Romania is still a country still largely in the early days of clubbing, where a raw energy and a real hunger for escapism feed a slow burning youth rebellion against the old establishment and ancient prejudices. As Romania is my birthplace, I get around this far side of Europe quite often.
I was born in Bacau, Romania some time ago. I left this town almost a decade ago, even before realizing that I will forever be in love with music…London took care of that chapter.For you out there, just to explain Bacau is one of the Romanian cities of about 100k inhabitants purposely created by the communist government around only one type of industry; as they did with everything! After the communism fell, it became a town forever defined by mass unemployment and derelict industrial scenery. I’d always feel that it had just the right ingredients for nurturing a healthy techno scene; which in the end it actually did.
Bacau is the place where the now infamous Romanian technotrotters Rhadoo, Petre Inspirescu & Raresh started playing in their young days, when they weren’t even called [ar:pi:ar], and they were probably just preparing for their GSCE’s. Couple of years late here they are, now filling up 2,000 people capacity warehouses in London, Berlin or South America.
Everything started at Zebra Club. Situated in the city's culture and arts house, Zebra is Bacau's clubbing institution, if there is one here.
I remember sneaking to my first club event here when I was barely 15, falling head over heels in love with loud pumping music and the clubbing vibe. Probably the girls in there had also something to do with this.
So every time I get to come back to my roots for a couple of days I make it my top priority to get down at Zebra and see what’s on offer at the weekend. So the weekend just passed I did it again. Headlining were Livio & Roby and Rhadoo, two of Romania’s most valuable techno exports. Warming up were Cezar and Zotist, both names that play alongside the [ar:pi:ar] crew on a regular basis.
The night started slowly and by 3 AM people were still coming in, moving about, getting their drinks and hugging their hugs. The music went from the slower, more laidback grooves of Cezar around 11.00 up to a more progy and techy sound from Livio & Roby. Quite a few pleasure shouts and hands in the air all throughout! Just as we were getting closer to 4.30 the vibe suddenly got deep, spacious and thumping: The real, strong techno sound of Rhadoo. Suddenly it seemed that everyone had found their place and pace. Peak time felt purely amazing, people hungry for good music, showing nothing but love; everything else unimportant, second to the music.
The crowd kept going on and on until the sun was well up in the pure blue skies outside. If there’s one thing I love about the Romanian scene is having these kind of moments, moments which in my opinion really define clubbing. Not the big names on the line-up, not the topless dj, not on what gear you’re spinning your tunes, but all about the music.
Sometimes I look at the major mess this country is still in after more than 20 years of economic and social turmoil and ask myself if somehow, through a strange and ironic twist of history, Romania could recreate some of Britain’s early rave days madness right here, right now?
Serge for Codekontrol
No comments:
Post a Comment