Infusion # 219: March 9-23 '14

March 17th

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A Note From The Editor

Editor-in-chief: Talal Budebs Managing Partner: Charl Chaka charlchaka@infusion.ae Editor: Andy Buchan andy@infusion.ae Sales Director: Vip Patel Vip@infusion.ae 050 169 8712

There have been a few nights that have passed into clubbing folklore, when you had to be there (or retrospectively claim to be there if you want to get hipster about it).

The iBO closing party, Sven Vath at Trilogy and Jazzy Jeff any time he touched a set of decks in the UAE spring to mind, but one of my personal highlights was catching Carl Cox the last time he hit town.

Last seen playing Peppermint 7 years ago, and on a reinforced stage built to take his dancing moves, he delivered a house and techno masterclass, turning the Habtoor ballroom into a sweaty Ibiza-like rave.

So we’re very intrigued to find out what the best part of a decade has taught him, and how he adapts to an open air, beach-side festival at Atlantis. And we’re also looking forward to having a few beers with good Infusion friend Giles Peterson as he gets the night started.

Andy

Contributors: Nthayi Tshehle, Richard Perez, Vip Patel, Sam Moult, Monique Belle Design: Allan (Jmaxlolo) Tinsay Grown-up stuff: Infusion is published by Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Contact us: Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098

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BACK Retrospective on what’s been happening in our world.

> What We Did > Say What? > Photo Gallery

Looking Back

What we did Rolling Stones @ du Arena A combined age of 238 gets you several things in life: enough wrinkles that Nivea will consider sponsoring the next tour, passport stamps for virtually every country and more gig experience than virtually any band on earth. What it shouldn’t do is give The Rolling Stones half the energy they displayed on stage in Abu Dhabi, the first leg of their latest tour.

Mick Jagger didn’t so much as work up a sweat, as run a marathon, criss-crossing the 50m wide stage and 70m long runway like a teenage pop idol a quarter of his age, while Ronnie Wood looked like a badly aged teenage punk, all primary colours and cigarette lazily drooping from his mouth.

Charlie Watts marshalled things from behind the drums, with a touch of swing, while Keith Richards was on hand to provide the bad boy image, pretending he didn’t love being up on stage playing with the guys (or as he put it, ‘It’s good to be in Abu Dhabi, it’s good to be anywhere, actually’).

An opening salvo of ‘Start Me Up’ and ‘It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I Like It’) told the crowd of 30,000 they meant business, but it was the 2nd half when the band demonstrated they’re more than just the best rock and roll band in town, as ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Miss You’ expanded on their sonic template, creating truly epic live renditions. And closing runs don’t get stronger than ‘Sympathy For The Devil,’ ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ with a live choir, and the evergreen ‘Satisfaction.’ 238 also gave you Dhs18 of change for a round of 4 beers, but that felt like very small change when confronted by the Rolling Stones live experience.

Looking Back

Paul Van Dyk @ Zero Gravity Dubai’s latest beach club, Zero Gravity, has slowly been building a reputation for itself, but this 4,000 capacity Paul Van Dyk gig at the Skydive Dubai beach-side venue has really put it on the map. The car parking, ticketing and security were all smoother than a PVD transition, so we were eager to find out what the German trance don had planned.

From Paul’s first beat of his extended 3 hour set, you could tell that the night was going to be heavy and, of course, no Van Dyk set would be complete without his signature dance moves, cheeky smiles and live performances, even getting his keyboard out on stage and playing for the fans. There were a few grumbles from trance fans that the Jixo and Danz warm up wasn’t quite in sync with what was to come, but that aside, this was another Paul Van Dyk masterclass at an up-and-coming new venue. —Sam Moult

Warehouse Dubai feat. Amine Edge & Dance @ Level 41

In a city where nightlife can veer towards excess, the Warehouse party at the Media One Hotel made a refreshing change. The industrial style venue coupled with a Funktion One sound system and slightly hyperactive lazers/strobe combo made you feel you were back in the middle of a sweaty 90s rave. The Southampton based brand hit the sand running for its inaugural event, booking BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Mistajam and French ghetto house duo, Amine Edge & Dance. We caught the latter in full swing and they didn’t fail to deliver, offering up their usual brand of bass fuelled ghetto infused flavour to an enthusiastic crowd. The venue could be a real game changer for the region, so we’re hyped for the next one.

House of Afrika feat.

DJ Dazz @Dek on 8

Kitten And The Hip @ Barasti

Irie Fridays @ Sublime Lounge

Warehouse Dubai feat.

Amine Edge & Dance @Level 41

We Are One @2Liv

Fatman Scoop

@XL Beach Club

Looking FORWARD Where we filter out the best things that are coming your way...

> Local News > Cover Story > A Decade in Dance Music > Intelligent Dance Music

Looking Forward

Local News Another Level: Atlantis sign up Avicii

One of the biggest names in EDM, Swedish DJ and producer Avicii will be bringing his pop house productions to the Live at Atlantis showcase on Friday April 4. With a huge smash, ‘Levels’, to his name, and his recent album True providing the country meets house swing of ‘Wake Me Up,’ Avicii is one of the biggest names in the game, with tickets on sale now from Dhs250.

Joss Stone and Elvis Costello get Blended

Fancy a music festival, but without the abrasive music, sardine-packed crowd and pungent Clearasil/testosterone smells from the over-excited kids? Then Done Events’ Blended could be for you. A 2 day festival starting on May 1 at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, it features Elvis Costello, Aloe Blacc, Joss Stone and more, with upscale food options and picnic style seating.

Tickets start from Dhs350, blended.ae

Do the Stomp

With 53 countries already under its belt, award-winning music and dance show Stomp is returning to Dubai with a new show featuring fresh music and choreography. The Emmy award-winning show was included as part of the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony, and the bin banging show is hitting the Dubai World Trade Centre from April 30 until May 4, with tickets starting from Dhs195, stompdubai.com

C

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Rolled by sho cho’s renowned Roll Master with your own combination of super fresh ingredients. Simply design, order and pay online. Then our speedy delivery Ninja’s will suddenly appear at your door. Let’s Roll!

Call 800 SUSHI (78744) or visit chezshushi.com Eat or collect at our restaurant. Find us at Shop 18, Wasl Square, (opposite Safa Park) Al Wasl Road, Dubai.

Looking Forward Rumours Heads up hip hoppers: much hyped Canadian outfit, The Weekend, is coming to town at the end of March.

Barasti is getting their live music on, with the Brand New Heavies on March 28, followed up by The Dub Pistols at the end of April.

We have it on good authority that the Kings of Leon are coming to play Dubai in April.

'Wan hunnnned an eighty' – the darts is back in town, with a 2 day tournament at the end of May. We love the array of weird, wonderful and downright douchey FB messages we get on our Infusion Magazine FB page. You lot are a bit tapped.

