W/ DEXTER AND FLUENT JB AND KRISTIAN.
DATE :DECEMBER 12 2000
VENUE: THE ZOO (BRISBANE)
WRITER: LAWRENCE ENGLISH FOR TIMEOFF

Kicking off the first night of celebrations for the Zoo's eighth birthday. SOMA RASA have their own reasons to celebrate with the release of their long awaited 'I MIX THEREFORE I AM'.

Finally available the album sheds a new light on SOMA RASA'S live set and demonstrates how the trio alter their songs to make them work in a live context.

One of the funkiest cats in town, Dj FLUENT JB has been the heart and soul of Ether for the past few years. Tonight's set is another great selection.

Sounding possibly the tightest they have in a long time, SOMA RASA show their wares to a solid crowd of dancefloor-based punters. Tracks like 'Crime By Computer' and the current single "Rock 2 Funk" move feet and set a very positive mood throughout the room.

Their latest addition to the group, DJ Kristian has added a great deal to the group in the relatively short time he's been performing with them. Stirring up the crowd and scratching skilfully amid the squelch progressions and beats, Kristian's enthusiasm can't help but rub off on everyone in attendance.

As the set progresses, SOMA RASA punch ahead through several changes of pace and it's these ups and downs in the set that mark a new era for the band. Seeming to understand the dynamic of their set as a whole, the band now appears to want to use these high and low points to their maximum advantage.

Following Soma Rasa is world DMC number 2, DEXTER, who instantly shows the audience how he got his title. Leaving no track uncut, DEXTERS set is an audio collage of the finest proportions.

Listening to his DJ selections and the way he chooses to cut them together, you can't help but suspect that much of the integrated sounds heard on The Avalanches' recordings can be directly linked to Dexter's DJing style. His set drifts over a massive amount of audio data, all of which is seamlessly merged into itself. Dexter is what most of his countemporaries can only aspire to.

LAWRENCE ENGLISH