STRP Festival 2013

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  • Every year, Eindhoven's STRP has taken steps toward becoming one of Europe's best mid-sized festivals. Deftly offering both intimacy and heavy duty production, its recent editions have seen close to 40 artists appear across a three-day schedule, all in Eindhoven's renowned Klokgebouw, a building located in the centre of an industrial park that was once home to Philips, one of the country's main exports. This year's festival took on a new format, with all things dance floor-focused taking place over one night rather than the usual two. Modeselektor, DJ Shadow and SBTRKT sat at the top of the bill, while Boddika, Machinedrum and Eindhoven native Martyn dished out the more underground sounds. Around 20 acts performed over a ten-hour period in the two cavernous halls on Klokgebouw's ground floor. The venues were used brilliantly. Two dedicated spaces both had long bars off to the side with plenty of room to walk around at the back of the dance floor, while a third room—where most of the art installations were located—held plenty of seating and food options. Musically, just about every act delivered. Thanks to the festival's clever timetables, those on during the night's first half (Mala In Cuba, Lunice and Apparat among others) were greeted with primed and eager crowds. The programming meant that a distinct alternative to whoever was playing was always on offer. If, for example, Lunice's ravey hip-hop was a little too much for you, the melodic tones of Apparat's DJ set (which were ultimately a little flat compared with the former's boisterous stage antics) were just seconds away. Things gradually got heavier, with DJ Shadow offering up one of the night's two standout performances. At complete ease during what, at times, felt like a hip-hop concert more than a DJ set, the American carved his way through pop, dubstep and IDM to the delight of the several thousand screaming Dutch clubbers. Only Berlin duo Modeselektor (who were appearing at STRP for the third time) managed to regain this kind of energy, and in the process showed why they're one of electronic music's most-loved live acts. By the time morning came around, DJ sets from Boddika, Machinedrum and Hudson Mohawke had come and gone, each keeping the crowds interested despite the cavernous feeling both rooms sometimes created. This thoughtful appropriation of the space, together with an expertly curated programme and comfortable supply of amenities, made STRP 2013 a resounding success.
RA