Big ups to Hamdan Al Abri, who’ll be joining jazz-funk legend Herbie Hancock live on stage in Abu Dhabi.

Shout outs to Ego Lounge, which is proving that Dubai's hip hop and urban clubs don't have to be style over substance.

Drunks starting fights.

Either learn to take your booze better, or take your aggression out on something with the same IQ as you, like a punching bag.

Landlords still trying to ramp up the rent and their commission, despite RERA being on our side.

When will you learn, you douchebags?

A super sarcastic, super slow clap to whoever decided to close the one U-turn in JBR during the Boat Show, turning some of the most expensive real estate into the world into a car park.

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GlobalFunk SEASON OPENER! Support from MACH4 B2B SOMALIE, Charl Chaka & MC Prit.

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Another forward thinking booking from the Groove on the Grass team sees German tech house producer and DJ Butch headlining with support from Canada’s Konrad Black.

We caught up with them both to find out what’s in store and why Butch has DJ’d at a Viking funeral…

Hello from Dubai, having played before Butch, any words of advice to Konrad?

Butch: It was fun, but to be on the safe side, leave your alcoholic beverages at home, Konrad (grins). Fascinating place, I loved Dubai. My advice is the same for any DJ anywhere: enjoy yourself!

How do you feel being on the same line up, have you played together before?

Butch: I’m looking forward to listening to Konrad’s set. As far as I remember we haven’t played together before. I loved the Watergate Mix Konrad did, he flexed his muscles on that one impressively!

Konrad: I think we have similar tastes musically from what I've heard so it should be a lot of fun to play together.

Some futuristic soundscapes for your mind to think about and for your hips to bounce to.

Techier sounds are making a comeback on the dancefloor – has that impacted what you do, how you play?

Butch: Every input has a degree of impact on every artist, I am constantly influenced by something. At the moment my musical vision is very clear to me which I express in my new project “Otherside”. I’m working on that constantly now. Living in Germany and often spending time in Berlin, it never felt as if techy music had disappeared, I think it’s only outside of Germany that there might have been a decline and now it’s coming back into focus again. I know which sound I want to make and there are so many trends happening simultaneously, you can’t fulfill them all. I think anyone trying to make a record for a trend will never be happy with their work.

I am happy with my work and do my best to grow as a musician and producer.

You’re playing a golf course in the Middle East – any other odd/interesting venues you’ve played at across the world?

Butch: A stranger’s bathroom 15 years ago and a viking funeral (laughs). No only joking. I’ve never played on a golf course before, that’s a first I’m looking forward to.

Konrad: Wow, a golf course, let's add that to my desert

oasis image in my head! I have played an aquarium somewhere, Tokyo Olympic Stadium was interesting, a castle, a waterslide park and a dinosaur theme park.

Competition: We have 2 pairs of tickets to give away, head to infusion.ae to enter!

What’s the story behind both of your name?

Butch: I had my first release coming up, but didn’t have a name yet and the A&R was bugging me, he needed a name instantly. After his phone call, I watched Pulp Fiction. Bruce Willis is asked what his name, Butch, means by the cab driver, Ms Villalobos and he says “Our name’s don’t mean s***.” I liked that, I wanted the name to be irrelevant, I wanted the music to speak for itself. So the same night I called the A&R and said: ‘Call me Butch!’

What was your path into Djing, your first gigs?

Butch: Wild Style and Style Wars were my introduction to DJing, I loved the Hip Hop culture portrayed in these films. So I did it all except for rapping. I went spraying, breaking and DJing. This was in my early teens, at the age of 12 or 13 I took my mum’s record player and started scratching some records. I broke the needle and the record, so I had to educate myself: how do I do this thing properly and preferably without getting an ass-whooping. I kept at it and got heavy into Turntablizm, taking part in nationwide contests for scratching, beat juggling and stuff like that. After a while I got more interested in the club context and the magic of telling a story. I was fascinated with using songs to make a whole composition and taking everyone on a ride, so around 10 years ago I switched to house and techno.

Groove on the Grass feat. Butch and Konrad Black, Friday March 14, 6pm-3am, Emirates Golf Course, advance tickets Dhs140 from Platinumlist.ae

A decade in dance music One of the longest running promoters in town, and with a track record for quality, underground events including iLL Communications, The Chill Out Festival and Wanted, Ohm Records turns 10 this month.

So we sat down with 10 of their staff, past and present, to find out their highlights over the decade, and also look forward to the return of iLL Communications with Carlo Lio at the Dek on 8 on March 13‌

Name: Satyen Choksi Number of years at Ohm: Since day 1 until now Best event you’ve put on: Chill Out Festival with Erykah Badu, 2011, Sandance Beach

Throughout the years we’ve put on so many gigs and experienced so many different acts, yet out of all them, Erykah Badu gave me the strongest of goose bumps. The crowd’s vibes were incredible as was her performance and so she’s definitely at the top of the list.

Name: Ihmsen Snarefield Number of years at Ohm: 6 years

Best event you’ve put on: Athlete for the Sound of Live festival, Chi @ The Lodge, 9th April 2010

This was definitely a first for the region. Athlete is one of my favourite bands, I’m a fan of their earlier albums, and so it was incredibly exciting that we brought them down to perform in Dubai for the very first time. The vibe at the venue was pretty amazing and had just the right amount of people, which gave off a good intimate vibe, kind of as if you’d found yourself at one of those small festivals in Europe. People could move around 3 different rooms with Grandmaster Flash, The Future Heads and Zane Lowe on the rest of the line up. What made it even more special is the fact I got to chat and hang out with the band during set up which made my overall experience a very memorable one.

Name: Adam Rahman Number of years at Ohm: 8 years or so Best event you’ve put on: Cocoon presents Sven Vath @ Trilogy, 2007 It was the first time a huge techno brand was here in Dubai. Not only was it a party with one of the biggest brands in the scene but also featured Sven Vath, who to me is a legend.

The vibe was insane, we had people flying in from India and the neighboring countries to see “Papa” do his magic. At the time Trilogy was at its peak with a killer sound system and the vibe was incredible.

The icing for me was to be on the same bill as this legend and warm up for him. Two turntables, a mixer and Papa Sven - no drama, just awesome music, I still get goose bumps thinking about it!

Name: Marcella Bezembinder Number of years at Ohm: 1 year Best event you’ve put on: iLL Communications presents: Josh Wink at Trilogy Rooftop, 18th March 2010

Aahhhh, it’s a very close call between Chloe and Josh Wink, both gigs at the Trilogy Rooftop, but I think Josh Wink wins it by a nail! He dropped some insaaaaane dark acid techno sounds and we couldn’t help but lose it to “20 to 20” and “When a Banana Was Just A Banana” (think lots of smiley face-painted bananas around the club!)

It was an honour to meet the man himself post gig for a couple of chats. Funnily enough, I got to meet him again when he came and crashed one of our other gigs just a few years later .

