Oscar’s, Dingwall, 21 October 2006

FC Kahuna

TWO YEARS of his Robotone project, two darkened rooms, two legendary DJs and a selection of local talent – Dingwall DJ Robbie Dunsmore certainly knows how to throw a party.

The sell out session at Oscar’s kicked into life as first Muir of Ord lad Chris Mackay then Perth DJ Woblban took to the decks in the smaller room. The dancing started early for beat purists, with thumping techno and hardcore.

Over in the bigger room, smoke, lights and black sheeted walls created the perfect hedonistic black box atmosphere. El Indio got the first few tentative dancers on the floor with his sumptuous and sophisticated mix of reggae, soul and Latino classics and rarities laced with funky beats.

Towards the end of this young DJ’s set, with Dingwall’s first sniff of Hip Hop in months, caution was thrown to the wind, with girls grooving around handbags, guys free-styling, attempts at break-dancing and some bloke who just hopped about like a rabbit.

The man of the night then stepped up. Recognising the sense of expectation, Robbie’s set started with moody lights and thick, basal beats but built to a futuristic, electronic crescendo. Glow sticks-a-go, everyone piled onto the floor to support one of dance’s most affable DJs and loved every second of his crazed rhythms.

Robbie passed the baton onto the much anticipated headliners, FC Kahuna. The Leeds-born duo are renowned for their intelligent, innovative acid house, having hosted fabled London club nights and released the dance classic ‘Machine Says Yes’ in 2002.

Chancing his luck via myspace, Robbie invited the pair up to join in the party and, with a new album mooted, a sense of adventure – or perhaps just ‘cos they’re sound guys – they obliged and racked up the pace in sleepy old Dingwall.

We might have been partying in a production line, with space age beats, bleeps and modified lyrics. The supercool DJs pumped out the sound with nonchalant flair and teasingly played little from their much loved debut album.

Until, that is, at the very end of their banging set. The seductive bass and synths and uplifting vibe of standout track ‘Glitterball’ closed the night on a high, with much dance floor devastation to show for it.

After such a wicked night, there were no doubt a fair few sore heads around Ross-shire the next day, but you get the feeling few would care, just happy to have experience another quality Robotone night.

© Susan Szymborski, 2006