The Mag
Alex Niggemann in Leeds
Cognosco
Alex Niggemann
The Loft, Leeds
4/12/2009
You could be excused from thinking this was Cognosco’s second birthday, not just their second ever party: Tall, young, pretty girls are already pressed right up to the DJ booth at the side of the room, boys are ‘dancing’ and together they add their own soundtrack of woops and screams to the deep house beats being dropped by resident David Hulme, and it’s only just past midnight.
In the shiny setting that is the long basement of The Loft, Cognosco has found its feet. Whilst techno and techier house have many a home in the city, deep house and its derivatives are – or should I say were – under-represented. Cognosco, though, began to plug the gap with Giles ‘Secretsundaze’ Smith at their inaugural party last month, and firmly seal the hole with Alex Niggemann tonight.
The young German producer has had a strong year with solid releases on Get Physical, Supernature and 8Bit - all of which have subtle, mature grooves and warm production values in spades - and tonight demonstrates he’s no slouch when it comes to controlling a dance floor, either. Coming on at just passed one to a well oiled room, he wiggles his ass and nods his head for the next two hours, deftly plotting a route through house with funk, depth and dance-ability.
The youth of this party is mirrored by the students it attracts, but that’s not to say they aren’t on the ball, oh no. Instead, their endless enthusiasm fills the room with good time vibes and, although a smoke machine is conspicuous by its absence, that doesn’t mean the (sticky) floor is any less together, but rather means smiles can been seen from this end of the room to that.
“I just thought I’d come and check out Alex Niggemann but it’s proper going off! Definitely gunna add this to my regular clubbing diary” says Chico from behind dazed eyes as he vogues to the punchy kicks and rolling melodies of Niggemann’s polished European house.
After the headliner comes ressie Dan Hare: from behind the temporary deck station he kicks out some techier cuts to a now slightly dishevelled room whose party prescriptions have really kicked in. They appreciate the grittier synths, more jacking jams and upped tempo, and go with it until well past when the sun should have risen. But it hasn’t yet, because it’s almost winter now, and it’s freezing outside. On tonight’s evidence, though, there seems no better way to warm yourself through during the coming winter months than with a damn good house work out courtesy of Cognosco.
Alex Niggemann
The Loft, Leeds
4/12/2009
You could be excused from thinking this was Cognosco’s second birthday, not just their second ever party: Tall, young, pretty girls are already pressed right up to the DJ booth at the side of the room, boys are ‘dancing’ and together they add their own soundtrack of woops and screams to the deep house beats being dropped by resident David Hulme, and it’s only just past midnight.
In the shiny setting that is the long basement of The Loft, Cognosco has found its feet. Whilst techno and techier house have many a home in the city, deep house and its derivatives are – or should I say were – under-represented. Cognosco, though, began to plug the gap with Giles ‘Secretsundaze’ Smith at their inaugural party last month, and firmly seal the hole with Alex Niggemann tonight.
The young German producer has had a strong year with solid releases on Get Physical, Supernature and 8Bit - all of which have subtle, mature grooves and warm production values in spades - and tonight demonstrates he’s no slouch when it comes to controlling a dance floor, either. Coming on at just passed one to a well oiled room, he wiggles his ass and nods his head for the next two hours, deftly plotting a route through house with funk, depth and dance-ability.
The youth of this party is mirrored by the students it attracts, but that’s not to say they aren’t on the ball, oh no. Instead, their endless enthusiasm fills the room with good time vibes and, although a smoke machine is conspicuous by its absence, that doesn’t mean the (sticky) floor is any less together, but rather means smiles can been seen from this end of the room to that.
“I just thought I’d come and check out Alex Niggemann but it’s proper going off! Definitely gunna add this to my regular clubbing diary” says Chico from behind dazed eyes as he vogues to the punchy kicks and rolling melodies of Niggemann’s polished European house.
After the headliner comes ressie Dan Hare: from behind the temporary deck station he kicks out some techier cuts to a now slightly dishevelled room whose party prescriptions have really kicked in. They appreciate the grittier synths, more jacking jams and upped tempo, and go with it until well past when the sun should have risen. But it hasn’t yet, because it’s almost winter now, and it’s freezing outside. On tonight’s evidence, though, there seems no better way to warm yourself through during the coming winter months than with a damn good house work out courtesy of Cognosco.