Name: Jason Pinto Number of years at Ohm: 9 years Best event you’ve put on: iLL Communications, Shindig, Chill Out Festival and Muzik

Highlights include our first Cocoon night in 2007 with Sven Vath, Stanton Warriors & Jimpster at Trilogy rooftop, Chloe in the studio room, Cinematic orchestra and Royksopp at Chill Out Festival, Friday nights at the rooftop with Dany Neville and the UGP crew….

Name: Tayla Russell Number of years at Ohm: Social Media Manager for 2-3 years Best event you’ve put on: Moodymann at Electric Chill, Trilogy, April 2012 There were lots of high points for me, but a favourite office past time was annoying Adam, once dressing him up as a Knight… He took it very well and JC and I would push him round on his chair and he had to try and battle with his trusty printer paper sword. It was all very Game of Thrones, even before the series came out. You could say we

were ahead of the curve, but then OHM always was. The boys would get annoyed at me using ‘Forward thinking’ in all the copy but it is the best way to describe the OHM team.

I wasn’t the biggest house music head in the office but I remember seeing Chloe DJ for iLL Communications at Trilogy. People still talk about it; it just had this vibe where you knew you were part of something super cool. The Chloe party was pretty special, but Moodymann for Electric Chill was a big moment. I know the boys had been trying to book him forever and finally he got confirmed for the Chill Out Festival afterparty. It was a big deal. Moodymann rocked up to Trilogy in flip-flops, white socks and a dressing gown. He destroyed the dancefloor and I remember looking across the packed main room thinking; "wow, ok so this is how you do it." People were bowing.

Name: Mohammed Abood AKA DJ MoCity Number of years at Ohm: 4 months Best event you’ve put on BOOMBOX Presents: DJ Lord (Public Enemy), Music Room, November 2013.

Very few international DJs have the ability to play that many styles in one set, specially when you're billed as a hip hop act, but Lord had no boundaries - he played a great set traveling through all genres in turntablist style which left the crowd buzzing for more.

Name Wissam Khodur Number of years at Ohm: 1 year Best event you’ve put on: Boombox with DJ Yella of NWA, at Music Room. August 2013.

It was great, because of the novelty of having the only person you can book with the billing NWA, a legendary ground breaking name in Hip Hop history.

Name Cyrus Kersy Mehta Number of years at Ohm: Since day 1 till Aug 2009.

Best event you’ve put on: There are a

few, but the ones that stood out are Sven Vath or Laurent Garnier, both at Trilogy.

Name: Lindi Delight Number of years at Ohm: May 2009 - November 2010 Best event you’ve put on Nokia ‘Sound of Live,’ Chi, April 9th 2010.

When Flash took to the decks, the crowd went wild!

He started off introducing himself, then dropped Arrested Development’s “Everyday People” and it sounded like every single person in the room was singing the words along. Then seeing Zane Lowe’s CDJ skills, I don’t think I have witnessed anything like them before, even up to now. Another highlight was Afrika Bambaataa, he is such a legend. I remember him dropping Competition: Biggie’s “Juicy” To win and Bamaataa’s tickets to iLL MC gave me Communications, the mic and head to I rapped the infusion.ae entire song, that to enter! was amazing! iLL Communications returns with Carlo Lio at the Dek on 8 on March 13

THURS 27 MARCH at the media one hotel

Djs under the moon. kasparov. Somalie.

6PM TIL 3am

Intelligent

Dance

Music

Leaning on the techier, soulful side of drum and bass, Soul:r head honcho Marcus Intalex returns to Dubai for another show with the Globalfunk crew. We chatted to the Fabric resident to find out why he’s created a techno alias, why he’s the best golfer in drum and bass and how he sees the scene at the moment…

Welcome back to the city – we’re guessing that having played across the world, coming out to the Middle East feels quite natural for a DnB DJ these days…

Yeah, I think this is either my 4th or 5th time to Dubai. It’s a gig I always look forward to. I enjoy the city very much and the people that come out to the gigs tend to be very responsive to the sound of good drum and bass.

You’ve created a techno and house alias, Trevino – what does that music offer that DnB can’t?

More than anything, it’s just a nice change. With doing drum and bass 24/7 for so many years, it’s good to change the focus. Being Trevino has made being Marcus Intalex a lot less intense and frustrating. I am tending to enjoy drum and bass more because of this.

And does that idea of starting a (2nd) career again resonate with you?

Well it’s the same job really, playing and making underground dance music at a different tempo. It was a little daunting at first playing a different style of music to a different crowd, but that’s the kind of challenge I needed.

Which is harder to produce and DJ – DnB or house/ techno?

At the moment it’s drum and bass that I seem to find harder. I just go where the creative flow takes me .I’m rolling out a lot of house and techno right now, but I’m looking forward to switching the tempo back real soon.

Coming back to drum and bass fresh, after a break, is another advantage of producing different genres.

We hear you’re a golf fan, we’re guessing coming out to Dubai is a bit of a double whammy with golf and Djing…

Absolutely. I’d stay longer and play more if I could but I’ve got gigs to get back to, so just a couple rounds this time.

Who’s the best DnB golfer out there?

Me. You’re a picky DJ, in that you’re very careful about what you play and promote – how do you find the scene at the moment, rude health?

It’s good. There seem to be plenty of new artists cropping up and the sound is forever changing, I have in the past been very critical of the music. These days I’d rather just focus on the music I like, play it, enjoy it, and support it to my best abilities.

You’re playing for Globalfunk in Dubai, who you’ve played for before – how have you found the parties before?

As I mentioned previously, I always tend to get a good reception in Dubai, as the crowds are always up for a good time. I guess they wouldn’t ask me back so often if it wasn’t so good.

Globalfunk feat. Marcus Intalex, Thursday March 13, Music Room, 9pm-3am, Dhs100, free Tiger beer on entry. soundcloud.com/marcusintalex

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ARTY GUIDE

ONTHE THE RADAR ON RADAR

March 27 Plump DJs, Dek on 8

April 4 Avicii, Atlantis

March 28 Brand New Heavies, Barasti

April 10 Globalfunk feat. Andy C, The Music Room April 3 UB40, Irish Village

April 17 Lionel Richie, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre

MaY 23 Justin Timberlake, du Arena

April 25 Dub Pistols, Barasti

MaY 29 Black Sabbath, du Arena

For a full list of what’s on, please head to infusion.ae. Please submit your listings to andy@infusion.ae for possible inclusion.

PARTY GUIDE

April 25 Macklemore, du Arena

ARTY GUIDE

Sunday 9 Magnum Sundays, Boudoir

Hard-hitting urban DJ line up of Brooklyn, Emtee and Shero deliver the hip hop and RnB cuts. 10pm-3am. Weekly.

Occupy Sundays, Cavalli

Brand new Sunday night, where you have to gain guestlist to the event via the occupysundays.com website.

9pm-late.

