Infusion #295 : 14 May - 28 May ’17

LIFE IN STEREO Kevin Saunderson • Road Trip • The Weekend Social Stereo Arcade • Jamie Jones • Sunstroke On the Radar • 50 Cent • The Flip Side and more

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TALAL BUDEBS Publisher CHARL CHAKA Managing Partner charlchaka@infusion.ae FRAK FU Sales/marketing sales@infusion.ae STU TODD Editor editor@infusion.ae PAULA MANGUEIRA Design design@infusion.ae SONIA IGNACIO Operations operations@infusion.ae

House of Cards is back for a new season starting May 30th. Kevin Spacey and his brutal take on the goings on in the White House has enjoyed a cult following since it piloted in 2013, the series is now in its 5th series.

Check out Red Bull Curates and their fantastic collaboration with artist Guido van Helten to create the modular art piece Jigsaw.

Made up of 63 shipping containers sprayed out of formation and only re-assembled once all were fully sprayed. UNBELIVABLE.

CONTRIBUTORS: Dan Fafy, Ginger Silvera, Neil Henderson, Stu Todd

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I had to check the date to see that it wasn’t April 1st when it was announced that icebergs would be towed from Antarctica to the coast of Fujairah. I am still not convinced this isn’t a practical joke.

If there is one thing that I just cannot abide and I see this week in, week out and it is the barefaced rudeness extended to service staff in Dubai’s hotels.

This is mostly from British expats, sometimes while under the influence, but often not the case.

Makes me ashamed to be British sometimes.

Say What?

BREAKING NEWS

ADIDAS X ROLAND Adidas have partnered with Roland to produce a concept shoe modelled on the famous TR-808.

The high-top shoe named Kicks is Mi Adidas TR-808 (Disturbing the Peace) will even have music tech built in to the shoe to allow some sort of re-production of sound.

OMNI DIRECTIONAL Another new nightclub has opened in Dubai, without the same fanfare as BASE club, but as you can see from the image below, OMNI at the Wafi Complex is a grand affair and boasts an impressive lighting rig and massive sound system. Full match report in due course.

MEME CORNER

WE LOVE Emirates golf club

Consistently playing host to some of the seasons top events including #BRAAIDAYDXB, Food Truck Jam and of course the allencompassing Groove on the Grass, Emirates Golf Club (EGC) is very much a back to basics venue and offers a little slice of nature in an otherwise concrete jungle. In a city that is comprised largely of concrete, glass and attitude, EGC offers respite from all of that.

Due to the golf course’s fairly central location, this makes the all-important task of attending these events extremely easy, more importantly to get home is a cinch due to the Nakheel Metro stop and of course the waiting lines of taxi’s that looks like something from a Carlsberg advert.

Emirates Golf Club and its surrounding greenery is something of an event organisers dream and the blank canvas that it offers can really offer the sky as the limit to the events that are held there. For a prime example of this, look at the events that Groove on the Grass and #BRAAIDAYDXB hold on its green lawns; the staging, sound and production is closer to Glastonbury than a golf course. One lasting image from attending an event held at EGC is the marrying of the wide open space of the golf course with the expanding metropolis looming high in the background, that is what makes this a truly unique, flexible and treasured event space.

What we did

CAVALLI: 101

Cavalli has recently launched a new Sunday night called 101. Where the first 101 women to sign up for the guest list receive free drinks from 12am to 3am, fellas can also receive an open bar for 500 AED upon entrance. For its launch night, the place was packed early with a nice diverse crowd. With a great sound system, lighting and live entertainment of lovely women on high swings above the crowd. It was a definite crowd pleaser. DJ Mad Beats provided an open format performance, which consisted of electro, some rnb, reggaeton, trap and hip-hop classics. classic hip-hop songs such as House of Pain “Jump Around” and Montell Williams “This Is How We Do It” mixed in as electro versions kept the energy and the crowd hyped for an enjoyable, fun 101 night. For guest list contact 050 991 0400 and for further information head to facebook.com/CavalliClub.

Words by Ginger Silvera

50 CENT AT BASE CLUB

In the run up to the opening weekend of Dubai Design Districts newest nightspot, it was clear that BASE club was going to be something that should to be experienced rather than hearing about.

Once inside the cavernous venue, it was clear that no expense had been spared in elevating BASE to the top of the Dubai clubbing tree.

The laser and light production was worth trip alone and positions BASE someplace between super club and Olympics opening ceremony.

When we arrived DJ Magnum was already putting the sound system and indeed the fixtures and fittings through their paces. Much to my delight Hard Drive’s house classic “Deep Inside” made a brief appearance before disappearing in to the melee of supersized baselines and snare drum rolls.

When a larger than life 50 Cent arrived on stage and began performing it was obvious just how close the crowd would be to some of the biggest artists in the world and how special it would be to experience up close and personal renditions of some his biggest tracks like “Candy Shop”, “In the Club” and some of his newer tracks such as the opening track to his executive produced TV show “Power” – “Big Rich Town”. Sure, the club is set up with booths in mind, but the size of the club’s production coupled with the massive sound system means that regardless of where you are in the club you won’t be far from the action. I, for one can’t wait to see what BASE have up their sleeve for next season.

Words by Stu Todd

RICK ROSS AT BASE CLUB

One of the newest venues in Dubai, BASE club in Design District welcomed Rick Ross to grace the atmosphere. Base has a beautiful crowd with an awesome throbbing bass system, with decked out lighting, fog and fuel girls who gave a fire pre-show to Rick Ross’ performance. The night started off with DJ Sadcat playing old school hip-hop favorites such as Naughty by Nature’s “Hip-Hop Hooray” then followed DJ Mr. Levier playing hits from Big Sean and 2 Chainz which hyped up the crowd prior to Rick Ross taking to the stage.

Rick gave a concert performance, playing favourite tracks such as, “Everyday I’m Hustlin” “B.M.F”, “You Know I Got It”, “I’m On One” and “Diced Pineapples” for the lovely ladies in the crowd. He also performed recent hits such as “Purple Lamborghini” and “Trap, Trap, Trap.” With a catalogue of popular songs, Rick Ross had the crowd singing along. It was a definite treat to see him perform, and with a well-equipped venue like BASE it is a place to visit to watch performances by your favourite hip hop artists.

Words by Ginger Silvera

GROOVE ON THE GRASS, SEASON CLOSING, EMIRATES GOLF COURSE

Since Deian and his team first launched the idea of a Dubai minifestival on the grass, its internationally scene-defining bookings spraying cutting edge electronica over its denizens, they have led the field. They’ve not only pioneered the niche but also secured their position as ring-leaders, an archetypal bastion of Dubai’s outdoor festival circuit paving the way for the likes of equally superb events All Day I Dream & Piknic Electronik to follow. So, a send-off to their 5th season was suitably rammed with another stonking line-up offering punters a degree of sophistication and refinement in bookings that no other outfit in the region can compete with.

