UNIVERSE
The Tribal Gathering – Munch Rem – 1st
October 1994
“Give me your energetic, your wild, your
oppressed masses yearning to rave free….”
It seems difficult for a hardened sceptic like
myself to believe that Germany has taken on the
status of European rave mecca. Only six months
ago the Germany rave scene seemed doomed to die
in the hands of shady entrepreneurs out for a
quick buck. Over filled, badly organised three
day rip-off raves were the norm last Easter –
just ask any German raver about events like the
Space Woodstock rave – four floors of hell in a
provincial building site turned disco – and he
will start to shudder, he will turn pale and ask
to be left alone! Even worse was the fact that
the majority had never experienced anything
better, apart from the Mayday raves, and were
quite content with the disastrous status quo.
However, slowly but surely with the help of
Groove magazine’s initiative to ‘save the rave’
the future started to brighten up. Leader of the
new way was Alex Azary with his concept for
Germany’s first jungle, techno and house rave
‘Euphoria’ in Frankfurt’s Dorian Gray club.
Never before had the likes of DJ Randall, the
Kings of the Jungle, Carl Cox, LTJ Bukem and
Bryon Gee been assembled in the same area as
Sven Vath, Mark Spoon, Pascal F.E.O.S. (aka
Resistance D) and Tanith. Added to that was the
German house contingency: D-Man, E-Werk’s Cle
and Groover Klein amongst others. The results
have become quite apparent: almost every larger
event now offers two or more floors and real
value for money, with ticket prices never
exceeding the 40 DM limit (£15). Surely then,
the pinnacle of these positive developments must
have been the first weekend in October with two
high quality German-British raves taking place.
One after the other: Universe and Euphoria.
October 1st, the beginning of the October Beer
Festival, and the weather in Munich is slightly
chilly, but will warm up soon enough as the Old
Airport in Riem – battered and worn down after
having being taken over by ravers in its closure
in 1992 – will tonight become host to Universe’s
debut in Germany. The check-in counters may have
their original purpose, but tonight they will
serve to check in 25,000 punters on their trip
to Planet Universe.
As the halls start to fill up with eager party
people from all over the world – Scotland,
France, Italy, England, Ireland, Australia,
Japan, etc – it become quite clear than this
flight is booked up and maybe even over booked!
The starship has been decorated uniquely for
German standards, but are not as extensive as
those demonstrated at the first Tribal Gathering
in 1993. Still, the effort is noted in the
situations report and appreciated.
The stage of the Starship Universe floor is set
abroad the bridge of a psychedelic U.S.S.
Enterprise with captains on board, Carl Cox,
Dave Angel, Laurent Garnier and a visit by the
rogue command team of The Prodigy. Tonight’s
Science Officer is MC Ribbs who gives accurate
status reports throughout the evening to the
satisfaction of the approximately 8,000
cosmonauts in the stratosphere beyond. Captain,
most notable for his in alien languages, is Carl
Cox. This man deserves highest merit for
communications expertise with all alien life
forms. His particular talent involves mixing
black vinyl discs of the following two techno
languages: “TRANCE” and “Music that gets any
European crowd rocking”. His two right hand men
are Officer Garnier and Lieutenant Angel, both
coaxing on the ever brave astronauts to new high
levels of energy with their hard acid trance
sets. As is always fitting for the ravers
manners, new life forms are always welcomed most
heartily. In tonight’s case the visiting Prodigy
crew make every effort to welcome the crowd
properly and the response is overwhelming. At
this stage a most spectacular occurrence can be
witnessed: a melting together of 8,000 to 10,000
bodes all with hands held up in the air as an
act of appreciation surpassing anything this
observer has ever experienced before. So closely
pressed together are these bodies that it is
almost disturbing considering the heat and
anti-catastrophe procedures.
