*This was orginally posted on the DIY Leeds website*
So, after the many avenues of the weekend, I found myself at Club Cosmos, which is taking place weekly at Freedom Mills every Sunday night…
I say ‘found myself at’ – I had various places to be, and I’d always planned to land at this one after everything.
I heard about it because I was buying records at Tribe, and Simon Scott mentioned that it was a party I might enjoy, being as I like psychedelic music. To be fair, even if you don’t think that spacey ambient tunes, or chuggy acid, or krautrock are your thing, get yourself there, and you’ll probably find that you’ll appreciate it.
This is the perfect place to end up on a Sunday night. When I realised that this was happening every Sunday, not just as a monthly thing, I thought ‘Hmm. That’s maybe a bit much’, but I don’t at all now.
As we walked in, my mate said:
“Oh my God, I can’t believe something like this is happening in Leeds!”
I instantly thought that I could believe it completely, because Leeds is a hotbed of great DJs, musicians, appreciators of music, and appreciators of an excellent party, and – more to the point – I can’t believe that something like this hasn’t been happening in Leeds sooner.
The music at the first one was provided by Jaye Ward, and Kirkgate Space Rock Club, who are Tim Hutton and Joe Gill. I missed the latter as I’d been DJing in town, which was a shame, but I was glad to catch some of the night, and the music I did hear was awesome, as I fully expected.
What was also totally on point was the ambience of the whole night – the lighting, and the many beanbags strewn around for us all to lounge on, were exactly what you needed with those tunes. I’ve played gigs before where the decor had evidently cost a great deal of money and trouble, and the equipment was barely even there (I once played a gig where the promoter had provided giant golden pineapples, mannequins, drapes, and also no slipmats). That kind of thing really irks me, but I’m not one of those people who hates on anything that isn’t a bare low-ceilinged room with a sound system, some decks and a mixer. I’ve always thought that a combination of the right music and the right visual elements for the sounds absolutely nail it. It’s something I’ve tried to create myself where I could, since organising parties as a teenager, where we had visuals, artwork, and whatever we could create or procure to make the space fit our vibe (I was once co-owner of two massive parachutes, long gone now). Anyway, I’ve never managed to get it anywhere near as good as these guys have. The multicoloured beams of light shining through the darkness, and the projections (just simple stuff – oil on water type visuals) were perfect.
I didn’t take any photos, because, firstly, I wouldn’t have taken good ones just on my phone, and also because I felt it would be an insult to the night to get my phone out, and I much preferred to just sit there and take it all in. I’ve made a sign asking people to avoid using their phones in the venue that I co-run (largely ignored, but even some people taking heed is better than not). This isn’t because I like enforcing rules (I struggle with the whole idea of rules), but just because places are better when everyone is wholly present. You wanted to be wholly present at this. Or absent in the right way, which definitely does not involve a phone.
It was all so good.
I don’t know that I’ll make it to this every Sunday. I have a lot of things going on. Whenever I can, though, I will. There are some great bookings coming up… Higher Intelligence Agency, Ed Vector, Helena Hauff, Mike BC, GK Machine, Zee Hammer and Cosmikuro. The resident is Simon Scott (I think he’s also the organiser). It was certainly a cosmic end to my weekend, and I look forward to many more…