Monday 10 Club Classics, Boudoir

All the classic house and electro cuts courtesy of DJ Destroyer. 10pm-3am.

Eclectic Mondays, Amika

Hardsoul Records and ‘Waiting For You’ producer Greg Van Bueren plays, with support from Farhad B Captain. 10pm-3am.

Hip hop Mondays, Cirque Le Soir

Bustling early-week party with hip hop vibes from start to finish courtesy of DJ Bliss.

10.30pm-3am.

Mixed Mondays, XL Beach Club

The first 100 ladies and first 75 men get free drinks all night, with Dhs50 a drink ladies and Dhs100 beer buckets after that. 7pm-3am.

Manic Mondays, Zinc

Greg Stainer and Andy Swift play old and new skull anthems, with a 10pm-midnight happy hour. 10pm-3am, ladies and couples free. Weekly.

INFUSION PICK!

Therapy feat.

Raxon and Kaytek, Boutiq An excellent Monday night line up, with audio tonic’s Raxon and Blue Marlin’s Kaytek doing the tech house honours.

10pm-3am.

Tuesday 11 B:Lush, Media One

4 free drinks for ladies, with Da Sendri dropping funk, soul, disco and house. 7-10pm, free.

Barasti

Popular ladies night, with a Dhs50 entrance fee getting you free flowing bubbly all night.

6pm-late, Dhs50.

Champagne and Strawberries night, Horizon Lounge

3 complimentary glasses of Mojitos or Bubbly from 6pm, with a happy hour from 4-8pm.

Dreams, The Act

A brand new addition to the venue’s line up, with a theatrical dining experience promised. 8.30pm, repeated Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

En Vogue, Armani Prive

Darko De Jan takes control

of this high class ladies night, with complimentary mojitos until 1am for ladies.

10pm-3am.

Girls Don’t Q, Q43, Media One Hotel

3 free drinks for ladies at this brand new, gorgeous-looking Media City venue. 6pm-1am.

Hunters Gentlemen’s night, Hunters (Westin)

50% off your steak or red wine at this male-focussed midweeker. 7pm-late.

Pink Ladies Pin Up Night, Mahiki

Complimentary pink Champagne, with plenty of guilty pleasures on the decks in this paradise-themed club.

7pm-late.

More mid-week funkiness at the popular circus-themed club with Tim Kay headlining.

10.30pm-3am.

INFUSION PICK! This Is, Tabla

Popular ladies night with free drinks and hip hop and RnB throwbacks from Schooly and David Craig.

10.30pm, free.

Wednesday 12 90 Degrees North, Story Rooftop

Deep house and tech house from Dubai DJ Matt Charles and friends. 6pm-late.

Excellent mid-week house party, with support from resident Fred Stone.

11pm-3am.

Cavalli 54, Cavalli

A night celebrating the hedonism and music in the legendary Studio 54.

8pm-late.

Diamond Wednesdays, XL Beach Club Shero and Brooklyn drop the urban tunes at this popular weekly night. 9pm-3am.

Weekly.

Jef K, Calabar

Silver Network’s Jef K is joined by JC Pinto for a 3 night deep, tech and disco journey. 6pm-late. Repeated Thursday 13 and Friday 14.

Horizon Heroes, Horizon Lounge

A gentleman’s night, with bucket deals and good pub grub. 7pm. Weekly.

S’Chic, Supperclub

Old school 80s and 90s funk, soul, RnB at pop with Es Paradis resident Steve Valverde on the decks. 8pmlate. Weekly.

Societe School Night Retro pop hits, classic TV shows (including Biker Grove and Grange Hill) and Dhs30 vodka Red Bulls.

10pm. Weekly.

PARTY GUIDE

Pop Your Cherry, Cirque Le Soir

Bootik, Vanity (Al Murooj Rotana)

ARTY GUIDE

Thursday 13 Abri & The Funk Radius, Pizza Express JLT

Abri and the extremely funky Funk Radius drop funk, soul, hip hop and rock covers and originals at this bustling Thursday night joint. 9pm, weekly.

The Act, Shangri La

Live acts, mixed up music and tasty Peruvian food at this very popular new club. 8pm-3am, repeated Sunday.

Analog Room, Q Underground

Fashionista, Donatello Lounge

Funk, deep house soundtrack at this fashionable start to the weekend. 8pm-late. Weekly.

Fleurs, Radisson Royal Sheikh Zayed Road

A brand new concept club involving live music, Arabicaccented food and lots of flowers. 11-3am, repeated Friday.

INFUSION PICK!

Globalfunk feat.

Marcus Intalex, Music Room

All things electronic, at this cult weekly Thursday night spot.

9pm-3am, Dhs75. Weekly.

The region’s leading DnB brand returns, with Soul:r main man Marcus Intalex heading up the bill. 9pm-3am, Dhs100.

Boombox feat. Jehst, Casa Latina

INFUSION PICK!

Toofless performs some of his new material live, while there are drinks deals all night.

9pm-3am, free.

Boudoir

Free shots for ladies until 1am, and commercial RnB and house. 10pm-3am. Weekly.

iLL Communications feat. Carlo Lio, Dek on 8

A very warm welcome back to the iLL Comm crew, as their tech house night returns for an open air session at the Dek on 8. 6pm-late.

Boxtones album launch, The Stables

Jamrock, Ego Lounge

Live rock and roll from one of the region’s most dynamic bands, as they launch their new album. 8pm.

Calypso, dub, reggae and urban from Sir Taz and DJ Crown Prince. 10pm-3am, ladies free before midnight, weekly.

Conan Manchester, Loca

Movida meets Sintillate

Foot-tapping funk, soul and rock and roll from Conan at one of our favourite bars in town.

Weekly Thursday and Friday.

Funky deep house with a stylish crowd. 11pm-3am.

POP, N’Dulge

80s, 90s and 2000s on the

terrace courtesy of mixmaster Dean Curtis. 9pm-3am, ladies free before 11, Dhs100.

Something Big feat.

Maldini, Bad Company, Catwalk

Bob Geldof, Irish Village

Traditional St Patrick’s Day celebrations, with Bob Geldof returning for more live music craic.

Deeper, darker DnB vibes from this monthly night, with Bad Company’s Maldini returning to do the headline honours. 10pm-3am, Dhs100.

Boutiq Electriq, Boutiq

Vintage, Societe Dubai

Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE feat.

Blond:Ish

80s, 90s and 00s at this newly launched alternative venue, with tables for 4 starting from Dhs1100. 10pm-3am.

VIP Room On Air, VIP Room

A new Thursday night concept, with live acts and celebrities promised. 10pm3am. Weekly.

All things urban at this jumping Thursday night spot. 10pm-3am. Weekly, Thursday and Friday.

White Dubai

Electro, house and EDM at this popular rooftop club.

10pm-3am. Repeated Friday.