At the top of the list we have techno diva Ellen Alien mashing up industrial cuts for a turbulent set of rollers, ably supported by Octave One’s live studio-rigged set with all the bells, toys and whistles any producer could wish for on stomping display. Coming on after Kenny Glasgow’s bouncy and smiley take on deeper techno which saw him cavorting about the stage as much as anyone soaking up the tunes down on the ground, while the likes of the sundowners and game-starter sets from Hunter/Game, Adam Rahman, Bachir Salloum, (Hoolz) and Shemroon propping up the local talent pool to kick it all off. Altogether another superbly curated affair, the tunes tying together the whole event from the exotic F&B and artisan stalls to the sublimely tuned sound system and stagecraft theatrics, this is a place bursting at the seams to grow to the next level after the summer’s heat has passed. Watch this space for just what they have in store.Words by Neil Henderson

CUCUMBER DAY – WEDNESDAY, MAY 17

Yes, you read that correctly, on Wednesday, May 17 Hendrick’s have partnered with several top Dubai bars to celebrate the life of the humble cucumber and it’s connection to the refreshing juniper berry based tipple. By bringing your own cucumbers to bars such as Copper Dog (Double Tree by Hilton, JBR), Bridgewater Tavern (JW Marriot Marquis, Business Bay) or El Sur (The Westin Hotel, Dubai Marina) to name but a few of the venues, they will be happy to exchange your green fruit for a Hendrick’s and tonic.

LUCAS LEAO LAUNCHES “NOS” AT STEREO ARCADE

British-Brazilian singer-song writer Lucas Leao is due to unveil his debut album “Nos” and to celebrate he will be throwing a launch party at beloved music venue Stereo Arcade on Saturday, May 20th. In conjunction with People Please, GAD Music Production, Sole Agency and GoPlayTheWorld the launch party will also feature performances from Dubai-based prog-rock duo The Losing Party, and punkrock quartet Typo will perform as special guests. Entry will be free for this event, so come and bid farewell to the season with a whole host of industry friends.

PLUS MINUS REVEAL SUMMER GUESTS

After their fine series of summer parties last year, Plus Minus have considerably upped the ante and have locked in a massive array of some of Europe’s finest selectors and live acts. Little information was available at time of going to press but we can let you in on who will be playing. Running weekly from Friday, June 30 the launch party will see a live set from an exciting trio of Romanian artists, Premiesku which is made up George G and Livio & Roby. The following weeks will see sets from Gunther, Cristi Cons, Ruede Hagelstein (Live), San Proper, Emanuel Satie, Mathias Meyer, Marco Resmann, Laura Jones, &me and La Fleur. As you can see there is something for everybody in this line-up and as always, each week will feature support sets from some of the regions finest DJ’s.

+971 52 881 8888 | bookings@viproom-dubai.com JW MARRIOTT MARQUIS, BUSINESS BAY Valet parking available

SUNSHINE STATE From humble beginnings throwing intimate catamaran parties to being the only independent promoter to have survived the recent cull at legendary night spot 360°, Sunstroke have just celebrated their 6th birthday with Terry Hunter. Infusion sat down with head honcho Jack Woodcock to get the whole story.

First of all, Jack congratulations on celebrating your 6th birthday. With Sunstroke starting out as a string of catamaran parties, at what point did you decide to make the transition to clubs or land based venues?Thank you, without the Sunstroke family the amazing people that regularly come to our events it would not have been possible. The boat parties grew so quickly from 40 people to 80 but it was when we were regularly selling 150 person yachts every 6 weeks that we realised we had something and that it could move to dry land.

What sort of similar nights were around at the time or were there none putting on the type of music you liked? When we started out there wasn’t really anyone playing our style of uplifting soulful, disco-house maybe a few big one off events or guest DJ’s.

Must Have Soul and Audio Tonic for me were the bench mark and

musically I think we were positioned in between the two of them.

How did the first year of Sunstroke parties go? The 1st year on the boat parties was amazing. We could do no wrong every party was amazing, great vibe, great people awesome music.

Over the past 6 years what has been the most difficult period for Sunstroke? I would say year 3 we bounced around a few venues trying to find the right home. Infinity Lounge, Dusk Terrace, Story Roof Top, Dek on 8, Club Silk (oh my). The parties were still great fun, we had people like Grant Nelson, Graeme Park, Andy Ward, Shane D and Random Soul but the venues just didn’t feel right.

Has a move to 360° always been at the top of the list for Sunstroke? I’ve been in Dubai 11 years (the same time that 360 has

been open). It has always been a great place for house music. So yes!!! Just to DJ there once was a dream so to have a monthly event in that venue now is amazing.

You have now been at 360° for just over 2 years, how has things changed for Sunstroke since that move?

I think we have settled into the venue and really found our groove, the Sunstroke family enjoy coming down and every one is comfortable. We have now moved from Thursdays to Fridays, so we are now up against some really big acts in the city but we have such an amazing and loving following that we are holding our own. The people we are booking for next season really show how much we have grown over the 2 years.

You have had some amazing artists walk up the ramp to Sunstroke, what has been your most memorable night since the move? There are so many great ones. I really love the music at every event. If I had to pick a few Grant Nelson at our 1st party at 360°, it was pure class people were losing their minds. Graeme Park and John Morales in December 2015 disco and tough house, that was so good. Other parties were Joey Negro’s legendary set in April 2016 and DJ Spen in November 2016, he was out of this world.

And over all from the past 6 years? I still think back to our 1st event at the 360. I had put every thing I had on the line. I was so nervous, I was counting the buggies from the DJ booth for what felt like hours. There is one moment I will never forget. I had just introduced Grant Nelson to the decks. I took a step back and looked around and the venue was heaving with people, packed to the rafters I think I might have shed a little tear.

If you could have anybody perform at Sunstroke, who would it be and why? Masters at Work, these guys have been my favorites since I started DJing. Ministry of Sound Sessions 5 was inspiring back in the day and I even saw them do a 10-hour set way back, and yes I was there for the whole thing.

Will you be making any return to catamaran parties in the future? We still do a couple of boat parties every year but I really want to go back to the original 40-person catamaran parties, going back to our roots, keep it intimate that is what Sunstroke is all about for me.

