FOUNDATION V2.0: Vancouver's Newest House Music Series
The eagerly anticipated second volume of the Foundation Series returned to the PNE Forum Thursday night, featuring performances by John Summit, Green Velvet, Eli & Fur, and Miane and Madam Lola. The series was created intending to acknowledge "the underground foundations and building blocks upon which electronic music was built", and after the first volume of the Foundation Series was such a success, fans were finally able to return to their favourite escape.
Starting nice and early at 5pm, both Miane and Madam Lola kicked off the evening with sonic journeys through an intersection of house and techno. Their mix of driving rhythms, acid basslines, and atmospheric melodies set the tone immediately.
Anjunadeep artists Eli & Fur followed with transcendental melodic and progressive house music. Their blend of smooth vocals, ethereal synth lines, and complex drum & bass was exactly as expected (even with only 50% of Eli & Fur in attendance). This was just further proof of how we can never be let down by any Anjunadeep artist, making them the reason they are one of the leading labels in the underground house and techno scene today.
Green Velvet then woke us up from our trance, jolting the crowd with high-energy techno, acid-house, and pure funky grooves. The crowd was hypnotized as GV dropped track after track with unabated rhythmic flow. The most memorable aspect of this set had to have been the impressive lightshow of (understandably) green lasers that filled the venue with a mesmeric energy. As the open and brisk atmosphere of the warehouse-like venue filled with smoke and lasers, you could've easily confused your location for that of a concrete-cube club in Berlin.
John Summit concluded the night with a set showcasing his tech-house mastery; the bold vocals he featured compliments his repetitive, mechanical rhythms, curating an energetic soundscape for listeners. His ability to blend different sub-genres harmoniously, from techno to progressive house, created a cohesive sound that had the crowd moving in perfect sync for 2 full hours.
Overall, the second installment of the Foundation Series was a massive success. The logistical operation of the event seemed to flow seamlessly, with a quick coat-check line, safe and considerate security staff, and more than enough bathrooms for all (a big jump from the first!). With both the first and second volume of this series featuring stellar line-ups, we can trust the third installment will live up to every expectation.
Though we love the PNE Forum, Volume 3.0 will raise the bar by moving to perhaps the best venue in Vancouver, the Malkin Bowl. Imagine being in the middle of Stanley Park, dancing to mesmerizing music as the bassline reverberates through the pine trees, with spellbinding lightshows paired with the twinkling stars above you. If being emphatically hypnotized by enchanting music in the forest with fresh Spring air sounds good to you, you'll want to grab tickets to Volume 3.0 of the Foundation Series as soon as possible.
