Six magic moments: Houghton 2023
stratus audio party
July 27, 2023
The Month in Music, August
August 29, 2023
Despite its relatively short and chequered history, Houghton festival is already a cornerstone of the UK scene. So much has been written and spoken about its incredible programming, idyllic setting and the man at the helm of it all that we'll keep this intro short. But all of us at stratus audio came away from this magical weekend feeling enriched and enthused - here are our highlights.
Chris Korda @ Pavilion
It’s not often you find yourself presented with a religious leader taking the reins at an electronic music festival. This was however what we unwittingly found ourselves locked into at the Pavilion stage on early Saturday evening.
As a compressed crowd quickly dispersed after the Ghost served up a characteristic slice of 90's tech house & minimal skippy simulation, Chris Korda’s 1920’s flapper figure appeared in the live booth. Ramping up the pace, Korda wasted no time in laying down a soundscape that was packed with pulsating basslines, ethereal chord patterns and some of the most peculiar robotic vocals I have heard to date, offering an insight into the philosophy of her Church of Euthanasia.
Informing partygoers that “you lost the game of sperm & egg” and that the “best part of you ran down daddy’s leg” in a Kraftwerk-esque modulated voice whilst maintaining enough groove to keep punters hips swinging is a tricky balance to strike. This was, however, what Korda effortlessly achieved through her masterful layering of cosmic synths and enchanting arpeggios. Summarily the hour long set flew by, leaving us totally discombobulated but thoroughly entertained.
Essential listening:
Isolée (live) @ Pavilion
Disappointment is nearly always the result of exceedingly high expectations. Often this rings true for live sets, which sometimes demand an unrealistic amount of patience from a crowd thirsty to see their favourite producers work in real time. Isolée bucked the trend with his performance at the Pavilion early on Sunday morning.
Following on from an impeccable set held down by fellow countryman XDB, the Frankfurt-born artist transitioned from menacing minimal techno into the string laden, euphoric sound he has become synonymous with in recent years; what followed was an hour of bliss. The microhouse pioneer flexed the diversity of an extensive discography spanning three decades. Renditions of 'Rumour' and 'Modernation', taken from his latest release resort island, seamlessly accompanied the vintage sound he crafted in the late 90s and 2000s.
Isolée dropped jaws, coaxed hands behind heads, and teed the legendary Zip up for 4 hours of German minimal magic: a short but significant part of an unforgettable morning of music.
Essential listening:
Nicolas Lutz @ Terminus
Terminus, in many ways, serves as the beating heart to Houghton. It opens at 12pm on Friday and remains open until 3pm on Monday. Amongst the wealth of talent taking control during this 51 hour onslaught was firmly-established virtuoso Nicolas Lutz.
The Uruguayan has spent nearly 30 years building a distinct yet formidable collection of forgotten jewels along with an imposing precision when mixing them. During the early light of Sunday, Lutz did not hold back. Bringing a three hour assault of stripped-back and rare sounding b-sides, he brought an eager crowd to the point of hypnosis with a lethal combination of analogue kicks, claps, snares and hats.
Squared in by 4 impressive, undulating speaker stacks at each corner of a newly-decked dance floor, the morning crowd was directed through a steadily evolving sonic journey via the medium of rolling low end frequencies, spacey acid loops and dusty but powerful synth lines.
The sound within the chasm that is the Terminus bowl is something special. The relatively modest crowd capacity really does create an air of exclusivity (in the best possible way). Everyone present had earned their place by way of extensive queuing and an insatiable appetite for turntable craftsmanship.
To see so many subdued into an almost silent haze of captivation and adoration, you begin to appreciate that you are witnessing someone at the top of their game at a very special stage within perhaps the most meticulously curated festival in the UK. Lutz, clinical as always, delivered with vigour.
Essential listening:
Lutz at Terminus at 10am - do you really think we got any IDs?
Reggie Watts @ Pinters
Despite stellar music curation and execution at Houghton, nothing could stop the unavoidable Sunday lethargy from setting in and grinding our tired legs to a halt. Pinters played host to most of the weekend’s live acoustic and jazz sets, and in-between performances ambient and downtempo often filled the space for a fatigued crowd seeking rest.
Cast on the low, long benches in front of the stage, this is where we found ourselves at 3.50pm. Without consulting the programme, it quickly became clear that something special was about to happen. A small crowd that included the likes of Pleasure Club’s BOBBY., Evan Baggs and Midland soon swelled and American comedian Reggie Watts strolled onto the stage.
Armed with a loop machine, a keyboard and a microphone, the audience were putty in Reggie’s hand from the first minute. Downtempo trippy rhythms were interspersed with Houghton-themed jokes and jibes throughout, commanding the support of an onlooking Craig Richards. The cob-webs that had grown thick from a weekend of dancing were blown off as the performance finished with a higher tempo track, built from beatboxed hi-hats that were looped in real-time.
Wrists were flicked and butts were raised out of seats as many made their way to the front for a Sunday afternoon dance. The intimate nature of the setting, and the simple excellence of the performance made for a real ‘pinch-me’ moment. It was a true privilege to watch a master work his magic at such an unexpected time.
Essential listening:
Powder @ Earthling
One of the great joys of a festival is musical discovery, and with Craig Richards possessing a musical mind more expansive than most, this year’s Houghton was unsurprisingly no different. Stepping up to the Earthling stage after Carl Finlow’s gorgeous hour of warm, spacious electro, Powder delivered one of the weekend’s great surprises.
Kicking things off with some beatless cuts and curating a set that consistently hovered around 120bpm, the Japanese artist offered a pleasing counterpoint to the weekend’s faster and heavier fare. Ethereal synths, hypnotic percussion and off-beat claps weaved through her selections, punctuated by the occasional introduction of Chicago-style house.
With each trip across to the toilets at the neighbouring Pavilion and the slamming sounds of Peach, the spaciousness of her music was evermore appreciated. As the skies darkened and the night descended, it felt like a brave choice to resist the temptation to play faster and heavier, and one that was rewarded with an enraptured crowd. Powder’s set felt like a perfect combination of tasteful mixing and thoughtful programming - two qualities that epitomise so much of what Houghton is about.
Essential listening:
Binh b2b Nicolas Lutz @ Quarry
Festival Sundays are always special, with four days of collective joy alongside like-minded individuals building a rare sense of community. The final-day feeling that emerges appears unique to each weekend, whether it be one of easy bliss or dancefloor exuberance. At Houghton that Sunday energy was of a distinctly British flavour, and at no better place was that expressed than Binh b2b Nicolas Lutz.
These two legends need no introduction - Lutz gets a second mention here, and is certainly deserving of one. But the real star of this show was the crowd. At the dramatic Quarry stage, an amphitheatre-like setting that lent itself to weighty selections, the audience responded with more enthusiasm than at any set we’ve ever heard. Whoops, hollers and backslaps were a frequent occurrence, and this energy from the festival-goers was made all the more enjoyable by the contrast on display behind the decks, where Binh and Lutz held it down with ice-cold nonchalance. UK crowds have an energy and edge that feels unique, and nowhere was it more obviously on display than this Sunday closing set.
Essential listening:
Already a mainstay on the European circuit, Houghton Festival needs no introduction. Here are our six highlights from it’s 4th edition.