Back through the hated area of blatant
commercialism (the market hall), plagued by the
sight of friendly sponsors who helped keep the
air fare down to 45 DM (only £18!), offering
cigarettes at every corner. Touch down in the
planet of the Cyberpunks, a war-torn, wreckage
planet inhabited by a breed of beings known as
TB-303’s. They speak a hard acid dialect that
sounds squeaky and squelchy to earth dwellers.
Tonight they have brought their finest
interpreters along: Holland Zone’s Miss Djax,
whose dialect is very hard and long-drawn. DJ
Tanith with his translations that are
characteristically long and tense with a gradual
build up of excitement towards the end. Most
convincing of all is the professor Jeff Mills,
who acquired his skills in the school of
Detroit.
This master’s interpretation is completely
flawless and even very humourless causing
outbreaks of happiness, misunderstanding and mad
frenzies of dancing. Jeff Mills has proven that
he is indeed a superior life form and deserves
attention at any event he attends.
The Tribal Temple can be found deep in the
jungle amongst the shrubbery and bushes strewn
across the starship. As we approach the clearing
one can see hundreds of primitive warriors
dancing to the sound of constant drum beats lead
by the wisest witch doctors on the planet.
Particularly enticing and hypnotic healing
chants were offered by the shamen of ‘Dub’ tribe
Underworld. Anyone who shared this ritual was
freed of all evil spirits. Also, the witch
doctress Gayle San from the ‘Club UK’ tribe
across the mountains and seas gave spiritual and
vitalising healing with her own particular brand
of repetitive beats connected with wonderful
sounds generated by an Earth invention called
computer and midi. Surely, she will be making
journeys far and wide in the following time
span!
An even further trek was made by the medicine
man Richie Hawtin from the clan of Plus 8 under
the western heavens across the waters of the
Atlantic. He presented a new sort of chant,
mainly from the book of ‘House’ which
unfortunately disappointed this observer who was
expecting the mystical, minimal acid hypnosis.
Further onto Planet Erotica to fill up the
vessel’s love tanks. Most helpful were the
station assistants Sasha and Kid Paul, who both
demonstrated that petrol can mix with water by
speaking the language of house and trance at the
same time. Such acoustic delights are rarely
heard on German ground, yet the visual
stimulation fails to excite as much as on the
Tribal Gathering voyage in 1993. A strange
phenomenon is to be noted here: the Anglo-Saxon
dance cyborgs have better sexual programming.
It’s time to fuel up on some real energy, so
through the winding corridors, over the sky view
deck (or beer garden) and into the bowels of the
space port to the Ultraschall kitchens. The
cuisine offered here is amongst the best in the
Universe: monotonous, minimal, hypnotic acid
served up by the Ultraworld cooks Ker and Duck
in perfect ambience: dark, neon and delightfully
schizophrenic! This observer could have stayed
for another three of four DAYS?!
As we touch down on Planet Earth punctually to
ETA 9am, the atmosphere is breathable and very
pleasant, however, Universe may have sustained
some damage. Report to follow:
Damage Report
Dancers faulty (English dancers suitable for
replacement).
Gyroscope malfunctional.
Laser shields and weapons malfunctional.
Universe crew and attractions not all present
and correct. No megacity robots, tribal
drummers, dancers etc etc, water maidens,
jugglers, clowns…. therefore no large read out
on MAGIC & TRIPNESS SCALE!
Missing from fleet: Jungle and Breakbeat vessel
(variety is the spice of life!).
The Jeyenne & Cosmic Baby Communication Modules
faulty due to lack of originality.
REPLACE.
As the Universe Starship takes off for back home
the German life forms eagerly await the return:
Don’t leave us alone with Mayday!
Our journey continues on the trek 500km towards
the north to the Euphoria II rave in Frankfurt’s
Dorian Gray: little do we know of the adventures
that are to await us there (conspiracy, urban
junglism, overcrowding and crew members
suffering from physical exhaustion). WARNING:
This experiment involving raves and motorways
was held under supervised conditions and should
not be tried out on the continent even though it
is possible! Do not do this at home!
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