What are your plans for Sunstroke during the summer months? We will be focusing on our record label Sunstroke Recordings. I think we have around 12 tracks lined up for release over the next few months with tracks from people like Timmy Vegas, Sunstroke resident CN Williams, Dubai’s Kicks & Key and Somalie.

MEET THE RESIDENTS CN WILLIAMS What was your background prior to joining Sunstroke?

I’ve been a UK based international DJ and producer for some time now and been lucky enough to travel the world, but Sunstroke is the reason I moved to Dubai as it that good!

What track is your secret weapon at the moment?

Lately when producing tracks, I have been thinking about how they will sound at Sunstroke, so at the moment my new release “Paradise” seems to be working as a secret weapon!

Best DJ set you have heard at Sunstroke? Some amazing and legendary sets from Joey Negro to Grant Nelson but I have to give this to resident Danny Kwang as his set on the Terry Hunter night. He was on fire!!

DANNY KWANG What was your background prior to joining Sunstroke?

I was one of the Musthavesoul residents at 360° when I first moved to Dubai. Fortunate to have been asked to play at some great nights, including Superheroes, Deep Crates and the truly wonderful Sunny Vibe Up. I also started Cuts Above with Jonny Thornhill.

When has been your standout set for Sunstroke? Would have to be the warm up for DJ Spen at 360°. Chuffed that he was happy with the job I did for him.

Best DJ set you have heard at Sunstroke? It’s head to head between Joey Negro & Spen...

JOHN SPOOR When has been your standout set for Sunstroke? Probably my warm up for John Morales and Graeme Park was my favourite, Graeme recorded it and used it on his global radio show so it must have been ok.

What track is your secret weapon? Dan Hartman - Relight My Fire.

If you could warm up for any artist at Sunstroke who would it be and why? Derrick Carter playing disco, because it’s Derrick Carter playing disco. Do I really need to explain that one?

MISS FOSTER What was your background prior to joining Sunstroke?

I’ve spent the last 4 years DJing at various venues in London, Ibiza and Berlin. I was also a radio host, vocalist and secondary school teacher.

Since joining the Sunstroke team what do you feel you bring to the brand? A cheeky bit of flair and being the only female resident, some sweet female attitude. I believe I bring a plethora of quality house music to our Sunstroke parties; old and new, and some killer moves on the dance floor (maybe!).

When has been your standout set for Sunstroke? I was the headliner for Sunstroke back in January this year, I really enjoyed that.

What track is your secret weapon? Charles Feelgood & Felipe Avelar – ‘Bebop’, an awesome remix of Everyday People and a guaranteed party starter.

L A S T N I G H T B E F O R E W E S W I TC H O F F T H E D E C K S !

THE ELEVATOR

Few artists have made such an impact on electronic music than Kevin Saunderson, be it with his early productions with Juan Atkins as Kreem (Triangle of Love), to his chart smashing popdance cross over group Inner City, to his underground leaning E-Dancer project. Saunderson is also responsible for creating one of the most widely used sounds in drum & bass – the Reese Bassline.

It is impossible to speak about Kevin Saunderson and not reference his cohorts Juan Atkins and Derrick May, also known as The Belleville Three. TB3 is the epitome of Detroit techno and the founding fathers of the genre from where much of electronnic music is derived from. Although they grew up playing together and have worked together since day dot, it

is only now that they are actually touring under the moniker The Belleville Three. With their debut tour kicking off at Californian festival Coachella recently it was widely regarded as one of the performances of the weekend, which hardly seems surprising given the trio’s pedigree.

For a true 360° experience of the Detroit genesis, make sure you give serious consideration to make the trip over to Movement Festival at the end of this month where the Godfathers of Techno will be dishing out some serious lessons in electronic music. For now, you will need make do with catching Kevin in about the most intimate venue you will see him in for a very long time, and that special place is known as Analog Room. Make sure you get there early as it will be standing room only from doors open.

Kevin Saunderson plays Analog Room closing party on Thursday, May 18, Industrial Avenue, The Westin Hotel, 10pm to 3am, entry TBA

ROAD TRIP Like most DJ’s based in Dubai during the off season I take a well-earned “rest” and I head west to experience all that is great and good about Europe’s visceral electronic music culture. For this year’s trip, I will be taking in the 2 pillars of the Euro dance industry. For the first leg of my trip I will be revisiting a city I fell in love with when I was there last year, and that city is Berlin. Daubed by many as being the hipster capital of the world, Berlin is a unique beast in that it plays by its own rules. Since my visit last June, I have vowed to return as soon as possible. The second leg of my Europe trip is a city that comes a close second to Berlin in its creative vision - Amsterdam. With some of the best festivals and clubs in Europe, the Dutch Sin City has one of the most forward thinking music policies around and can more than match Berlin in the party stakes.

BERLIN

Put simply - Berlin is raw. The clubs and bars bristle with an energy that those in attendance often feel like they are truly part of something special. On my last trip to Berlin I was lucky enough to get along to 2 of the best clubs in the world – Berghain/ Panoramabar and Club der Visionaire. These venues boast some of the best line-ups in Berlin and can be assured to be hosting sick parties while I am in town, but there is so much more to Berlin’s ever expanding music scene.

Akasha Festival June, 16-18 A new comer to the Berlin festival scene with a diverse line-up that boasts some up and coming artists that I have been keeping tabs on since last year. Young Marco, Shanti Celeste and Call Super have been pricking up ears all over the place with a heavy release and remix schedule coming on some of Europe’s top imprints such as Dekmantel, Running Back and Houndstooth. There are of course bankable acts such as Âme, Tornado Wallace and an artist I have been looking forward to catching for a long time – Robag Wruhme.

What is most interesting about the 3-day festival, is that it will also offer an artistic flair in its production that is often not found in festivals. Boasting 4 stages – Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma, each will provide its own unique direction with regards to its music policy and visualisation. Akasha is surely to be an experience for the senses.

Live At Robert Johnson @ Else Sunday, June 18 Frankfurt club Robert Johnson is considered by some to have the best sound system in Europe, but when you consider that the capacity is just under 250 you get some idea of just highly prized this venue is. The clubs label arm, Live At Robert Johnson has this year embarked on a tour to celebrate the launch of the compilation Lifesaver 3, and lucky for me they will pitching up to the colourful, open-air surroundings of Else for an open ended party featuring some of the labels star artists including club owner Ata and a personal favourite of mine, Roman FlĂźgel.

Else is a sprawling club situated along the welcoming arms of the River Spree and, like most clubs in Berlin, benefits from a free thinking operating policy. Just make sure you leave all inhibitions in Dubai. As well as the plethora of mind expanding bars and nightclubs, Berlin also offers a myriad of museums, parks, excellent shopping and of course restaurants and cafes. Full report to come.

