The pool party sessions looked like they were going to turn into a regular, and very welcome, summer fixture in Taipei, until someone decided that it would be better to fill in the pool and sell it for development than run a public amenity. As ever, dance music faces the pressure of the bottom line. Beach parties were plentiful this year, and rather than just hoicking a sound system down to Tahsi beach and setting up (though this way of running a party remains a tried-and-tested method) promoters have been more inventive in their choice of venues, including parties at a Greek-themed beachfront restaurant and on less developed stretches of coastline.
Perhaps the most striking gripe of 2006 is the creeping spread of naff all-you-can-drink-then-let's-have-a-fight nights, which are dressed up as "ladies" nights. In some ways, they might be described as innovative, in that many of these so-called ladies' nights actually don't have any ladies there. These are the nights which threaten the music scene: club owners, particularly the smaller ones, who realize that it is easier to fill a club with braying, jeering, frat-boy morons and run cheapo schlock-fests, will be reluctant to support proper local talent. It's already happening: long confined to Wednesday nights, the listings pages are now full of these lowest-common denominator horrors all week long. A worrying trend indeed, though hopefully promoters who take risks to put on high quality entertainment — the Loop's efforts this year are worthy of mention in this regard — can stem the tide.
Honorable mentions go to www.taiwannights.com for building a strong online presence with inclusive listings, interviews and reviews and www.spunite.com for covering a vast amount of electronic happenings in Chinese.
As 2007 approaches, there are a number of options to ring in the New Year this weekend. The warm-up has to be tomorrow night's Atomic's 80s party. If it's the 80s you're after, then Marcus Aurelius spins hip-hop; Junior and Megan get into the groove with old-skool house, while G&T think that heaven is a place on earth with a blend of indie, disco and pop.
On New Year's Eve itself, every venue in town will be having a party of one description or another, and doubtless by the time this column is being read most people will have already made up their minds. However, a few choice highlights include John Askew at the Minstry of Sound, Luke Fair at Champagne 3, Kid Fresh at Party Room, Bontempi Five at 18 Lover and Luxy's end of year bash.
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