Will Holland, aka DJ Quantic

Fusion took on a carnival atmosphere last Friday.

The Get Down had scored a coup by bringing over the prolific DJ Quantic.

Although he has been here before it was good to have him back and this time round he brought a very diverse set of tunes to Friday night’s proceedings. Much of what he played was latin-influenced – which is hardly surprising as he now lives in Colombia.

It was for me an eye opener – or should that be ear-opener. I’d heard the odd dubstep, and Quantic Soul Orchestra’s Stampede is a permanent fixture on my iPod, but what was served up on Friday transcended anything I’d heard before.

Among the latino vibe was (as far as I can make out) Cajun-style polka, bossa nova, African soul, Jewish jazz mixed with Trinadadian funk, a dub version of Marvin Gaye’s classic Heard it Through The Grapevine. At times it sounded like a broadcast from an alternate world.

The floor was filled with clubbers but not the usual type of reveller, and the pure intoxicating grooves were impossible not to move to.

Get Down organiser Andre de Carteret said he knew it was always going to be a bit of a risk putting Quantic on the roster, due mainly to the fact of his latest penchant for Latin American.

‘The way Quantic transcends genres can sometimes be an issue for a small-island mentality who simply go to a club to drink more or find a member of the opposite sex. That said, we do have some very open-minded music fans and Friday was testament to that, given the insane diversity of sound on show,’ said Andre.

The evening started in Luna Bar with Manzur, Mista and Rob Luis playing new beats, mixed with funk/hip-hop classics.

The trio managed to hold people in that bar, no easy task on a hectic Friday.

Andre said there are few club nights that people could go to anywhere and hear what was being dished up. The only downer for him, he said, was that he didn’t get to DJ.

‘On the upside several hundred people enjoyed a classy night out and the fact that most people embraced what was on offer made the atmosphere a very pleasant one. I didn’t see too much ego/poseur attitudes or fighting.’

The Get Down by its nature has always tried to do things slightly differently, but not for difference’s sake, said Andre.

‘There is too much good music out there and it is what we are passionate about.

‘It may not be to everyone’s taste all of the time but I believe the music is of a high quality and fun.’

Andre added that it was great that Fusion’s Adam Burroughs had given The Get Down the opportunity to hold one of its nights and said the sound was excellent.

‘I know that there were piles of people in there who had never been in there and will never go there again if the music isn’t right. The average age of the punter must have gone up several notches as well.’

Quantic took it all in his stride, clearly immersed in the sound and enjoying the effect his tunes had on the dancefloor.

Fusion was a good place to be that Friday.

I look forward to the next Get Down, let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long.

Quantic’s set last Friday was enlightening, challenging, otherworldly.

The dictionary entry for the word ‘quantic’ says that it originated in the mid-19th century and is derived from the Latin term quantus: ‘how great, how much.’

How great, how much? Just how do you quantify Quantic?

I’d go as far to say that the night has had a profound effect on me. I’ve been scouring the internet for obscure latin soul. Quantic’s site is a good starting point. The future’s this way: www.quantic.org.