Fortsetzen 005 – The Deaf Institute, Manchester

Fortsetzen  has risen up from old ashes and spread its wings into a steady flight. No longer the Peacock feathered kind showing off its biggest and brightest, more a bird of understated and refined beauty. A bird that knows what it likes and is content, without need too seek out what may or may not be a sweeter juice. Because as any old sea bird knows, the bitterer taste brings the better feeling.

Enigmatic metaphors aside, Fortsetzen’s transition from its previous state as Continue, one of the UK’s frontrunners in showcasing the hottest new – and sometimes old – talents of techno has been refreshing. As any promoter will know putting on events is expensive and getting ever more so, but there is often the misconception that its a fruitful industry to be in, where organisers reap huge profits, which in some cases it certainly is. Continue however would very often bill line-ups worthy of at least ten pounds for entry, completely free of charge. So to say they’ve not always been in it for the love would simply be misguided idiocy.

Now residing in the low key, cosy basement of the Deaf Institute, Fortsetzen 005 began with a set from Gavin Miller. One half of Ghosting Season, Miller eased the night in with a mainly beat-less set of drone and ambience allowing those in early to lounge around, get a drink and rid themselves of the confining feelings instilled from their working lives. Winter Son, the other half of Ghosting Season played a back to back set with Fortsetzen resident Oliver Bryne. Bringing up the tempo progressively the lads played a seductive mixture of old school dub techno, Chicago house flavors with a slight tinge of acid that brought the ensuing merrymakers onto the floor and grooving.

By now the crowd had filled out. At its core a family contingent of followers, reveling in one another’s company, coupled with the new comers and first timers, some of whom ventured in curiously on their trip down to the toilets adjacent to entrance from the funk and soul party upstairs. Some stayed and others pottered on back up deciding its not their bag, regardless of this the party atmospherics stayed quite the same.

Mainstay resident Jozef K followed, making his introduction clear as day with the emotively enthralling Nina Kraviz’s Walking in the Night turning heads and quelling chatter in an instant. Throughout his set Jozef proved his worthiness of the accolades and achievements he’s amassed while DJing; showing his knowledge of acid techno with an accomplished set, with With Kikumoto All Stars monstrous sweeping bassline track Shed 13 surely the highlight.

Following on was the nights headliner, Mark Turner. A many fabled legend of a DJ whose fifteen year career working for the infamous record store Eastern Bloc has meant his record collection is of the depth and quality really unknown to many of today’s clubbers. After the little technical hitches – due in no small part to the slightness of the DJ booth and the transference from CDs to vinyl – he got underway with unleashing unto us tune after tune after tune of unknown wonders. Proving in the most direct form possible that huge headline names backed by the support of agents, managers and social media wizards aren’t the only ones supposedly capable of blowing you away. And in all honesty there aren’t going to be too many who have heard of Mark Turner, but all those who have and have had the pure pleasure of witnessing him upon the ones and twos know full well he’s as worthy a jock as any.