10 Years of Wang

10 Years of Wang

17 November, 2009
by: Gina Louise

Okay, so you know that any party Wang throw is going to be pretty darned awesome, yet even the unadulterated hype about their 10th anniversary couldn't have done it justice. With a fail safe line up boasting Radioactive Man, Simian Mobile Disco and Squarepusher, they couldn't really go wrong. Unless, say, they started charging 20 pound on the door… Okay, so even that didn't put a dampner on things, and the hoards of smiling punters that greeted me when I arrived told me that money was not important here: it's all about the music.

Let's start with the basics. Tins are a reasonably priced £3, the cloak room is efficient, and there are plenty of portaloos (albeit toilet paper free). The sound system is bone-shatteringly immense, and makes everything vibrate so completely that whilst seated on the loo you have to hold on for fear of being shaken off. Even if you hadn't read where the secret location of the party was, you could probably follow your ears and end up in the right place.

When Wang claimed to be the 'defenders of the dance underground', they really weren't kidding, and have chosen to host their 10 year celebrations in the Union Car Park, a dark and dingy collection of arches. Perhaps not the best weather to be throwing a party in a waterlogged warehouse, yet never one to look prim and proper the setting suits me fine and I almost look respectable amongst the mud laden dance addicts that surround me. Managing to proudly avoid the puddles at the beginning of the night, it's not long before I give in to temptation and embrace some soggy puddle fun.

Deciding that 12 o'clock is perhaps a little too early to hit the hard techno, we decide to mooch about in the Room 3, home to Vibration Sound System for the night. The mood is relaxed and happy as the Soul Jazz DJs are playing some classic '70s reggae mixes. As a remix of '54 46 That's My Number' comes on, I can't help but wish that my Dad was here with me, this being the music he fed me on as a young musically eager pup. Okay…maybe nostalgia isn't the best feeling to be indulging in at a warehouse party, time to head to Room 1 and hit the heavy.

It is bizarre how much the mood shifts between the two rooms, and I am baffled how two feet and a measly curtain manage to keep the sound from carrying across arches. For the next two hours we flit between Electro Elvis and Simian Mobile Disco on the decks, not wanting to miss out on both great acts. Though the floor is crammed to capacity, we all seem to be moving in unison to the deafening bass, slowing as the beat is suspended, and dropping as the beat comes crashing back in.

After a seemingly short four hours it's finally the time we have all been waiting for. It is Squarepusher time. And never one to disappoint, Jenkinson delivers a punishing set of bass and rave tunes. Yet far from the brain grinding mess of sounds that I have come to associate him with, his set is sporadic, yet accessible. Maybe it's the crowd’s rhythmic unison, or the slowing strobing lights, but even his usual high tempo techno encrusted electro isn't reflected in his DJ choices, and he has slowed everything to a danceable pace. His mixing is smooth and flawless and the next hour seems like one continuous beat laden euphoria. This is what it has all been about: great music and great parties. Here's to the next 10 years of Wang.

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Gina Louise