Origin NYE - 31 December 2009

Mon 4th Jan, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Since its inception two years ago, the Origin NYE festival has quickly blossomed from an underground drum and bass festival into one of Perth’s, if not Australia’s, premier new year’s eve festivals.

As the last rays of sun left the sky and a full moon rose over Bassendean’s Steel Blue Oval, thousands descended to farewell 2010. After crossing a welcoming line of friendly security, Steel Blue Oval itself was laid out in a punter friendly manner – easy access between stages, plenty of room, all areas licensed (read: no caged drinking areas) and large shipping crates carefully placed to ensure no spill-over of sound between stages. It was an easy to navigate layout, and raises the question why Big Day Out shouldn’t leave the rabbit warren of the Claremont Showgrounds to return to Steel Blue Oval in future years.

Immediately inside the gate on the Organic stage, which was designed to both look and sound like a giant boom box, UK’s Klute played a trademark set of his deep and complex drum and bass. Shortly after, Kito and Spectrasoul graced the same stage to a larger crowd, and delivered a melodic and uplifting sets of liquid funk and electro to those who stopped for drinks inside the gate.

On the main stage, UK hip-hop stalwarts Roots Manuva played a more upbeat set than expected, with a mix of both old and new tracks from their growing back catalogue. As the sunlight faded fast, the giant video projectors began to take full effect, and the swirling visuals were a stunning addition to the pounding beats. On the Shape stage, Aerotique and Thunderheist played their respective blends of breaks and electro to the small crowd who opted for chilled beats before the madness to come later in the evening, whilst on the Origin stage Ugly Duckling delivered smooth beats and rhymes in their unique downtempo style.

Dubsteppers Skream and Benga have grown a large and dedicated following in Perth, a testament to the size of the crowd that greeted their entry onto the main stage. Despite the down-tempo dubstep beats, their set ignited the main stage, with Benga taking to the microphone like a man possessed “When I say Benga, you say Skream!”. The highlight of their glitchy dubstep set was a dub remix of La Roux’s radio hit In For The Kill.

Having delivered less than impressive sets on their last few visits to Perth, the UK’s liquid drum & bass master LTJ Bukem and his trusty master of ceremonies Conrad returned to Perth with a few points to prove. And prove they did. Opening with a swirling atmospheric build, Bukem’s set traversed an impressive blend of liquid, jungle and mainstream drum & bass. Conrad was in fine form on the vocals, with his deep voice perfectly complementing the darker beats spun by Conrad.

Following Skream and Benga, Aussie hip hop act Bliss and Eso took to the main stage, with MCs Bliss and Esoterik plying their Aussie-ghetto rhymes. Tracks The Sea is Rising and Eye of the Storm were well received by the crowd, however after the precise UK stylings of Roots Manuva and Skream and Benga, Bliss and Eso sounded sloppy and pedestrian. Unfortunately, the highlight of their set was the crowd singing Happy Birthday to Eso.

Thankfully, as the last hour of the decade ticked over, Brazilian drum & bass legend DJ Marky took to the main stage decks to deliver the set of the evening. Marky’s high energy mixing style, accompanied by UK vocalist Stamina MC’s smooth rhythmic vocal delivery, drove the sweaty crowd to dance harder and faster. Set highlights were Marky’s remix of Michael Jackson’s Rock With You and Marky’s seminal LK, with the crowd roaring the “It’s the way!” refrain in perfect unison.

Without warning, the spinning records were suddenly rewound and the video projection screens cut to the countdown just in time for the final few seconds “5, 4, 3, 2, 1 … happy new year!” yelled Stamina MC, before cheekily turning to Marky and commenting “Give me a bit of warning next time, ok?”.

Behind the main stage, a massive fireworks display erupted, casting the madly-hugging crowd in varying shades of colour and light and Marky reloaded the decks “Any smokers hold up your lighters” yelled Stamina MC “And anyone with phones hold them up too”.

As the final notes of Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough faded out, the sweaty crowd crushed towards the barrier as Method Man (of ghetto rappers Wu-Tang Clan) and Redman (of Def Squad) took to the stage. “Yo Australia, make some noise out there!” yelled Method Man, and the heaving frenzy in front of the stage roared in response. Showing no signs of ageing, Method Man and Redman rampaged around the stage firing rhymes at the crowd in their aggressive style.

Burgeoning with tracks from Blackout and the recently released Blackout 2, the set was dark, bass heavy and peppered with samples of gunshots, perhaps eager to prove that their ghetto roots are indeed for real. After dropping A Yo and Tear It Off, the purple tracksuited Method Man flung himself into the crowd for an impromptu stage dive while yelling “Do you remember that shit? Do you remember that shit?”. Given the average age of the crowd, it was unlikely that many of the crowd were out of pre-school when the Wu-Tang clan were unleashed, but nonetheless the loud and beat heavy party-set was the perfect way to close proceedings on the main stage.

Closing the Origin stage, Ed Rush and Optical delivered relentless and heavy set of drum and bass classics and new dubplates, with local MC Xcessiv on vocal duties. Knowing the festival was drawing to a close, the crowd responded to Xcessiv’s calls for more energy, as they shook and writhed to the beats. The set highlight was Pendulum’s remix of The Prodigy’s Voodoo People.

As the sweaty, inebriated and slightly sore crowd slowly melted away towards Bassendean train station, smiles abound as everyone knew that the great venue, friendly vibes and blend of music styles made Origin the perfect way to see in the new decade.