AMSTERDAM

Like Berlin, Amsterdam offers a ridiculous amount of attractions for those of a certain disposition, and depending on what sort of music you like you can find something to whet your appetite every night of the week. Having visited with friends shortly before moving to Dubai, I found that a few days was not nearly enough time to truly discover the heartbeat of this interesting and massively creative city. With me pretty much living full time on a beach, I crave the bustle of Europe and its well-trodden cobbled streets. Of course, the excitement of experiencing new underground music venue and discovering musical gems is what drives me most.

Awakenings June 24th & 25th One of the many reasons behind me making this trip to Amsterdam was to take in this behemoth event. Taking place just outside Amsterdam in the hamlet of Spaarnwoude, Awakenings brings together most of the heavy hitters from the world of techno and tougher house genres and combines mind blowing stage production with a welcoming vibe that epitomises European clubbing. The 2-day festival (June 25 & 26) will feature sets from the likes of Ricardo Villalobos, Maceo Plex, Ben Klock and Adam Beyer, and that is just a small amount of the artists performing on the first day! The following day offers a serious amount of timetable juggling, as much of the day is packed full of headline sets with more clashes than Paris Hilton mixing unaided. Sunday’s highlights are too many to list so Sven Vath, Floorplan (LIVE), Joris Voorn and Loco Dice will have to suffice. Again, full match report in next issue.

De School As well as Amsterdam being home to huge capacity events like Awakenings, it is also home to De School, a 700-capacity club that has been opened on the site of an old technical school and utilises the schools old bicycle shed to house its main dancefloor. If you didn’t know by now the Dutch have a lot of bikes. Also, when I said that before that this club isn’t wet behind the ears when it comes to their programming, De School is ran by the same team behind legendary club Trouw. This will give you some idea about the industry chops this club has. Like Berlin, some clubs in Amsterdam tend not to announce their line-ups prior to the end of the previous month’s program and so at this point it is unknown who will be playing when I am in town, but as the club supports local artists you can be assured that the calibre of guests will be high. Young Marco, Job Jobse, Joy Orbison and Tessela will all guest at the club before the month of May is out.

Shelter Another relative newcomer to Amsterdam, but, like De School, is a club that is not just a club. Shelter prides itself on the quality of its programming as well as the overall experience of the clubber. With it being labelled as a home away from home for the veteran clubber, it is almost a certainty that this is not the venue to go to if you like taking selfies and enjoy sparklers in your oversized bottles of vodka.

Here is a haven for those that have come to dance and meet likeminded individuals from around the world.

On the dates that I will be in town, the Friday night session (June 23) will see Italian born, Berlin based super-selector Mr. Ties control the dancefloor from open to close. The following night will be a night of techno of the highest order with Berghain resident and Klockworks label contributor Etapp Kyle heading things up, closely followed

by Sandrien and Mirella Kroes. Did I also mention it has a 24-hour license? It is becoming apparent why so many Middle East based DJ’s and producers flock to Europe when their dancefloors fall silent.

If you want to keep tabs on my trip you can keep an eye on the Infusion Magazine Instagram (@infusionmagazine) and of course facebook

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES

Whenever Jamie is in town you can be sure there will be fireworks and an onslaught of jacking, grooving house and techno is a certainty. What makes his arrival in Dubai even more special is that he will be punctuating yet another amazing season for Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE with the closing set on Friday, May 19.

Jamie Jones is an artist that you could be mistaken for thinking that has been at the vanguard of the house music scene for longer than his 6 years at the top affords him. Since the launch of Hot Creations in 2010, Jones’ and Lee Foss’s label has been steadily putting out a slew of low slung groovers and in the process changed the face of house music. It was the following year that Jamie capped off a fantastic year by being voted number one DJ in the world by influential publication Resident Advisor. That was also the year that Jamie’s moody, bass heavy remix of Azari & III’s “Hungry for the Power” could be heard literally everywhere that played amplified electronic music.

Since 2011 however, Jones has gone on to become one of the biggest and most influential artist of modern electronic music. It is also clear that he has not forgotten his roots and has been more than happy to give a leg up to younger artists, most notably the lovable Geordie Patrick Topping, who is currently following in Jamie Jones’ footsteps and making the step up from rising star to bonafide headliner. When you add this together with his commercial success as a chart bothering live act Hot Natured, Jamie Jones is the real deal and the perfect artist to put a pin in Blue Marlin’s season.

Jamie Jones & Serge Devant play Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE closing party Friday, May 19 at Golden Tulip Hotel, Ghantoot, 1pm to 11pm, free entry via guest list.

FLIPPING OUT

Firstly, congrats on The Flip Side becoming a living and breathing thing. This may seem like an obvious question, but why did you decide to open a record store?

Thanks for the love and support.

I greatly appreciate it. I had to open the shop simply because I'm a vinyl collector and there was nowhere in town for me to buy vinyl from. They say necessity is the mother of invention. I didn't invent vinyl but you see what I’m saying.

Has the concept grown since its first inception, or has your aim and vision always been clear from the start?It hasn’t changed at all. I had a very clear vision for it from the start. I’ve just realized a lot of other ways to be able to use the space other than just a record shop.

Once it becomes a physical thing you really start to see all the other possibilities. One thing I didn’t anticipate is the amount of details. There are so many details. The reason I decided to go it alone was because I had a clear and concise vision for what I want to the shop to be & I was in no way going to compromise that. The down side of that was that I had to do pretty much everything on my own. That was and is insanely exhausting. It will all be worth it in the end.

With you being a crate digger you must have visited hundreds of record stores, has any one store influenced The Flip Side? I guess they all have in one way or another. I did work at Halcyon Records in Brooklyn, New York. I definitely learnt the most from Halcyon and Shaun. I'd say that I’ve taken all the little bits of all the stores and tried to combine them into one. My

Shadi Megallaa has travelled a long and arduous road since deciding to realise his dreams and open up his own record store here in Dubai, but now he is reaching the end of that road and we can finally lift the lid on the whole process. Shadi, on behalf of all record collectors, crate diggers and DJ’s – we salute you.

aim is to have a shop that is great by world standards. I've got my work cut out for me. I really do wish I had the chance to visit other stores solely for the purpose of digging for vinyl but for the last one and a half years I’ve been working on the shop. Thank god for that 2-week vacation in Thailand. I could use another one right about now.

Apart from house and techno, what genres will you be stocking? We'll be stocking all kinds of music from all around the world. At the moment

we've got blues, jazz, soul, funk, reggae/dub, hip hop and regional music from Africa and North Africa. We'll be getting much more in the future, but you gotta start somewhere.

