Going Through the Change

Edinburgh has seen the comings and goings of many great techno clubs: Pure, Sativa, Purple Moon, Pillbox, Camel Beats, and Dogma to name a few; each generation of clubbers being inspired by the one proceeding to fill the void left behind. Some remain slumbering like Kraken, occasionally awaking from time to time to perform four-hour aural assaults. JakN and Synthetic have emerged in the last few years, bringing a younger viewpoint with them, unhardened to the business pressures and trying to improve on the templates begun several years before. JaKN is the older of the two, and they recently bade farewell to the closing Venue where they have been running the club for over two years.

Fuk-Nut (F-N), aka Milkovich, has said that he "will play anywhere for a can o' coke and bus fares", and that's some bargain for promoters. He formed the club with fellow DJ, Sekonz and Jellybaby in 2003 to make a successful habit of showcasing new and local talent playing the harder side of techno. Many a 'bangin' mate' was bandied about at the nights, where, among others, Dean Rodell, Jeff Amadeus, Morph, and Morphos took to the stage. F-N says that they have already formed a plan to get back into the clubs on a new turf: "We need to find a suitable 'professional venue then proceed to pound Edinburgh with our sounds. This may take some time due to the venues we want being contracted out for the year. In the meantime you'll find us outside scaring cows with dirty noise!"

Before JakN there was Diverse Frequencies, a coalition of decks, DJs, and free party syndrome playing out techno and breaks to whoever happened to be standing in the field. When they first started out they were holding one party a month in various secret locations, decreasing as the needs of the club took over. Despite all that partying, F-N has retained some memories of the best bits of JakN through his direct participation: "I wouldn't class myself as a 'promoter' but more a punter that helps put on parties and nights; you'll find me moshing it with the rest of them and not standing on the sidelines like most who promote nights! And of course our last night at the Venue is something I will never forget. The respect shown was second to none and all shown to a couple o' teuchter fannies from the East who never dreamed it would go this far. Totally amazing!"

In the meantime keep a look out for Dirkatron and Milkovilch among the listings, the alter-egos of Sekonz and Fuk-Nut ("Believe it or not I do have a fluffier side, ha ha, and if others want to book me for say a warm-up/breaks set I would rather this went under Milkovic.").


Synthetic is a relatively new club to Edinburgh, and has been running at the Wee Red Vodka Bar since August. In this short time they have already bagged Jerome Hill as a guest, a bit of a Dogma favourite and a guaranteed crowd puller. Richard Banks aka The Physicist is both promoter and resident DJ of Synthetic, and says booking Jermoe is part of their plan to move to a Friday night at the Bongo Club, enabling the chance for even bigger guests and a bigger crowd ("For now it's local talent. However, if we ever get moving we have some stonkin' guest ideas!").

Of course their style hinges on techno, but also seeps out to electro and breaks: "We are no stranger to dropping tunes like Shaft, and Baggy Trousers (Madness) to try and keep it fresh. In the past few months though, we have delved into the harder side of techno, mostly hardtek, however they're one-offs."

The club's mantra is 'Become a number for us', backed by their barcode logo that can often be seen stamped across the hands of punters sneaking out for a quick smoke. Banks says that this is to summon 'Matrix' imagery and lend a sci-fi slant to the evenings. When he first started clubbing he quickly became a firm fan of Dogma and U.T.I, introducing him to techno and electro and a lesson in those little extras that help make the night, like U.T.I.'s visuals and stage props. JakN also had a hand in changing his perceptions of music and the techniques used to create a good set. What can we expect from a Synthetic night then, with all these influences in mind? "A really relaxed atmosphere, nice people, good mixed 'tunage', decent sound, 'munters', lights and a dig at the Banksmeister!", he enthuses. Banks makes no mention of his fetchin' 'fro, which is a draw in itself, but you must believe us that it is magnificent, and it promises to stick around until the summer gets too hot.

And alas dear readers, as this article was being written another night, Up:Start (purveyors of euro-mullets, hard-tek, ragga-tek and the crustiest clientele around), decided to slow things down a bit and slope into hibernation. Edinburgh's techno soirees are decreasing in… ones, but enough to make a difference. What is left for Edinburgh? Split, Synthetic, Jackhammer, Club Michigan, Eruptor and Access, which has been revived for a one-off (see our preview this issue) – there was a time when you would never struggle find a techno night among the listings, but the clubs have been pushed to the margins again and partially back into the underground through venue losses (Honeycomb, The Venue, and of course La Belle Angele) and inadequate funding. We have come full circle, to when crowds were small and venues were smaller. License restrictions and encroaching delicatessens/housing have changed the direction of clubbing in Edinburgh, and suddenly the 40 minute train ride to Glasgow has turned into the gateway to a clubbing haven. All those resident DJs wandering the streets of the 'burgh with a flight case and unused set lists stuffed in their back pocket; it brings a tear to the dilated pupil.