythms of first warm-up djs, at that moment Unclean. The selection of tracks appears to be more than good and works perfectly on the party mood of people around. The question is… will this dancing mood also stay for the main guest? The reason why I wonder about that is that Kerridge’s music is different. Of course, I mean that in a good way. His music has the ability to make people move even on strange and not all the time 4/4 rhythms and sounds… but will that be also a case of today? I’m curious.
About 1.30 a.m. Kerridge finally steps behind the table and equipped with a guitar he starts his brand new live set based on his newest work – LP titled Always Offended Never Ashamed. The first part of the performance is beatless and based just on modified noises, occasionally accompanied by his voice which he releases out through CB radio. Visuals are off, there is only one simple light focused on the man of the night and I can feel that crowd starts to be attached to the sounds. Kerridge slowly adds in some more parts of rawness and distortion, but at the same time there is this deep hypnotic “something” which makes you close your eyes and set your mind to all of this… When I peak to the crowd around me, it seems they feel it too. Good. The tempo gradually gets intense and evolves to something ecstatic which at the end for a moment reminds me of pure 90s jungle loop. Kerridge’s music is teasing us, playing with us and completely swallows up our minds… when the sounds of outro appears, I open my eyes and think: it was too short, I need more!
After this powerful experience I almost want to go home, however I stay for Elektrabel‘s live set yet. His performance is in comparison to Kerridge’s way more about dancing and it looks like that’s exactly what the crowd needs at the moment. For me, its a bit faster, I’m more satisfied with the selection of further DJ on the program — Slovakia Nina Pixel. This lady is quite a skilled DJ and mainly a very good selector. Although, it’s clear who has became my musical hero of the night. Even now, when I write these lines, I still feel the restless sounds and noises around me and got goosebumps. One of the best nights in Prague in a few years… Maybe it’s finally the beginning of something really unique in Prague… Thank you, Mosaik.
Btw. Samuel Kerridge has just released his newest piece Always Offended Never Ashamed on his imprint Contort Records. Check it out!
Image by Kate Coffee.