Apart from house and techno, what genres will you be stocking?We’ll be stocking all kinds of music from all around the world. At the moment we’ve got blues, jazz, soul, funk, reggae/dub, hip hop and regional music from Africa and North Africa. We’ll be getting much more in the future, but you gotta start somewhere.

What has been the most difficult aspect of setting up the store? Wow. I would say everything. Don’t get me wrong all the music related stuff and dealing with distributors has been nothing but joy. It’s all the construction work and dealing with contractors that has been the bane of my existence for the last year and a half. You just have to power through it. Mind over matter.

What is your ultimate goal for The Flip Side? World domination.

What events do you have planned over the summer? As for now I’ll be doing my radio show, The Shady Shadow Show from the shop. We'll also be doing a new radio show strictly to showcase dub music in all its forms. We'll also be showing music documentaries once a month or possibly biweekly. Sky is the limit really, but I just want to make sure everything is running smoothly.

I also have a collaboration in the works with Mirzam Chocolate factory which is my nextdoor neighbour. Watch out for that.

Head over to facebook.com/TheFlipSideDXB for more information.

Do you have any grand plans for Record Store Day next April?

Record store day just passed but I did have a private Shady Shadow Show the day after. It was quite fitting that it was the very 1st event that I host in the shop. I’m not such a huge supporter of Record store day, but that’s a whole different conversation. For me, every day is record store day.

It has been publicized that the sale of vinyl is at an all-time high, do you think this will impact the quality of the records being released via this format or does the price involved always ensure quality control? To be honest all those so called “studies” are not to be trusted. Sure, vinyl sales are rising and have been for a few years but there is a lot they don’t tell you. If you’d like to discuss it further I believe that topic should be its own feature.

There is no way to explain it properly without getting into details.

Is there a wealth of Middle Eastern vinyl only labels that will be making the grade at The Flip Side? There are quite a few local labels mainly within the electronic, house/techno realm but I’m hoping the shop will encourage a few more to pop up. I'm also planning to start a Flip Side label but I’ve got too much on my plate at the moment. The labels in our local section at the moment are Ark to Ashes, Bedouin, Boogie Box, Marionette and Volt Music.

Until now none of these labels could be bought in Dubai and I’m very excited to be putting them on my shelves. They are all great labels & you'll be hearing them soon.

What labels are you most excited about bringing to your store? For me it’s more about incredible music. There are hundreds of amazing labels out there. We’ve already got a great stock of records but in the future once the system is running smoothly we’ll be getting new shipments once a week at least, if not more. I’m just very excited to see what people dig and what they want more of.

It will be a conversation with people. That’s the beauty of a record shop. Over time I will know everyone’s taste & will recommend music for them. That is exactly why I love going to record shops. Especially the ones where you know the staff and the know your taste in music. The whole point is to also turn people on to new music they don’t know about.

You have also had a lovely sound system installed too, tell us more about the system and who installed it? The sound system in the shop is a Martin Audio system that is nothing short of incredible. My good friends over at Levels A/V in Abu Dhabi have been incredibly helpful in that regard. Hassan Alwan and the boys from Levels really know their stuff. That was about the only part of the whole fit-out process that didn't cause me a multiple heart

attacks. So, for that I’m eternally grateful to them. You just really need to hear it. Talking about it won't do it justice. I might have gone a little overboard with the system, but I don't regret it. That is one thing I wasn't going to hold back on.

Will you be re-enacting scenes from Human Traffic while in the store? That is a given, but I’ve got a few moves up my sleeve that you haven’t seen as well. Let’s also not forget Empire records. That’s another classic record shop film. We might have to show both of those in the shop.

The million-dollar question is, when will The Flip Side be officially open for business? If I had a dirham for every time I’ve been asked that, I’d be on a yacht in the Caribbean somewhere. The official date is May 22nd. One way or another I will open the doors on the 22nd.

Do you have any big plans for a launch party or will you just let your records do the talking for you?To be honest. I just want to open the doors and sell records. The process has been so gruelling and I just want to get on with it. On the other hand, I’ve worked so hard on this and I need have a celebration and step back for a second to enjoy the accomplishment. It will be announced when I put out the invite for the opening. As with everything else. I really hope I didn’t come off as negative in this interview but I blame you for pouring salt on my wounds.

Thanks for the love & support and I’ll be seeing you all on May 22nd.

LIFE IN STEREO

One of the most exciting new music venue to spring up in Dubai in recent times is a gem of a place tucked away on the bottom floor of The Doubltree by Hilton, JBR. Stereo Arcade marries a club space on one side of its reception with a music venue/pub on the other side. Did we also mention that the “reception” is a fully kitted out retro games arcade? We sat down with Stereo Arcade founder Samer Hamadeh to find out more about this venue with a fantastic split personality.

How are things down at Stereo Arcade?

The energy at Stereo Arcade is always incredible and we have so many new things happening so it’s tough to get bored.

How have you found life in JBR since opening your doors?

Life is better by the beach.

JBR has changed a lot in the last two years so we’re always trying our best to become the go-to neighbourhood nightlife destination.

What has been your favourite event at Stereo Arcade this season and why?

Tough one! We’ve had Comedy

Central shoot a TV special, Oddisee perform live & we hosted a Stereo Arcade pop up at the Guns N Roses concert. All incredible experiences.

Where do you spend most of your time? Club or Live room?

Mostly the club side on weekends; the live room on weekdays.

What was your musical/movie upbringing as a child?

On my Walkman: Grunge rock almost exclusively with some random hip hop.

On my VCR: Mostly cartoons like Voltron, Thundercats, He Man, GI Joe - and eventually any movie Steven Spielberg made.

Has that had a major impact on the design of the club or has the design ques something that you have picked up later in life?

Not from a design perspective, but definitely from a brand development perspective.

Where or what was your inspiration when designing Stereo Arcade?

I’m not a designer by trade or education, so I write an actual story and it starts from there.

Stereo Arcade in particular was my tribute to video arcades of the 80s and the two rooms flanking the arcade (left & right) were meant to be fun spaces that could evolve over time into fresh concepts.

Do you model Stereo Arcade on a particular club/venue or is the design a combination of elements?

I make it a point to clear my head of any noise when I’m developing a concept- that includes going to any venues or doing any research online- which is what makes my concepts unique.

Where did the idea for the split club/live venue come from?

Simple- stereo sound is recorded in two channels- hence the left & right rooms, and I wanted to ‘hide’ two rooms on either side of the arcade.

