Picotto is alright. Him, Tiesto and Ferry Corsten seemed to go stratospheric around the same time (2001-ish). I think because they all played fast (“had energy” as I heard it said) when everyone else (Seaman, Sasha, Digweed) was slowing down or cutting trance out of their sets, so they catered to a particular crowd. Picotto played way more interesting stuff than the other two. Corsten was a total bilge-merchant.

    bosstrabs I have fond memories of Crasher. My bro went to Sheffield Uni so was obsessed with it for several years and must have gone with him about eight times. Atmosphere was always special. Sasha used to play there frequently. Saw him a few times and he went down well. Room two with Tom Wainwright as resident was always fun too. Never fancied seeing Picotto there. Tended to go when either Sasha or PVD was headlining. Saw Carl Cox there too once.

      Sounds like you missed out. Sasha’s always said that his sound was heavily influenced by those Picotto Gatecrasher sets.

      It’s worth listening to some of Sasha’s Gatecrasher sets actually, everything is pitched up to the max.

      Just sounds weird tbh.

        bosstrabs i remember one essential mix with pushing to hard and angry skies playing at 140 bpms. Think it was from gatecrasher. Shoulda stuck with that imo.

          I am detecting a hint of cynicism, Zachary.

            -si- no no I’ve always been a fan of the faster stuff. Main reason I turned my back on the whole prog crew was that they started pitching everything down to 125 range. That and the whole electro clash thing.

                zackster that Nukem Chab track I just posted is one I heard him play at Crasher. I remember his sets seeming harder (and faster).

                  bosstrabs

                  There was one where he opened with Scorchio and just went ham from there. Humate. Junkie XL. Fortress. It’s ridiculously fast but an absolute blast throughout. It’s among my favorite live essential mixes ever.

                    Global Summer Soundsystem I think…absolutely full pelt for about an hour, loved it

                      Wish I had..sounded ace. Yeah, teased it for ages with the dub then played main version. Blammo!

                      Echo

                      Boss.

                      The mix from that into Tattabox Inhibitors is top drawer stuff. Fuck it, the whole thing is great.

                      EDIT proper jealous of those of you who were there. My head might’ve exploded when the kick drops after the “Bon Voyage” breakdown. Sasha really went all in with that hour. All in.

                      • Amps replied to this.

                          Amps

                          Everything they did back then was great. As Jamez, Transcetters, Jark Prongo, Basco, Tomba Vira…whatever. And didn’t really sound like much else. “Movin’ Through Your System” really shouldn’t work. The sample is weird. The synth is too loud. The drums are hectic. But it’s just bang on perfect.

                          Speaking of, there’s track Sasha used to play (and I heard DJ Dan play so it wasn’t exclusive and was making the rounds) around 2000 that has the repetitive sample of “don’t stop, don’t stop” or something like that. Never ID’d. Sounds like Prongo/Pssst or the like. Any ideas?

                          Here at the two hour five minute mark.

                          • Amps replied to this.