- Back in 2004 German act Alter Ego released a track called “Rocker”. You may remember it. It tore up dancefloors around the world with its anthemic electro riffs, was remixed innumerable times in a dizzying variety of styles, and threatened to make stars of Alter Ego’s members Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke. A few months later, just as “Rocker” was completely and utterly played out, Flügel unleashed “Geht’s Noch?”, a helium-fuelled monster of a track that proceeded to destroy the last few dancefloors that “Rocker” hadn’t already torn up.
But there’s much more to Flügel than two hit tracks. As a member of groups such as Alter Ego, Acid Jesus, and Sensorama, Flügel has been producing vibrant and innovative acid, electro, and minimal techno since 1992. He helps run the Ongaku Musik/Klang Elektronik/Playhouse family of labels, all of which are respected for releasing high quality electronic music. And as a crowd at Club Unit recently discovered, he’s also a very competent DJ.
Flügel’s headlining set neatly showcased his mixing skills as he tore into an extremely tight two hours of lovely acid lines, rocking chainsaw riffs, and driving minimal techno, spiced with hints of electro. There was a confident, masculine swagger to the set as it drove forward, with tracks such as Misc.’s “Le Weekend” sustaining a digital grind that was almost libidinal. Macho digital cock rock? Perhaps, but the crowd at Unit responded with glee, keeping the dancefloor full for the entire set, whooping approval with each new riff. Sometimes it’s good to just rock out.
Yet Flügel wasn’t all “in yer face” power riff-age, demonstrating a deft touch on the decks as he kept the energy levels high and the music driving without thrashing the crowd senseless. As a veteran of the dance scene Flügel clearly understands that being hammered relentlessly isn’t very pleasurable or satisfying; nor is rushing to a climax too early. So the set drove forward, bold, confident, yet delaying its climax for as long as possible until the very end when some suspiciously Alter Ego sounding riffs hit the dancefloor, much to the crowd’s delight.
That Flügel could maintain the delicate balancing act of keeping his set exciting and engaging without peaking until the very end is a testament to his mixing skills. As the crowd cheered and clapped appreciatively he smiled and waved goodbye, having proved that there is indeed much more to Roman Flügel than “Geht’s Noch?” and “Rocker”.