Thursday 11th June 2009 @ Watershed, Bristol

A burst of piano, a running of strings, a harp thrown in, and then the funk starts. Relaxed and smooth, with a complete omission of pretentiousness. Quantic is a delicious, ice-cool, high spirited drink on a humid electric summer evening and after a blue skied day in Bristola, there was a united feeling of embracing the sun’s contagious contentment and the South American notes. Quantic’s Will Holland is only in his twenties but he has already released a huge amount of soul and funk remixes, capturing the crux of the original music’s desires, whilst whacking in a fat dollop of his individual sound; the unmistakable, eyes closed, twirling sound of Quantic.

Tonight was the launch party for Quantic and his combo Barbaro album, featuring a Quantic DJ set, Quantic question time, a photographic exhibition and collection of short films by photographer and film maker B+ featuring legendry Brazilian composer, Arthur Verocai.

I particularly enjoyed the film Postcard From Cali, an observer’s deep look at the Columbian City. The discotheque relics of the 60s and 70s, the kids pushing bikes across the mud plains, the hideous neon party bus meandering through the night’s streets and the school teacher with the enchanting voice, singing of the Pacific Ocean. The film shows Holland embracing the South American raw sounds and classic beats, combining and embracing them to create his own tracks. The lesson is in the rhythm and beat. Within the hearts and souls and the depths of South America, long before their worship in the nether reaches of our land. Quantic shows a combining of traditional, contemporary and cross cultural talents, displaying a beautiful sound that defies static, moving you from your core. As shown by the later DJ set, an embracing mix of conscious, excited and sensual sounds.

www.quantic.org

Helen Martin