Northwest Clubbing Highlights – February 2014

Despite being the shortest month of the year by a staggering two days, February is crammed full of quality jocks. In Liverpool: Objekt, Rahaan and Levon Vincent. In Manchester: Maurice Fulton, Mano Le Tough and Prosumer

Preview by Jake Hulyer | 04 Feb 2014

Now that all resolve to uphold those New Year's resolutions has well and truly waned, February is an ideal time to reacquaint yourself with the dark, sweaty rooms you may have been avoiding for the past month for reasons financial, health-related or otherwise. As you are no doubt aware, winter's far from over; but while you battle through the bitter wind and possible snow, there's a plethora of enticing bookings waiting to ward away the winter blues.

Kicking off the month in Manchester, on 1 Feb Stevie Wonderland have invited down the time-travelling intergalactic funk peddler Space Dimension Controller to showcase the cosmic boogie sound that he's cultivated on his records, most notably on last year's meticulous concept album for R&S. Alongside him on the bill is Maurice Fulton, whose new and old disco selections should mean that there will be no shortage of funk-laden basslines over the course of the night – a no-brainer for anyone after some guilt-free nostalgia (£8). On the same night, Liverpool's East Village Arts Club will be taken over by Circus, where the longstanding night will host Steve Lawler for a set most likely consisting of clacking, percussive tribal house (£20). The sixth birthday celebrations for mUmU will also be taking place in Liverpool, featuring Radio Slave among many others, with their usual no-nonsense approach guiding what will most certainly be rugged house and techno at a location TBA to ticket holders (1 Feb, £25).

The following Friday, The Warehouse Project and Trof have teamed up to bring (sort of) electronic supergroup Moderat to the grand setting of the newly restored Albert Hall. As the first of a series of late night events programmed by the two promoters there, the trio will be playing a live set. Their pop-inclined take on electronic music, executed so successfully on their record II last year, means that some hands-in-the-air, transcendental moments below the Albert Hall's gilded ceiling could well be in store (7 Feb, £18.50). Also on that Friday, Coded Rhythm at Joshua Brooks will be headlined by xxxy; his interesting takes on house and techno are informed by a taste for the euphoric, which promises a DJ set characterised by largely the same principles (£7). At Gorilla, Selective Hearing have bagged a double whammy of Berlin-based house DJs; Mano Le Tough and Prosumer will no doubt bring the goods for anyone after some emotive, intelligent dance music (7 Feb, £8). According to listings, Mano will be shooting across the M62 to play Abandon Silence at Liverpool’s Kazimier on the very same night (7 Feb), supported by Tom Trago and Leon Vynehall. It's sold out, like, but keep an eye on it.

Over at The Shipping Forecast, Hustle have lined up an evening featuring two less celebrated veterans of the house and disco scene: firstly, Rahaan, who, hailing from Chicago, is sure to drop a wealth of golden disco cuts that'll most likely be all the more welcome for their unfamiliarity; and secondly, the UK's own Terry Farley, who will be bringing the classic house and 808 acid squelch that he was a part of developing in the 80s (8 Feb, £8). For the next edition of fledgling Manc night Four20, Leeds' Jonny Cade will be taking to the booth at Joshua Brooks: expect tech-y and garage house from the young producer who has previously collaborated with Huxley. In support is Chésus, who produces jazz-inflected, 90s-esque house music, as well as putting out hip hop as part of Darkhouse Family – so he may well have a few curveballs up his sleeve on the night (8 Feb, £7).

If your idea of a romantic evening is rhythmically rubbing yourself up against lots of strangers in a small confined space to the soundtrack of dub techno, then you're in luck as LDMS are holding a Valentine's Special with Levon Vincent at Liverpool’s 40 Seel St (14 Feb, £7). With his atmospheric, lo-fi releases on his own Novel Sound imprint in perpetual high demand, and a recent pledge to finance a young producer's musical development revealing him as an all-round nice guy, what more reason do you need to get yourself to this night of blossoming techno romance?

Music Is Love over in Manchester also seems an appropriately titled choice for Valentine's, though their line-up, featuring Chez Damier, Marquis Hawkes and Point G, is certainly not for the faint-hearted. At the newly re-opened Sankeys, this one looks like the top pick for those looking to make a return to the Manchester institution after its expansion to Ibiza and New York (14 Feb, £15). On 19 Feb, Chow Down and Project 13 are coming together to bring DJ Rashad, man of the moment, to Manchester's Soup Kitchen. His Double Cup LP for Hyperdub at the tail end of last year is arguably the record that brought juke and footwork to the masses (well, maybe not the masses). Retaining the distinctive sound he helped develop, Rashad has managed to incorporate jungle and hip-hop influences to devastating effect. For £5, you really don't have any excuses for missing a man at the top of his game right now.

Elsewhere, 21 Feb sees the So Flute crew pull one of their biggest names to date, funk/soul selector supreme Floating Points. He’ll no doubt be treating the Roadhouse basement to an impressive haul of dusty relics from around the world (£10). Same night, meandyou. make up for lost time by finally bringing Ron Morelli back to Manchester after his unfortunate absence last August. The L.I.E.S. boss is sitting prettier than most going into 2014, at the very top of one of the hottest properties in dance music. Well worth a fiver.

For some more low signal manipulation, Objekt, a name you might recall for his sub-rattling Cactus released on Hessle Audio back in 2012, will be featuring in Liverpool for Less Effect at 24 Kitchen Street on 21 Feb (£7). His releases are extremely limited, but, like his online mixes, they feature all kinds of abrasive, weighty sounds. In support will be Rich Furness and Harry Sheehan, Liverpool natives with a number of appearances at Chibuku and Abandon Silence under their belts. Finally, Motion will be presiding over another evening at Fallout Factory on Friday 28 Feb (£8) – the guys bring in Faceless co-founder Barber, following on from the disco fuelled antics of their first birthday with Greg Wilson.

Ticket prices are advance unless otherwise specified; some events may be more on the door