Friday 14 Audio tonic, 360

Megadon Betamax, Mr Mr, Raxon, Conan Manchester and Rich Showell are on deck dutey Above and Below, offering everything from sunset funk to full on tech house. 4pm-3am, free.

INFUSION PICK!

One of the leading female DJ duos, Blond:Ish drop deep, techy house vibes at one of the busiest clubs in the emirate.

11am-11pm, reservation@ bluemarlinibiza-uae.com

Coldplay Tribute Night, Music Room

Chris Martin’s biggest hits as performed by a tribute act, Coldplace. 9pm, Dhs100.

Ego Urban Lounge, Boutique 7 Hotel, Tecom

Wall-to-wall urban tunes 6 nights a week, with a strong roster of residents including Dany Neville, Rone Jaxx and Soulninja.

Fabolous, Supperclub A new RnB and hip hop night at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray venue, with US rapper Fabolous starring. 10pm-3am, Dhs295.

Freaks and Beats, Cirque Le Soir

Nick Tohme heads up this weekly night, where entertainment is at the fore.

10pm-3am. Weekly.

PARTY GUIDE

We Are One, 2Liv Palm Sofitel

Da Sendri starts his Friday eclectic residency at this 2 room venue in the Address Hotel, Dubai Mall. Weekly.

ARTY GUIDE

Friday Pool Party, XL Beach Club

Federico Scavo and Plastik Funk are on house and electro deck duty at this all day/night pool party at the Habtoor Grand. 1pm-3am, Dhs150 on the door.

INFUSION PICK!

Groove on the Grass Ft. Butch, Emirates Golf Course

Deep tech and house from German headliner Butch, with Canada’s Konrad Black on international support. 6pm3am, advance tickets Dhs140 from Platinumlist.ae

INFUSION PICK!

No.1 Fridays feat. DJ Spoony, N’Dulge

UK Garage and funky house from one third of the Dreem Teem. 10pm-3am, ladies free before 11pm, Dhs100 after.

Weekly.

SOAP feat. Miguel Campbell, People

By Crystal

Deep house and funk vibes from the ‘Something Special’ DJ and producer. 10pm-3am.

Tonight I’m A Single Lady, Movida

Hush, Vanity

Free drinks for ladies from 11pm-1am, and resident DJ Mitchell on the decks. 11pm3am. Weekly.

INFUSION PICK!

411, People By Crystal

Mo Muscles and Shef Codes drop old school hip hop and R&B tracks. 10pm-3am.

Weekly.

House of Afrika feat. Ryan Dent, Dek on 8

More Afro-tech at this hugely popular weekly house night with Cape Town’s Ryan Dent flying in for the set. 4pm3am, free.

Saturday 15 Masterstepz, DJ Badir and Shef Codes close out the weekend in urban style. 10pm3am. Weekly.

Destination, Zinc

UK Garage, Funky house and urban with Richie D and Mister Ash. 10pm-3am. Weekly.

Irie Fridays, Sublime

Homegrown, 360

Massive Fridays, Sensation

Saturday Brunch, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

Bosscity DJ Rabu and Ras Dru drop the reggae riddims.

9pm-3am, Dhs60, ladies free before 11pm. Weekly.

Urban, hip hop and RnB vibes ever Friday at this Sheikh Zayed Road hangout. 10.30pm.

Charl Chaka and Frak Fu keep the weekend vibe going with deep, funky house. 4pm3am, free.

Wind down your weekend with live cooking stations and free flowing Spanish sangria, and a

live show from Gipsy Moreno.

Weekly. 1pm-5.30pm, Dhs295, reservation@bluemarlinibizauae.com

Teadance,The Address, Montgomerie High style nu-disco and house party, with Toy Boys and Cairo’s DJ Misty on deck duty. 4pm.

Thursday 20 Movida Meets Pukka Up

Another dose of funky deep house, thanks to Ibiza party crew Pukka Up. 11pm-3am.

INFUSION PICK!

Boombox feat.

Cilvaringz, Casa Latina

Friday 21

INFUSION PICK! Carl Cox, Atlantis

An 11 hour beach party, with Carl Cox, Sharam, Yousef, Gilles Peterson and more on the bill. 4pm-3am, Dhs200 advance, Dhs250 on the door.

audio tonic feat. John Monkman, 360

A live set from Get Physical’s John Monkman, with Russ Cooper and Raxon on support.

4pm-3am, free.

A brand new house night, featuring local guests Rishi and Eric Francis alongside Kid Chriss from Romania. 8pm-3am, Dhs70 after 10pm, free before.

Lee Burridge, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE Dark, brooding but uplifting house from UK veteran Lee Burridge alongside Ibellini.

11am-11pm, reservation@ bluemarlinibiza-uae.com

INFUSION PICK!

Chocolate Nights feat. Ashanti, Supperclub Live hip hop and RnB from the ‘Foolish’ singer, which sold a staggering 503,000 copies in its first week! 10pm-3am, Dhs295.

House of Afrika feat.

Carl Roberts, Dek on 8 Award-winning deep, tech and tribal house beats all night long. 4pm-3am, free.

INFUSION PICK! Sunny Vibe Up feat.

Sweet Memory Soundsystem, Dusk Terrace

Count Skylarkin and Ska Cubano’s Natty Bo drop everything from swing and Northern soul to reggae and ska.

2pm-midnight, Dhs75 after 5pm.

Massive Fridays feat.

Fuse ODG, Sensation

Live hip hop and RnB from ‘Million Pound Girls’ star Fuse ODG, with local support from DJ Badir, DJ Stylez and MC Money. 11pm-3am, Dhs195.

PARTY GUIDE

Rapper and producer Cilvaringz from the Wu Tang Clan headlines, with support from Wriggly Scott and Lucy Pink. 9pm-3am, free.

Cassland, Story Rooftop

Look AND

LISTEN Music be the food of love, so read on... > Music News > Album Reviews > Tech Talk > DJ Booth > Soundstage > Music Without Borders > DJ Top 10

Look and Listen

Music News...

Beatport offers paid homepage banners

It’s hard enough to find good music on Beatport these days, but they’re making things even harder for the smaller producers and labels, as they’re now selling all their homepage banners, making virtually everything on the homepage a paid for advert. The rates vary from $2000 to $4000 and will come with a ‘Sponsored’ logo above the advert, making it even harder to navigate your way through thousands of releases each week.

MUSIC BITES

“I was nervous” Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner blames nerves for his odd rant at the Brits: we’d ascribe it to over-indulgence, he looked a little worse for wear to us.

Big in the game

Congrats to ex SAE Dubai student Ramin Bidar, who’s now working for Holland-DozierHolland in America, a team who were behind many Motown hits from the likes of Marvin Gaye, The Isley Brothers and The Four Tops.

He’s now working with other acts to create his own dance/pop tracks, and is also reproducing some of the classic Motown hits from back in the day. Nice to see UAE talent spreading its wings.

Look and Listen

Album Reviews...