Have you seen the appetite for live music grow in Dubai since Stereo Arcade joined the scene?

Dubai has always had an appetite for live music, and I’m happy we got a chance to be a big part of that.

What do you find makes a good live music venue?

Stage placement, quality of sound & venue layout. In that order.

What is your favourite video game from the reception?

Super Mario Bros- AKA the game that took my love of video games to the next level.

What game would you like to add to the arcade that is currently not on offer?

We have thousands of games & we update them regularly- so if there’s anything YOU guys want, let us know & we’ll make it happen.

What do you see the future of the venue being?

I want Stereo Arcade to evolve, as a venue and as a brand. The design itself- with the venue being split into two- is already prepared for that and that’s what I’m currently working on.

How do you see being able to improve it?

Gears are in motion- we are already developing a re-do of the live room area and we will announce it very soon.

Who would play at your dream event? (club/live areas) Club: Justice Live: Pearl Jam or The Cure.

What do you have planned during the hot summer months?

A relaunch of the pub/live room it’s going to be epic!

You can find Stereo Arcade on the bottom floor (left hand side) of The Double Tree by Hilton, JBR. Head over to stereoarcade.com for more information.

ON THE RADAR HOA CLOSING W/ SHADES MAY 18 – BRIDGEWATER TAVERN

BASSWORX SEASON CLOSING MAY 18 – CASA LATINA

STEREO CLUB CLOSING W/ RAMON TAPIA MAY 19 – BRIDGEWATER TAVERN

JAMIE JONES MAY 19 – BLUE MARLIN IBIZA UAE

FRANKIE RIZARDO MAY 19 - 360°

MARTIN SOLVEIG MAY 19 – ZERO GRAVITY

FUTURE SAILOR W/ TALL BLACK GUY MAY 19 – DUBAI MARINA

MARK KNIGHT MAY 24 – Q43

WE ARE OPEN MMI ARMADA JLT

Locate us at

TEL NO. 04 425 1701

LOTS OF SPECIAL OFFERS AND GIVEAWAYS IN-STORE

Soundstage WALTER SCALZONE

Globe-trotting percussionist Walter Scalzone sits down with Infusion to chat about his own instrument, his travel plans for the coming season and of course his favourite piece of kit.

My biggest gig ever was…

Last year when I performed for Pacha in Mauritius.

I’m best known for…

Spicing up the entire atmosphere of a venue with rhythm and energy that engage and wow the crowd.

I’m most proud of…

Creating my own instrument, The Wa(l)ter Drums, unique in the Middle East. A visually stunning, high impact entertainment option which I have taken to 32 different venues in 1 year.

The artist I’d most like to work with is…

Mademoiselle Sabah, resident DJ of Nikki Beach Dubai & Ibiza. She thinks differently when on a set with a performer and gives a lot of energy, which is essential.

One thing you may not know about me is that…

I sustain a small community of African kids in my hometown in Italy, the same where I banged my first drum 22 years ago. This is a special place for me, where everything started and I feel the need to give something back now.

This year, I’m playing in…

New York again, Naples, UAE and around the Middle East.

My sound is described as…

Energetic, engaging, eclectic.

My music sounds like…

Tu–pa tu-pa tutututu-pa.

If I had to live in one decade it would be…

Luisito Quintero recording and touring with Louie Vega.

The one piece of music kit I can’t live without is…

My electronic percussion with over 600 percussion sounds from all over the world allowing me the flexibility to perform on different styles of music, from house to chill out.

youtube.com/naplescore

DJ BOOTH: MADEMOISELLE SABAH

Image credit Ego_Production_Dubai

Infusion gets the lowdown from French DJ and resident at Nikki Beach on her dreams and accomplishments…

One thing you might don’t know about me but…I’m an ex-hip hop choreographer, I used to teach hip-hop for 10 years in my hometown in France.

My worst job ever was…Not one was bad, I took a lesson from each one of them, and they were all related to “connecting with people”, which is the base for me today as a DJ. My favourite ever record is…If I have to dance like no one is watching I would choose “I’m Every Woman” by Whitney Houston.

Dubai music scene is…Unbelievable. As I DJ in Ibiza as well every summer, I have a very good balance here as the line-up is incredible week after week. What I like about Dubai is you can have every kind of music, from jazz to soul, to hip hop to opera. I like Dubai because of the choice.

I’m really proud of… What I did here in Dubai in one year as a resident DJ at Nikki Beach. Our baby is growing and every week is a new challenge.

What track could you drop in every set… I can easily drop an accapella that I like from Mr. V, saying “Music brings people together”.

I can’t live without…My sneakers .

My biggest DJ achievement…Is around the corner, coming soon :) My guilty pleasure is…Eating ice cream and m&m’s.

If I could DJ in any decade…It would be in the 80’s, I always dreamt of being a DJ at Studio 54, playing Donna Summer “I Feel Love” and watching Bianca Jagger coming on the dance-floor on this white horse... OMG. If I could go b2b with any DJ…I will choose Daft Punk, first because they are French like me, and I wanna try their helmet ahaha. For a musical journey, I will choose Black Coffee, I’m huge fan.

I’m not a politician… I’m a dreamer, looking forward to a world that we can fix with flowers and not weapons. Peace & Love. soundcloud.com/mademoiselle-sabah

TECH TALK BOSE QUIETCONTROL 30 WIRELESS HEADPHONES

Having tested the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 a few months back, I was looking forward to testing what seemed to be the smaller in-ear version, the Quiet Control 30. The physical aspect left me quite puzzled when opening the box, the ear buds are wireless yes, but linked through a plastic necklace designed to hold the larger battery needed for noise cancelling. Although odd in physical shape, the necklace battery is surprisingly comfortable even when wearing it for a full day’s work.

The Bluetooth range was excellent, allowing me to move around the office without a single drop in signal, that’s better than any Bluetooth device I’ve ever tried previously.

Although not as strong as its bigger brother, the noise cancelling is more than sufficient. In fact, co-workers had to throw objects at me to gain my attention! One great option is that the noise cancelling is adjustable, this would be perfect for the fitness conscious that would use these while working out or running. Speaking of running, we also had the opportunity to test the Soundsport version, which are essentially the same ear buds, but without the necklace battery and noise cancelling.

In short, both units tested proved to be comfortable to wear for hours on end and with the battery life to match. The sound quality of the Quiet Control 30 was fantastic, which is to expect from Bose.

They are not the cheapest option on the market, but one must be willing to pay for high quality.

The Bose QuietControl 30 Wireless Headphones retail for around AED1100 in most online retailers.

