Full Moon 2006

The idea of DVD video as a medium where trance gets presented is maturing – albeit slowly. Full Moon 2006 is a polished production, as you might expect with the world’s biggest trance label behind it. Circuit VIII have done a sterling job on the video aspect, with the emphasis on artist footage and only occasionally do they focus closeup on the trance DVD phenomena of Chicks Dancing And Looking Tasty.

The most refreshing part of how this is put together is that the music syncs to the video; so when there’s a breakdown in the music, the dancefloor reacts to it. They don’t carry on dancing, as you might see in other DVD’s. The artists represented here have a bit of a bias toward the type of acts you might expect BNE to showcase; Infected, Pop Stream, Oforia, Atomic Pulse, etc. And at times, the numbers on the dancefloor are so sparse that you’re wishing you could have a peek at whatever’s on the other stage and drawing the numbers away.

In terms of the performances, we learn a few things. Infected Mushroom wave their hands about a lot; Oforia doesn’t make a dancefloor move very much; Pop stream exhibits the variety of emotive facial expressions normally reserved for stroke victims; and Z-Machine has a bad combover.

Ocelot is the musical standout, swirly psychedelic stuff that packs a hell of a punch, and Ecliptic are pretty bloody decent too. Wicked Hayo’s Lucy With Diaments (sic) is absolutely disgusting, proof positive that just because something CAN be done, doesn’t mean it SHOULD be.

Finally 1200 Mics with a laughable performance. Chicago, at stage front, mimes with an inflatable guitar and looks like an utterly daft cunt. Meanwhile Riktam and Bansi potter about at the back almost invisible, while Raja and Chicago jump around and generally piss about, having a race to see who has a heart attack first.

The interviews with artists and punters are interesting, but are too few and far between; and the location of the festival (which I’ve never been to) is made to look pretty uninspiring, underwhelming. I’m sure more could be made of the nature aspect of things, which is an important part of the scene and one that seems to have been overlooked here.

All in all it’s an interesting watch, the bottom line is that while the production is top-notch the music programming could have been better. Any similarity between that sentence and everyone’s standard gripe about “the scene” these days is purely coincidental.

Ordering, samples, more: http://www.circuitviii.net/fullmoon/