Beck – Morning Phase Indie I Beck.com



Bad news: ‘Loser’ Beck is no more, consigned to indie revival nights and your iPod. Good news: Grown up Beck has matured like a fine wine, as his latest album demonstrates.

As slow as an analogue sunrise captured in Technicolor, Morning Phase is a glorious, gauzy and slightly woozy album, drenched in reverb and summer warmth. And while we’ll all miss the eclectic pop genius that gave us ‘Devil’s Haircut’ and ‘Jackass,’ a track that descended into braying donkey noises, grown up Beck has created a timeless album.

Opener ‘Cycle’ sets the tone beautifully, a soundtrack-style 45 second clip that channels the morning’s kinetic energy, with Beck Snr on hand, providing the brass and string flourishes. From there, the album grows – slowly, ever so slowly – into a deeply contemplative work, each track dubbed in careful watercolours, as if you’re lazily floating downstream in a Monet. With hints of Simon and Garfunkel and First Aid Kit at its most folky (especially ‘Turn Away’), and with rich, melancholy tones warming you throughout, Morning Phase is Beck at his grown up best.

Look and Listen

Elbow – The Take Off And Landing of Everything Indie

I

Elbow.co.uk



Elbow might have changed their writing methods for this, their 6th album, but the results are just as good. With each band member charged with creating their own output (with some employing iPad apps to help their process), there are more individual flourishes on the follow up to Build A Rocket Boys!, with the Manchester band gently pushing their boundaries.

The lush, orchestral sound they’ve made their own is still at the core of everything they do, but the brass-jazz flourishes on lead single ‘Fly Boy Blue + Lunette’ hint at a band happy to experiment, a notion reinforced by ‘Honey Sun,’ and its skittery drum machine beats.

The old Elbow is still there: ‘New York Morning’ is them at their bombastic, big chorus best, and Guy Harvey’s lyrics are as eviscerating as ever: No need to guess who’s he’s referencing here: ‘Someone’s dancing on the box/A former MP and no one’s watching… Someone’s shouting on the box/A chinless prefect gone Godzilla.”

By opening up the floor to the band, who have been together for nearly 20 years, Elbow have become more than the sum of their parts, yet again, growing neatly into one of Britain’s great bands.

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High Fidelio Sometimes all you want are no gimmick headphones that deliver crystal clear audio, with a dash of style. And it seems Philips were listening, as their Fidelio L1 range deliver exactly that, without a graffiti design/adjustable bass bin/celebrity endorsement anywhere to be seen.

Maybe that’s to be expected: this is the company that created the compact cassette and co-developed the CD after all.

The headphones feel substantial and well built, and with lots of exposed aluminuim and leather pads, they look sleek and sophisticated.

They’re also very comfortable, with a snug on ear mount.

Sound-wise, they’ve opted for a refined output – you can

get more punch from a set of Beats or from a set of AKGs which are in a similar price range, but the comparative restraint means that the audio is finely balanced.

They’re not designed for DJing, but we gave them a 2 hour spin on the office decks and they held up well – punchy and loud enough to compete with any monitors, and a very comfy fit, but we’re not sure they’re quite sturdy enough to take a regular nightclub battering.

But put them in their comfort zone, and pair them with high quality MP3s and WAVs, the Fidelio L1s will sing, giving a clean, clear and rich sound that lets the music do the talking.

Dhs1299

Competition: We have a pair of Philips Fidelio L1 to give away, head to infusion.ae to be in with a chance of winning‌

DJ Booth: Duncan Paul

The new Blends resident DJ, Duncan Paul, can boast high profile residencies across the world, including London, Ibiza and most recently S.E. Asia

My worst ever job was… Once when I worked in Spain, many moons ago, I was hired to collect all the sun beds after sunset at my mate’s beach bar. I used to work 2 hours every day and I got paid in barter with free drinks for the evening, it was a tough time.

One thing you might not know about me is… I would prefer to DJ on the beach rather than in a club.

My favorite ever record is… Ooph, to name one, that’s impossible. A couple of my favourite tracks from 2013 include Mario Basanov feat. Jeremy Glenn, ‘More For The Less,’ everyone should hear this track and for something a bit deeper I would say ‘More Than Sad’ (Alveol remix) by Nikosf.

DJing is much like … I cannot compare it to anything, really.

For me, it is about sharing the feeling of freedom with the crowd, having fun and trying to introduce creative and abstract tracks.

Dubai’s clubbing scene is … Considering Dubai is still very young, the club scene is actually reasonably strong. I personally feel there need to be more pure underground nights, currently it is a bit too fluffy.

I’m really proud of … My sister and she knows why.

What track could you drop in every set? ‘Pianissimo’ (Original mix) - Matthias Vogt.

I can’t live without … Sunshine.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? I have been told that I eat enough for 2 people…. it’s true, I do!

If you could DJ in any decade which would it be… I’d like to give the 60s a go, they sure knew how to party. I was lucky enough to DJ through the 90s and that was off the crazy chart at times.

If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be…

Terry Francis, the resident DJ at Fabric or my brother, Mr Bongo.

I’m not a politician but … If things don’t change they will stay the same. soundcloud.com/duncanpaul-dj www.facebook.com/clubbeats

Soundstage

The Jazz Ohm Bassadors

A Dubai supergroup of Rami Lakkis, Max Itani and Ayman Boujlida (who talked to us), they’re looking to push real jazz in the city Our first musical influence was…

From Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Bud Powell, Thelenious Monk, Bill Evans and Miles Davis. And some modern jazz legends like Keith Jarret, John Scofield and Kurt Rossenwinkel.

Jazz in Dubai is…

It’s rare to find real jazz in Dubai, people want to listen to something to make them dance like Pop Rock stuff, most people don’t know what jazz is and how they should listen to it. They really need to go to a jazz gig and see what it feels like to enjoy it and then the whole idea will change for them!

Real jazz should sound ike…

“Real Jazz”! It’s music of the brain, it’s improvised music, it’s about expressing ourselves, improvisation is the best way to let an artist express themselves.

Our best Dubai gig was…

With a real jazz audience, people who came to listen to real jazz, and they found more than what they expected.

Our worst Dubai gig was…

At any gig who needed a band for background music!

Hip hop is the modern equivalent of jazz, discuss?

It is not actually, the modern equivalent of jazz is modern jazz. Hip Hop is a good influence to create new sounds if you combine it with jazz. www.aymanboujlida.com ayman.jazz@gmail.com

W th hen t w re w ee e w e So lo) Wr n e ay hea M , T i g x - D c o rd C g u lla ab b oo l S Su u ase fles y Sc bai bor out W d a f y a d s o t re a t a ne hen n, w n, a in S (a S t (A side ion ve w e b ha ud KA nt ra e st we ea rja an DJ un t c h e n i a n t u a e a rd re i m a h ) a s e E P n g d l l y t n t ke n d on Ne ha m hat rigu r in lin os d c et th ed e, pe re Su ey . we ct ate fya ’d du ive d t n, g G h de a litc e ep litt h er le ‌

be

M W u B it o h s r o i d u c e t r s

Congratulations on the extended EP, some very bold music there – you’re both Sudanese music makers, but haven’t actually met. How did the collaboration come about?