MUSIC THAT

MATTERS GSBOOKINGS MIXTAPE VOL 2 (OUT SUMMER’17)

Female, Latina owner Ginger Silvera, is the visionary of “Mixtape Volume 2” which showcases the music of her clients such as Crooked I, Necro and many more. Keep your eyes peeled for this one hitting their Soundcloud later next month. soundcloud.com/gsbookings

A relative newcomer to the production scene will see Kaysen’s debut release “The Night” drop on London’s Mixmania Records next month. Kaysen’s bass heavy house beat complete with chorded synth stabs also features a sample cut from Inner City’s perennial anthem “Big Fun” before droppin DARKO DE JAN & JEAN B – ABSENCE OF LIGHT & TEMPTATIONS (DEAR DEER)

Designed with the deeper floors in mind, “Absence of Light” conjured up images of just that. A perfectly weighted club cut that went down a treat when Jean B dropped it during his Pioneer Lab set. “Absence of Light” sis currently peaking at #16 in progressive house top 100. Well done chaps.

DEADMAU5 FEAT. GRABBITZ – LET GO (PRINCE RAMIN REMIX)

The outspoken Canadian producer recently closed out his 2nd remix contest and although he didn’t win the contest that was ran in conjunction with Splice, local producer Prince Ramin was given a special mention as 1st runner up by both Deadmau5 and the vocalist Grabbitz.

Send tracks/edits/remixes to: editor@infusion.ae

KAYSEN - THE NIGHT (MIXMANIA RECORDS – JUNE 23RD)

What we Ate PUBLIQUE BRUNCH, MADINAT JUMEIRAH

We all know Dubai’s brunch market has become saturated with all manner of excess, so it’s refreshing to see a new direction with this Swiss-styled ski-cabin Alpine brunch offering from the fresh new venue Publique. Offering what can only be classed as the best in gourmet cockle-warming grub you’d typically crave after a hard morning on the slopes from the same people who brought out the Reform Social Bar & Grill, The Black Lion and Bistrot des Arts, the menu on offer is dizzyingly sumptuous. Gruyere cheese is just the tip of the iceberg, with traditional signature dishes like their Raclette and Tartiflette served up smoking-hot to the table, burger offerings including the Alpinist burger with fresh fondue cheese draped over the fresh beef, these dishes are as succulent and tasty as they come. Bookended by a selective choice of buffet starters & waffle/ brownie/crepe focussed desserts, the meal is a hugely appetising, filling affair. Thrown in the free-flowing rampantly sampled selection of Heineken, wines and spirits and a DJ playing smoother house cuts from their very own ski-lift and you have a very welcome yet unexpected experience worthy of a spot amongst the top niche & boutique brunches in the city.

Dhs195 (soft drinks), Dhs295 (house beverages).

Words by Neil Henderson

JAZZ @ PIZZA EXPRESS, JLT

Upon arriving I noticed that the band tonight would be The Swing Revue, so I chose to sit close to the stage. There were even dance lessons taking place prior to the band performing. Beginning with the stuffed chestnut mushrooms, which comprised of 6 bite sized, juicy chestnut mushrooms carefully packed with sundried tomatoes, walnut tapenade and mozzarella. Along with the light and fluffy dough balls “speciale” which, topped with roasted Parmesan really sparked my appetite and the tasty little morsels didn’t last long on my plate.

Before long a classic pizza/pasta combo arrived at our table and a steaming bowl of penne pollo picante and an Aragosta Reale (lobster bisque pizza) was set down in front of us. The slightly sweet lobster bisque, cherry tomato and torn mozzarella pizza was beautifully offset by the lip smackingly spicy penne pasta. The creamy harissa sauce certainly done its job on this occasion. To finish we opted for the honeycomb cheesecake, being one of the new additions to the spring menu, I felt it would be a sin not try it out and I couldn’t recommend it enough. If you have enough room after the carb overload, this is the perfect choice. Overall this is a great choice for a casual meal with friends or a loved one, the service was attentive, without being intrusive and we were visited by several managers during our meal, which I thought was a nice touch. The added factor of the Jazz @ Pizza Express brand being an important part of the jazz, funk and soul scene in the UK gave the experience a very nice sense of authenticity.

Words by Stu Todd

The

RECOVERY

Tub of Butter, Sheikh Zayed Road The morning after the night before and off we headed to Tub of Butter on Sheikh Zayed Road. There was easy parking right outside and a large open, and relaxed space inside. We were greeted by friendly, but chilled staff and ordered from their excellent coffee, fresh juice and smoothie menu. The coffee comes with your personal choice of coffee art face! Obama,

Marilyn, Sheikh Mohammed or Angelina Jolie. If you send a photo over 24 hours before they’ll even make a customised one just for you for a small charge! A nice unique touch.

Rehydrated and ready for food, the breakfast menu was excellent. Varied choices of healthy and indulgent items, a great range to suit everyone. We

went for the Eggs Florentine with a side of bacon, and the Breakfast Platter.

The Eggs Florentine was served on a delicious toasted brioche bun, halved with a perfectly poached egg, spinach and the right amount of smoked salmon on each and drizzled in hollandaise. It was perfect. The “Breakfast Platter” is a brilliant combination of flavours and treats - veal sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, rocket served up together on a tasty sweet potato hash brown cake in the middle. Absolutely excellent breakfast and generous portions to really fill you up.

We followed it all with French Toast which was smothered in salted caramel and icing sugar. It was really light and well cooked, with the salted caramel adding perfectly to the flavour. A dollop of cream would have made it even more indulgent.

All in all, a very chilled, easy place to recover with acoustic music, comfy seating and loads of space. Although there were a few families having breakfast, there was a kid’s corner tucked away so easy to go and have a peaceful time – with or without the kids.

Will definitely be back here next time a recovery feast is required!

The Weekend Social

WEBRUNCH AT INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL (ACCENTS), DUBAI MARINA

The weekend has landed and if you are a British expat, what better way to spend your Friday afternoon than overindulging in the plethora of brunches our fair city has to offer. With options coming out of our earholes, we went for the previously tried and tested Love Parties brand who bring us “brunch with a beat� at their new concept in Dubai Marina. Famed for their boozy brunches at Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE, the boys have brought the party closer to the city, keeping the vibe well and truly alive.

As we walked through the hotel lobby, towards the restaurant, we could already hear the faint sound of music signalling we

were heading the right way. The first things that caught our eye upon entry was the stunning backdrop of the Dubai Marina from the opened up outdoor terrace and the DJ playing a mix of retro and commercial house music. DJ Richie who is the resident DJ (resident Benny T also plays) at WEBrunch excels in slow jam r&b, hip-hop with some funky motown classics thrown in, which usually keeps those in attendance out their seats for much of the day.

