Concorde 2, 6th November 2009
According to Wikipedia, the term ‘delirium’ regards ‘an acute and debilitating decline in attention-focus, perception, and cognition that produces an altered form of semi-consciousness.’ With this in mind, entering the Concorde 2 was like enrolling onto a life-threatening medical experiment; signing a patient consent form agreeing to the investigation of trance treatment from one of the UK’s most acclaimed disc jockeys. But a prescription of an antidote to counteract the foreseen pandemic of persistent penetrating beats, and freakish synthesized frequencies was looking very doubtful. I was helplessly in the hands of Dave Pearce.
Meandering to the dance floor, I was indulged with a flock of fluorescent-painted party goers, already raising their hands and illuminating their full compliance to join Pearce on his high-octane raving voyage. In a swift transition from Adam White and Tristen D, whose mix of epic euphoric tunes helped emanate an abundance of endorphins, Pearce made his presence welcome with a ferocious mix of Calvin Harris’ “I’m Not Alone”. A senior spieler and grandmaster of dance floor anthems, Pearce continued to portray dauntless mixing and blending of popular song, whilst creating his own recipe of hallucinogenic trance. Huge chunks of relentless bass were spat out from the colossal subs, hitting the faces of the crowd like a boxer willingly knocking their opponent down.
Further encased in a bedlam of voltaic sounds and lasers, the surreal titillation of summer suddenly overwhelmed me. Goose bumps emerged as the audience emphatically responded to the musical essences of ‘Eden’ in Ibiza and ‘Rescue’ in Zante (where Pearce has also stamped his mark); further emblematized when the promo-girl dancers appeared on stage. More noticeable was Pearce’s power to engage with the crowd through his tunes, conducting their moves and emotions with varying tempo’s and crescendos.
Spectating this powerful display of a forever growing musical form, I could sympathize with many who preach that ‘Delirium’ truly represents what clubbing is all about. On the other hand, I would suggest to those ready to embark on this raving crusade to beware. Dave Pearce is not for the faint hearted.
Words by Laurence Woollard
myspace.com/davepearcedj