Toofless: Thank you, yes it is bold and real... that’s the beauty of independent music, we get to speak our minds. Last year, a friend of mine wanted to put together a collaborative Sudanese project encompassing Sudanese MCs, producers, vocalists and graphic designers, most of whom were based in Sudan. Sufyan was among the producers that were selected for the project. After exchanging thoughts, concepts and beats, his music stood out the most to me, so I contacted him and asked if he would be down to work on something on the side.

Unfortunately, the collaborative project temporarily fell out; thus Sufyan and I decided to keep the momentum going and continued with our side-project. The vibe was high and interactions between us were fluid, so we developed the concept and Sufyan started crafting his beats to blend with the theme. It took us 3 to 4 months to lock down the brainstorming phase, music arrangement, writing and recording.

Neil (Wriggly Scott) and I had already been doing music since 2007, so I asked him if

he would be interested to join the project and have it released via Another Music (an online label owned by Wriggly Scott which aims to promote and good quality music from around the world). He agreed and got involved in the project from the very start, we make a great team... so there you have it, ’Neospective Glitch’.

We’re guessing a live show will be as much of a surprise to you having not met before, as it would be for the audience!

Toofless: Yes, to a certain extent it would. However, for the past 8 months or so Neil, Sufyan and I have been in contact almost every day (Skype, emails etc). It was challenging considering that this project got executed mostly online, but now we know how to deal with each other.

We connected on a higher frequency (music) surpassing the physical aspect of things.

There’s a definite experimental side to the music – who do you see as your modern day influences?

Toofless: A lot of styles and genres, we’re not limited to any type of music. From afrobeat to new age music, electronic to live instrumentation. To name influences, some artists such as Madlib, FlyLo, Thundercat,

Boomclap Bachelors and Robert Glasper. We try to maintain the gritty boom bap hip hop sound, and experimental elements without compromising any of the two vibes.

What inspired the lyrics on the EP, is there a common theme?

Toofless: As always, I draw inspiration from my day-today experiences (positive and negative), thoughts and reflections. Yes, Neospective Glitch is the common theme – which we define as a shortlived burst of energy in one’s consciousness caused by a sudden change, creating a point of internal visual perception.

Sufyan and I share the same roots but we reside in different places him being in Sudan, with both of us dealing with the internal and external conflicts in our personal lives, so each of us is describing our different experiences through music.

Toofless, how does living in Sharjah affect your music – is living in a live music black hole a help or hindrance?

Toofless: Sharjah is my escape from the hustle and bustle of Dubai, I’m a person who appreciates space and privacy so that works well with me, and definitely has a direct impact on my music.

I have a set up at home so I don’t depend on studio time anywhere else. I grew up in Sharjah so it made me who I am now and the art scene is crazy there, that’s something everyone should be aware of.

Dubai for me has become a bit too random.

And do you feel a part of the UAE’s urban scene?

Toofless: To a certain extent yes, but it doesn’t bother me if I am not fully a part of it, I don’t want to be boxed into a scene or genre for that matter.

The support we get is minimal here, especially if you’re not local so my expectations are not high, I do what I do and release it to the world and respect everyone’s feedback.

I just want my music to reach intellects, thinkers, real music enthusiasts etc - regardless of where they are. The ‘’urban scene’’ here is based on contacts - it’s about who you know! I don’t want to compromise my music to fit into any specific scene. Music is universal and that’s real.

Neospective Glitch is out now, www.anothermusic.net, Toofless plays Boombox at Casa Latina on March 13.

Philip Jo The Function, Story Rooftop, March 20 soundcloud.com/ philip-jo

Agraba, Monkey Fish - Dreams (Shall Ocin) Art Department - We Call Love feat. Soul Clap The Deepshakerz - Acoustic Bounce (Ruben Mandoli Remix) Dubman F. - At You (Original Mix) Henrik Schwarz, Bme, Dixon - Where We At (Ver. 1) GotSome - The Get Along Gang ‘Bassline’ (Chus & Ceballos Stereo Remix) LouLou Players & Kolombo - We Gonna Use What We Got (Paolo Mojo Remix) Heartik - It’s Too Right (Original Club Mix) Format B - Magic Button (Wehbba Remix) John Acquaviva and Jordi Castillo feat. Paulo Tella Cosas Cambian (Superskank Remix)

Rich Round 121 BPM / 90 Degrees North

Hackman – Change My Life Amine Edge & Dance – Halfway Crooks Claptone – United Amine Edge & Dance – Lost Omar – Feeling You (Henrik Schwarz Mix) Vengerov – I’m Gonna Be Alright (Kolombo Remix) Saccao, Rafael – Much Better The xx – Reunion (Ame Remix) Me and My Toothbrush – Sundown (Croatia Squad Remix) Amber Jolene & Nolan – Everyday & Everynight (Kant Remix)

BiG AL Ready Mix Records / Plastic City / Dutchie Music soundcloud.com/ biggy

Onur Ozman – One Nation (Jay Tripwire Remix) BiG AL – Ordinary People (Da Funk’s Not So Ordinary Dub) – Chriss Ronson – Muri (Dandy aka Peter Makto & Gregory S. Remix) David Kassi – Everybody (Original Mix) Kiano & Below Bangkok – Deep Thoughts LP Dan.K – Beautiful String (BiG AL’s Stringless Dub) BiG AL – Away (Miss Disk Remix) Rishi K. – Purple Clouds (BiG AL’s Remix) Nikola Sofronovic – Aftersun (Yuriy From Russia) Spennu – Deep it Right (Original Mix)

To submit your Top 10, send in the above format to andy@infusion.ae

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Weird News...

What the fork?

Nightmare scenario. You’re starving, and the vending machine has swallowed your money, but your snack is stuck.

One American man took this injustice into his own hands as he used a forklift to free his chocolate bar. Robert McKevitt must have thought his luck was in after the heavy machinery released a further two bars. But, his joy was short-lived after he was eventually fired for inappropriate use of the company’s property. ‘That machine was trouble,’ the 27-year-old said. ‘They fired me, and now I hear they have all new vending machines

Plastic fantastic

A Californian woman who is obsessed with Barbie is having hypnotherapy treatment to make her more stupid. Blondie Bennett, 38, pays for weekly sessions designed to make her more easily confused and vacant.

She said: “I’ve had 20 sessions and I’m already starting to feel ditzy and confused all the time. Recently I went to pick a friend up at the airport and couldn’t remember if I needed to go to departures or arrivals.

Ms Bennet started dressing like Barbie in her teens, and has spent over Dhs100,000 on cosmetic surgery, and currently makes a living by selling sexy pictures of herself dressed as Barbie online.