For those wishing to wishing to continue the party, YNOT welcomes all guest for THE AFTERMATH.

As we were seated our waiter immediately came over to start us in the right direction, offering a choice of bubbles, mixed beverages or hops and proceeded to give us a brief tour of the multiple food stations available. Having skipped my Coco Pops that morning, I dove straight into the food.

With brunch, you have to be strategic, check all the stations, don’t overload on one item and make sure you get a sample of the best-looking food to start (as you can always go back for more). NEVER make the rookie mistake of filling up on bread.

The stations that caught our eye comprised of Oriental, including Thai salads, a variety of noodles and dim sum, British including a good old roast dinner with all the trimmings, Pizza station, and the oyster bar. Considering the Marina backdrop, seafood seemed the perfect way to start. So, we grabbed some pre-shucked Oysters and a medley of scallops, smoked salmon, mussels and squid that tasted extremely fresh and complimented the free-flowing bubbly served by our attentive waiter. We followed this up with a trip to the Oriental station for some dim sum and Thai salad. Both were delicious however I was hoping the latter would have more of a kick to it, although that’s just personal preference, having lived in Bangkok for 5 years my tolerance for spice in unnaturally

high.

Obviously, we made sure we left room to sample roast dinner and it didn’t disappoint. The lamb and chicken were both perfectly cooked and most importantly the Yorkshire puddings and gravy were up to scratch. Other highlights were the selection of nonMuslim cold cuts and a Thai pani-puri station, something I’ve never seen or experienced before, a combination of India meets Thailand that worked really well.

The desert station looked good, with a variety of cakes and such, however not having much of a sweet tooth myself we headed outside where the party was in full flow. Some of the welllubricated clientele had taken to the dance floor, sipping cocktails out of jugs with giant straws as the promoters worked the party setting off party poppers and a bubble machine.

There are a lot of positives about the new Love Parties concept, it has a very fun and buzzing vibe. The staff are attentive and there was a lot of fantastic dishes to choose from, with strategic navigation around the stations you certainly won’t be disappointed.

If this sounds like your type of brunch, WEBrunch have their season finale on Friday, May 19 and this will have a colour party theme.

Words by Vip Patel

For more information and bookings head to facebook.com/webrunchdxb

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Eat Sleep Rave Repeat

MOLECULE RESTAURANT - D3

Dubai Design District (D3), is one of newest developments in Dubai, catering for the art and design community. Situated at the opposite side of the Creek to Dubai Mall, it’s fast-becoming a real hotspot, with a plethora of restaurants and cafes that are enjoyed by the creative businesses who have set up there. On Thursday night, I opted to go check out Molecule Restaurant– a French restaurant looking to bring “bistronomy” (a portmanteau translating to casual finedining) to Dubai.

Being a bit of a food snob, the lure of chef Udo Moreau (who has been involved with several Michelin-starred restaurants) leading the place seemed like a great way of discovering this new area. We were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get to D3 as well – a short ride up Financial Centre Road past the Dubai Mall and we were there.

We entered the restaurant and were immediately taken aback by the design of the place. A dramatic ceiling encompasses the room that is split up into the lounge section - where arty-types were sat working, and the restaurant - where diners were already tucking in on the various geometric tables and comfy seats. On the walls, there is also an extensive showcase of local art that is changed with regularity. We were led to our tables and took a moment to take in the interesting, quirky design features surrounding us.

The wait-staff fit in with relaxed-theme of the venue perfectly – all dressed in colourful chinos, fitted shirts and stylish trainers without a whiff of pretension in sight.

Throughout the evening, it was refreshing to see the rapport they built with the customers present and our Serbian host made us feel like family with excellent banter all night long. It’s also a big plus that the restaurant is

licensed and we quenched our thirsts with some unique signature cocktails – the Tom Yum Goong being a standout.

I’d heard excellent things about the eggplant starter and despite not being a huge fan of vegetarian options when there’s seafood up for grabs, I went with it and it was a smart decision. The dish was plated artistically with refreshing pops of pomegranate complimenting the richness of the eggplant and the freshness of the labneh.

For main course, I couldn’t look past the roasted lamb rack – I must admit, I’ve not done very well in the past when ordering lamb, it does seem difficult in the UAE to source the best produce compared to the likes of the UK and Australia where it is in abundance, but thankfully this dish delivered in an impressive way.

The lamb racks were plump and cooked to perfection with a rich jus that I enjoyed mopping up with my finger. On the side, I ordered the mashed potato – which in true French-style was creamy, rich and calorific.

My friend ordered the Chilean Seabass which was equally good.

In stark contrast to the rich, meatiness of the lamb dish, this was a beautifully restrained dish that allowed the subtle flavours of the melt-in-the-mouth seabass to sing. Neither of us really could fault it and again the buttery lemony sauce was mopped up at the end.

To finish the night, my friend selected the “Mysterious Arabica”, a theatrical, chocolate desert with a silky-smooth coffee ice-cream that was a deliciously naughty way to end the evening. I went with the French-classic crème brûlée - another dish delivered flawlessly, demonstrated by the satisfying crack when I plunged my spoon into the creamy depths of the ramekin.

Molecule seems to have everything right. The staff are entertaining, the food is tasty, generous, yet fairly priced and the venue is pleasing to the eye. If you’ve yet to make it out to D3 yet, make sure you pay it a visit – it’s a great addition to the food-scene and can hopefully maintain the high-standards as it evolves.

Words by Dan Fahy

WE ARE OPEN MMI ARMADA JLT

Locate us at

TEL NO. 04 425 1701

LOTS OF SPECIAL OFFERS AND GIVEAWAYS IN-STORE

Remember when Facebook introduced the live function and a new dimension of social media interaction was then available to everybody, and for a while it was great; people were experimenting with an exciting new medium for sharing almost everything. For some it worked, artists and tech savvy individuals that actually have something worthwhile to share with the public.

Then there is the “DJ” contingent out there that sees this as “their chance” and they will “smash it out the park” with their flawless mixing abilities that they will undoubtedly be picked up by *insert unrealistic artist that would ever watch facebook live streams.

The unfortunate truth is that their clanging mixes, terrible sound quality and obscure camera angles only go to wildly undermine their efforts and degrade the art form.

Take some advice from somebody who has tried this once and only once, leave it to the professionals that know what they are doing, nobody wants to see or hear you playing 192kbit mp3’s badly on your $100, second hand controller to 3 watchers who are only there because they scrolled past your drivel too slowly.

Get a cat or something.

Monkey Out...

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