Words by George Gray
The UK music scene is world-beating, with talent across any and all genres it’s easy to feel content, but as a result do we miss out on exploring music abroad?A recent move to Italy forced me to do just this. It opened my eyes to a world I’d not explored, brimming with intriguing new artists, venues and genres. One event quickly caught my attention: The 2024 Lattexplus festival.
Lattexplus are seasoned veterans of the Italian electronic scene. They’ve organised well over 200 events, hosting the likes of Moodymann, Peggy Gou and the late Jackmaster, but admittedly before coming here, they’d never been on my radar. Eager to find out what made their events special, I let my curiosity take over. With this in mind, I knew their 2024 festival was a must-attend, a looking glass to transport me from the comforts of the UK scene to a fresh realm of live music. On the line-up were producer Mace and Milan-based Go Dugong, two substantial names in the Italian electronic scene.
The venue was equally enticing with the unorthodox choice of Opera theatre, Cavea del Teatro del Maggio. As I arrived on the night I quickly realised why this unconventional arena was chosen. The small cut-through entrance revealed a brutalist amphitheatre, its open top exposing the Florence skyline and stars above; a mythological ambience. Perhaps the perfect venue. After all, both Opera and DJ sets showcase a handful of performers displaying their musical prowess to an enthralled crowd. Go Dugong kicked proceedings off with a distinctively European warm disco and house vibe. Groove permeated across the venue, and it wasn’t long before the dance floor was full. The Milan DJ responded well, reading the crowd and kicking it into another gear, with faster BPMs and bouncy synth tracks.
One thing I’ve experienced more since being in Italy, and Europe in general, is the lack of rigidity when it comes to genre, switching styles and BPMs as if they were emotional impulses, and Go Dugong really showed this off. It felt refreshing, a tonic for the sometimes repetitive UK scene. As his set peaked Go Dugong brought in big-beat tunes, laced with playful samples and italo-disco interludes. It was unpredictable, fast-paced and had the sign of a great set, un-shazamable.
As it came to an end, I realised I’d been so fixated that I’d missed the crowd swelling to near capacity. There was now a full communion shoulder to shoulder around me, yet unlike the UK it didn’t feel packed. An idyllic blend of calm and chaos. MACE’s set began dramatically, the lights suddenly descending. His cult status in the Italian scene became swiftly apparent. The roar of the crowd as he entered reverberated around before he had even hit play, but as he did, the audience fell straight into the palm of his hand. A collection of euphoric, synth laden house tunes set things off, slowly building the tempo and atmosphere track to track.
Around half an hour in, MACE confidently switched the vibe with a smooth transition to some deep afro-house, opening with a brilliant remix of Kanye West’s “Father Stretch my hands”. MACE’s genre-shifting abilities only seemed to grow, quick-shifting into a series of heavier dub and break-beat tunes. A stand-out tune was a certain boggy mash up of Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” alongside the radical “Ballast” by Objekt, which perfectly teed MACE up to drive his set into an experimental phase. Soon the sounds of Nikki Nair’s “Ice remix” alongside other left-field sounds left the crowd stunned. MACE has also made a name for himself as a mainstream producer, carefully walking the line between his better-known and more alternative work, and it wasn’t long before he demonstrated this.
Experimental dubplates began to playfully bounce toward bootleg remixes of better known tracks. One particular transition from Italo disco and house to an outrageous Dubstep version of Darude’s “Sandstorm” had each and every row bouncing off the walls. After two hours of infectious tunes, MACE brought his set to a conclusive end, with one of his most popular tunes, “Non Vivo Piú Sulla Terra”, a blend of electronic synths and sentimental vocals. As it echoed around every audience member began to belt out its lyrics, creating a sense of instant nostalgia that felt almost tangible. MACE captivated the crowd, hypnotising them with his performance and diverse setlist, all within the walls of this hidden Teatro. A perfect microcosm of the Italian underground.
Lattexplus overall achieved an incredible night of music. The rich experimental blend of genres, combined with the drama of the venue and a welcoming crowd firmly opened my eyes to just what Europe has to offer. Florence may not be first on your list, but with organisers including Lattexplus, historical dance labels like Tenax, a new wave of venues such as Black Zone and hidden crate-diggin treasure troves counting Deal With A Feeling, it has to be one of the most underrated spots out there.