Weird PICS Man(go) hunt A mango hunt is under way in Australia after thieves armed with heavy machinery managed to steal a 10-metre, seven tonne monument during a midnight heist.

PHOTO: RICHARD PEREZ

One of our favourite club managers, Zinc’s Kevin Young talks us through his David Beckham festish, XXXL t-shirts and his Superman G-strings…

How would you describe your style?

Classy, casual and eye catching!

And where do you get a lot of your clothes from, any Dubai gems?

I’m a big fan of British designer Ted Baker, most of my work clothes are from there, I’m not normally a fan of designer labels but I do like his work.

Do you have any fashion inspirations, or role models?

Well, I do like Justin Timberlake’s style, the man has class! And I may get some stick for this, but I like David Beckham’s style, just not the sarong, haha!

You must see a lot of different fashions and styles working in clubs – any that have made you laugh?

The “swagger boys” as I like to call them make me laugh! XXXL T-shirts and YOLO baseball caps.

And what’s the best way to dress to get noticed in a nightclub like Zinc?

Confidence is the key! Always try to add a touch of class to your outfit, if you’re shy and don’t ooze confidence then you’re just another person in the room.

What have been your biggest fashion disasters?

Forget the clothes, one time I dyed my hair with blonde highlights, haha! Enough said.

And if your house was burning down, what item of clothing would you rescue?

First would be my Longines watch I got from my girl, then it would be my superman G string, I mean... oh forget it, just the watch.

eat sleep rave repeat Karma Kafe

The latest stop on our dining quest is Souk Al Bahar institution, Karma Kafe, which cleverly blends a Pan-Asian fusion restaurant, with a bustling bar atmosphere, and panoramic Downtown views from the terrace. Our intrepid food reviewer Stephen Day went to see if 5 years on from its launch, it still stands out.

Dubai is back. The roads are busy, the Malls are heaving and new clubs and restaurants are popping up like flowers in spring. To run a successful eatery in the city these days is a tough task and one that requires a strong image, good food and an ever-growing need for reinvention. This is why we decided to visit a main stay of Dubai’s food culture as it has recently talked up a new menu for 2014.

Now in its fifth year, Karma Kafe is brought to you by the creators of Buddha Bar and whilst there are similarities

between the two, this establishment is much more focused on the food. Situated over the bridge that joins Souk Al Bahar and Dubai Mall, the terrace is one of the best places to view the hustle of the Mall and especially the Burj Kalifa and the fountain shows.

Once seated, we got to grips with a range of menus, covering drinks, wine and food, with a rather daunting array of choice. One word stood out though: fusion. Just because something can be put together, doesn’t mean it should (in my book), so I’ve always been on the skeptical side, but some of the combinations were intriguing enough for me to investigate further.

As seems to be de rigueur in the region at the moment, Karma Kafe talks of sharing plates.

I think this is a thinly veiled policy to ensure

we order more, so we stuck to our guns with a Tuna Sashimi and Shwarma Maki. The Tuna arrived swimming in a bath of Ponzu but was lovely and fresh, whilst keeping it light and delicate. The chicken Shawarma Maki on the other hand was a little heavy and cloyed slightly. Â We followed this with some hot appetisers: duck spring rolls, a standard on any Asian menu, 5-spice calamari and a Karma salad. All 3 dishes were delivered by Mario our waiter and he took the time to explain each element. The duck was moist inside the crisp roll, but I would have preferred a few more bits of cucumber and a little more sauce, perhaps a dipping dish would have been more appropriate rather than coming pre-dressed. The

calamari was crunchy and soft, whilst the salad was a nice contrast to the hot fried dishes. Â After taking in the second fountain show of the evening, our mains arrived, our own fusion version of Surf and Turf, with a Black Angus steak and Lava Prawns.

The steak was cooked well and the accompanying Wasabi-laced chimichurri really delivered a slap, but for me the Lava Prawns stood out as the dish of the night. The prawns were moist and packed full of flavour, all sat in a fresh and vibrant Kerala chili curry sauce, with lemongrass and chili dueling it out on my tongue. I could have quite happily just had a bowl of this with some rice and gone home happy. As can be the case with Pan-Asian

menus, desert can be something of an after thought, but the Black Sesame Crème Brule we ended on was rich and creamy with a delicate hint of sesame running across it.

As the clock struck nine we vacated our table and moved inside where the mood changes slightly: gone is the chilled out vibe of the terrace and we were met with a mixture of restaurant service and a more relaxed bar area, all of this accompanied by some background house spun by their resident DJ, giving you the easy option of carrying the night on.

Five years on, and Karma Kafe shows no sign of ageing or slowing down.

Karma Kafe, Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai, Dubai, 04 423 0909

MOVIE 300:

Rise Of An EmpirE More torso friendly ‘history’ lessons as the Greek army fight off the invading Persians, led by mortal turned God Xerxes.

Classification: 15 Director: Noam Munro Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Rodrigo Santoro, Eva Green

Need For Speed

Breaking Bad’s Jesse gets his big screen chance, as a fresh from prison street racer forced to join a cross country race with revenge in mind.

Classification: PG 13 Director: Scott Waugh Starring: Amber Heard, Kevin Costner, Hailee Steinfeld

PREVIEWS The English Teacher

A teacher’s life is disrupted when a former student returns to her small town after failing as a playwright in New York.

Classification: 15 Director: Craig Zisk Starring: Julianne Moore, Greg Kinnear

The Grand Budapest Hotel Off kilter goodness from Wes Anderson, as he tells the tale of a legendary concierge at a famous European Hotel between the wars.

Classification: 15 Director: Wes Anderson Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Edward Norton

Disclaimer: Film release schedules are subject to change, please check reelcinemas.ae, grandcinemas.com and voxcinemas.com for full schedules.

MARCH 13

Booth w@nkers The Monkey isn’t a fan of crowded spaces, I like my space – like when you’re queuing up at the bank, and that guy behind you keeps bumping into you, literally breathing down your neck so you can feel the warm, stinky breath on your hairy neck.

Makes me want to get Gorilla on his ass.

So, when I’m DJing, I like my space, I like room to work, swing my arms and work my opposable thumbs. What I don’t like are booth w@nkers.

They’re the sort that sneak/blow their way into the DJ booth, and then stand there, spilling drinks, dancing like everyone’s watching and looking at your DJ equipment like it’s the Hadron Collider.

I just about understand when the promoter does it, after all they’re the one running the show. But when randoms barge in on the action, bringing nothing but a shrieking voice/unwanted DJ advice and a look that says ‘I may well vomit, any second’ and are only there to flaunt it like a sub-rate Paris Hilton, then that’s my cue to get medieval.

And if you still have no idea about what I’m chatting about, check out any Hot Creations crowd video on Youtube. W@nkers.

Monkey Out...

The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.

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