CityLife

New challenges ahead for Area 51 man

Iain Taylor and the House 9 crew

WHEN we catch up with Area 51 musical director Iain Taylor to talk about the intricacies involved in plotting a superclub’s audioscape, the veteran DJ has more pressing things on his mind.

Top of the list is the excitement he feels about the arrival of his new night, Compakt, which launches at new Deansgate Locks haunt House 9 on Friday.

“I want to turn the venue into the coolest house party you ever went to every Friday,” he says, with the sort of enthusiasm that is rarely seen in those who’ve spent 15 years in the game.

“A strap line we have toyed with is ‘the discerning sound of Manchester’s underground’. It sounds a bit poncey but essentially that’s what it is.

"At the end of the day it’s all about throwing a party and making people dance to amazing independent music from all corners of the spectrum.

Manchester's underground

“I’ve invited Manchester’s finest independent promoters, DJs and artists to get involved on a weekly rota. People like El Diablo’s, Audiofarm, Computer Controlled, Dirty Analogue, Contort Yourself, Loop and loads more. People who have really been doing it on Manchester’s underground.”

House 9 opened its doors to an expectant audience at the end of July and has already caused a stir with its ‘boutique’ take on clubbing, which sets it apart from its rowdier Lock-based neighbours. But what else about the venue – a former lockkeeper’s cottage – attracted Taylor?

“Well, I designed the sound system for a start,” he smiles. “The loft space is amazing. It’s 150 capacity with low ceilings and fantastic spaces to chill and those all important outside terraces.

“It really is just like a big house with a back garden and couple of nice big balconies, except this one is decked out amazingly and has two massive bars.”

Not-exactly-small

The word massive is no new acquaintance of Taylor’s vocabulary – the local spinner, who cut his teeth at the not-exactly-small Hacienda in the mid-'90s, has just spent the last year and a bit as musical director at Whitworth Street enormoclub Area 51, helping to shape the venue’s audio policy over perhaps the most successful period in its history.

“The intention was to launch Area 51 as a serious music venue to Manchester and the rest of the world,” he says. “To solidify its position as one of Manchester’s best clubs.

“The venue and sound system were already in place when I got there. It was just a case of getting the right DJs and the right people talking about the venue and coming down on a regular basis.

“Over the last 12 months we’ve booked James Lavelle, Steve Lawler, Felix Da Housecat, DJ Sneak, Derrick Carter, Josh Wink, Hot Chip, Jesse Rose, X Press 2, Oxia, David K, Dan Ghenacia.”

Job done

He pauses while contemplating the impact these booking conquests have had on the town and on Area 51’s standing against perennial rival Sankeys, before adding assuredly: “Job done.”

At this point, CityLife wonders aloud about who informs who in the relationship between punter and policymaker.

Is it possible for someone such as Taylor to exercise dictatorial control over a club, sculpting its sound as he sees fit? Or is the musical director’s job merely to be dictated to by the paying foot-shufflers; to stay on the pulse and ensure he books the acts that will pull crowds?

“It’s a bit of both. In general you are booking acts that will create a buzz and will equal numbers through the door but it is about getting the right artists that are exciting, integral and that will attract the right crowd.

Musical loves

“You can’t dictate too much with a venue like Area 51, you need to have 700 to 800 people through your door each week so it’s about staying true to your musical loves while also booking acts that will cause excitement with your core crowd and lead to a full club with a good vibe on the dancefloor.

“There are so many factors to getting a club right. Design, staff, residents, sound system, DJs, door staff. It’s a whole package. Get the right booking on the right night though and you really smash it and end up turning hundreds of people away.”

And then comes the bombshell that will shock those who have been impressed by Taylor’s tendency to smash it in the Area 51 hot seat.

“I’m actually taking a back seat now. The club is well and truly established in Manchester and on the nationwide circuit. It’s been a healthy challenge for me and also a learning curve. My work there is done, as it were.

“Compakt is much smaller and more boutique than I could ever go with a venue the size of Area 51. It’s back to some serious arty shit and out there creativity for me.”

Compakt is on every Friday at House 9, Century Street. See the link to the right.