- Close friends of the late pioneer pay homage in his hometown.
- When a community loses a pioneer, a period of mourning follows, especially when the person went well before their time. After that, there are two options: return to business as usual, or build something positive out of tragedy. Last weekend, at Manchester's Soup Kitchen, it was immediately clear that this edition of Polarity, which payed homage to the late Marcus Kaye, AKA Marcus Intalex, was about looking to brighter futures rather than lamenting the past. The night featured sets by those who knew the UK drum & bass don best, on what would have been his birthday weekend.
I arrived in time to catch the Metalheadz legend DJ Lee playing stripped-back, techy gems packed with subtle percussive details and forceful low-ends. The dance floor was already pouring with sweat and it wasn't even midnight. The atmosphere was familial, thanks to a cross-generational crowd of younger revellers drawn in by the on-point lineup and established local players and promoters, many of whom knew Kaye personally.
Disappointing as it was not to have Martyn there—he was forced to cancel due to flight issues—the music was excellent throughout. LSB's jazzy rollers, topped with MC Fox's lyrical prowess, took the crowd down a groovier, funkier route. Special Request served up stomping jungle. Doc Scott delved deeper into ravey bits, rounding off with "Temperance," one of Marcus Intalex's best.
Ultimately, though, the night was more than just a tribute. Spearheaded by friends Kaye left behind, the party donated all its proceeds to the new Marcus Intalex Music Foundation, which aims to establish a school for aspiring musicians and a focal point for Manchester's talent. Somewhere creativity can be shared, ideas nurtured and brought to fruition. Given the rude health of the city's dance music scene right now, it couldn't be happening at a better time.
"Marcus was always very forthcoming with people if they were interested in music and wanted to pursue that," Nick Sinna, promoter of Polarity and director of the foundation, told me. "He was always willing to help, so this is a continuation of that. We want to have something in Manchester that would act as a central hub, bring people together more and build something that will be great for the city overall." It's hard to imagine a more suitable homage to someone who worked so hard to bring fresh faces to the fore and, even now, remains a source of inspiration, both in his hometown and further afield.