Aphex Twin The House Party

[Soloman Tump]

In an unprecedented live television event, Channel 4 is to hand over creative control to six world-class DJs, including Grandmaster Flash, A Trak, Erick Morillo, Soul II Soul, Horse Meat Disco and Annie Mac with Charlie Sloth acting as Master of Ceremonies. Additionally, on the same night, Idris Elba returns to count down the defining moments of the greatest cultural phenomenon of our generation in a two-hour film, ‘How Clubbing Changed the World’.

In the past, DJs have taken over warehouses, fields, car-parks and derelict office blocks. This summer, for the first time ever, DJs take control of a national broadcaster to bring the country together with a six-hour ‘House Party’.

With no advert breaks, no commentary and no interruptions, this all night takeover will see a line-up of top international DJs play live to the nation with live and unplanned DJ sets in a clubbing experience like no other - this is not a programme about clubbing; this is the club. Channel 4 will turn the television into the ultimate DJ booth with the party blasting through the TV, phone and laptop screens, without the mediation of a presenter or studio audience, to transform living rooms, bedroom and bars across the nation into dance floors.

Commissioned by Arts Commissioner Tabitha Jackson, and part of the London 2012 Festival, this six-hour live event is a visually exciting, experimental and interactive night of music, highlighting the importance of innovation in Arts on Channel 4. ‘House Party’ aims to push the boundaries of conventional programming and offer audiences a totally new party experience.

Jackson said: “There are four things about this all-nighter that excite me. Firstly, almost every element is uncharted territory: from the visual artists having to transform our screens by responding live to the DJs; to the scale of the real time on-screen and online interactivity; to the DJs having to reach directly into our living rooms rather than playing to a venue. If we can pull it off, we will have created a pretty unique experience.”

“Secondly, great DJing is about much more than just hitting play and standing there with your hands in the air. We are about to get up-close and personal with some of the world best exponents of the real art of turntablism.”

“2012 is also the perfect summer for this television event, the weather has been rubbish and money is tight. There’s never been a better time for us to throw the ultimate house-party bring an awesome line up of talent directly into your living room for free. All you have to worry about is making sure you have enough friends and big speakers.”

“Perhaps the most radically innovative element of the night is that, in direct contrast to the new on-demand TV landscape, ‘House Party’ is a genuine one off. It will not be repeated and it will not be available on 4oD. Like all the best club nights and parties if you want to be there you do have to actually turn up. Don’t miss the ‘House Party’…”

The DJs – many of whom are stadium fillers and festival favourites in their own right – will leave their meticulously prepared ‘main-stage’ sets at home to go back to their DJ roots. Reflecting the many facets of clubbing, the final line-up is the legendary Grandmaster Flash, a founding father of the New York rap scene, internationally renowned club and radio DJ Annie Mac, head honcho of Fools Gold A Trak, the Grammy winning and million selling Soul II Soul, world renowned artist and producer Erick Morillo, stalwarts of the London scene Horse Meat Disco and UK rap king Charlie Sloth as Master of Ceremonies.

In addition to the top DJ talent on offer, a selection of the nation’s most exciting cutting edge VJs, computer animators and graphic artists will provide constant visual accompaniment, playing sets every bit as live and spontaneous as the DJs’ musical selections.

The VJs include Weirdcore - who has previously made live tour visuals for Aphex Twin, MIA, Ford & Lopatin and The Horrors, Ninjatune’s Hexstatic who will be performing separately on the night, BlinkinLAB (who has worked with Pet Shop Boys, Chase and Status, Janet Jackson), Asyzk and Jack Featherstone.

Alongside the DJs and VJs, the booth will also include a brand new third element of the clubbing experience: Social Media Controllers, who will provide a live and super-reactive link between the audience and the booth. Just like at any other nightclub or house party, people on the dance floor in their homes around the UK will be able to shout out their requests, chat to each other, salute a genius selection (or boo a dud) through the many social media sites hooked up to the booth online and via the ‘House Party’ website.

 

 

 

Some of the music may end up being a bit dubious, but if you have nothing better to do on Friday night this may be worth watching. Weirdcore and Hexstatic on visuals may be the best bit! More info here,not sure if it is streaming live so you may have to be UK resident to watch it live.

 

Starts at Midnight Friday night into Saturday morning....

[Caretstik]

I'm at a wedding that day, hope I'm not too pissed when I get home and miss it.