Ugly Duckling and Giant Panda @ The Liquid Room

Following the shortest DJ throw-down ever – must've lasted 30 seconds - from one of our local lads and a triumphant declaration of old school ethics from Seattle's Giant Panda to set the tone, there's an air of the incessant exchange of positivistic pleasantry in the Liquid Room tonight. Leaving the G-Funk at home, but hailing from Snoop Dogg's native LBC nevertheless, Ugly Duckling give us a dose but also leave a crowd yearning for the sensation of what "The Day" must have felt like, once upon a rhyme. In support of recent LP 'Bang For The Buck', Andy, Dizzy and Young Einstein punch in and out with a dexterous set peppered with feel good vibes, cunning linguistics and comical theatrics. Easily for the fans of the People Under The Stairs and the J5s of this world, the 'ducklin' are just trying to keep a few heads bobbin' and provide the obscure cocktail that the barman only sneakily serves us under the counter once in a while. [Dave Kerr]