The Vinyl Factory has released a mini documentary about Despacio, a collaborative project between James Murphy, former frontman for LCD Soundsystem, and David and Stephen Dewaele of the DJ collective 2ManyDJs. An all-vinyl throwback dance experience, Despacio has been making waves for its unique style and high-tech equipment.
After an initial plan to debut the project in Ibiza fell through, Despacio kicked off in July at the Manchester International Festival, where the three DJs spun vinyl and delighted the crowd with four hours of non-stop disco. The collaboration has been something of a return to the past. Nowadays, DJs are front and center at their concerts, with adoring fans watching their every move at the turntable. Not so with Despacio, however. "It was about the people, the stacks, the music, and them having a good time," explains Stephen Dewaele. The three stayed behind the scenes, letting the music take all the attention.
The event couldn't have happened, however, without some very high-tech hardware. The documentary also explores the components of the seven custom-made speaker stacks used for Despacio. Sound engineer John Klett points out some of the most interesting features, which are designed to bring out the nuances of vinyl. "You put a record on, and it would sound awesome," Klett states, adding, "you hear all the dynamics and everything in the groove. It's pretty groovy." Take one look at the clips of the dancing crowd from Despacio's debut, and you'll know he's not lying.
"There's a limit to how cool the three of us are at the moment," says Murphy. But that certainly hasn't stopped them from throwing a killer dance party. With a successful debut under their belts, the trio has announced that they will put on two more shows, this time at London's Hammersmith Town Hall on December 19th and 20th. Tickets will go on sale November 1st.
Click here for a transcript of the full conversation
Click here for more technical details from Despacio engineer, John Klett
Via: The Vinyl Factory
