- Last month, three years since they first started throwing parties in Barcelona, Monkey Bar launched their new record label with two parties—a two-room showcase at Berlin's Prince Charles on the Friday night and then a triumphant return to home turf on Sunday evening. That it was a school night may have dwindled the crowd a little, coupled with the fact that the locals were probably exhausted after a weekend with too many artists to choose from: Marcel Dettmann, Dinky, Blawan, Pariah, George Fitzgerald and Trevino amongst others.
It's a shame that more people weren't there to witness the launch of Monkey Bar's new label. Dario Damerini is one local artist pencilled in for a release, and he opened proceedings at the high-end Soho club with a long and winding set as the crowd filtered in. Matteo Chisari and Mario Resta's deep house project Hinode is another act due to appear on the label. Like Damerini, they shifted between harder techno and moody deep house, but with a pacing that felt both relentless and considered.
If Hinode were all about change, then Patrice Scott was all about consistency. His style is typical of the artists Monkey Bar books: he doesn't show off, he's intimate with the music and he thrive on soul and vision rather than thrills and extravagance. It wasn't a muscular set, just long threads of tracks unspooling from the turntables at a seductive pace. Most impressive was the lack of break downs, bass drops and other tricks. Instead, Scott maintained the pressure with careful blending, always keeping the kick drum steady and throbbing. By this time the crowd was small, but as usual at Monkey Bar events, they were dedicated.