EDAN, GRAMAPHONE LONDON, 10TH DECEMBER.

“I am VERY displeased with this,” says a deadpan Edan Portnoy, standing behind a jungle of turntables, mixers, cables and leads. The Boston producer-slash-rapper is at London’s Gramaphone to screen the accompanying video to his new album ‘Echo Party’, and some serious technical difficulties are plaguing proceedings.  Eventually, the right-hand speaker stack starts working again, and Gramaphone’s busy underground cellar space kicks back again to take in Tom Fitzgerald’s visual delight.

The video partners Edan’s ‘Echo Party’ like a fat kid and cake. Perfectly. Using obscure footage from ’70s and ’80s television and film, it thumps in sync with its soundtrack, all stuttering, back and forth poppers and Bollywood sweethearts. And yes, cranked up, ‘Echo Party’ sounds even more brilliant.

Legendary New York photographer Ricky Powell (the fourth Beastie Boy) was also in the house to present a slideshow of some of his most iconic photographs. Slightly drunk, but completely compelling, the 48 year-old switched between simultaneously joking and insulting his audience, and relating fascinating stories about hip-hop’s immortal icons. LL Cool J, Rakim, Dondi White, the Beastie Boys – this guy has shot, and hung out, with them all.   

There’s no doubt that the warm, intimate atmosphere (which made it seem like we were all shooting the breeze in Edan’s living room rather than a London bar) and Edan's quirky, affable personality contributed to the ineffably fun vibe. It’s an ambience that’s rare to find in London. With Jehst, Micall Parknsun and Edan himself on a two hour DJ set to follow though, relaxed socialising soon turned into obstreperous partying that lasted into the small hours. Naturally. 

Words: Ian Hsieh

Photography by Tim Ferguson

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