Around 1.30am the guys from Long Beach California are introduced to the stage by UK turntablist and DJ on the night, First Rate. The building anticipation is relieved by Young Einstein, who appears at the back of the stage and raises the tempo and volume of the sound with a selection of beats and scratches. There is an instant lift of temperament and movement in the crowd which elevates again when the DJ is joined by his MC's.
Ugly Duckling claim to have been eating, sleeping and breathing Hip Hop since way back, when shoelaces were fat and Michael Jackson was black and on this evidence it's doubtful if there would be anyone who could justifiably disagree. These guys ooze hip hop from Einstein's killer beats all the funky fresh way to Dizzy Dustin, who is nursing flu on the night, and Andy Cooper's flowing rhymes.
Favourites from 1999's Fresh Mode EP like "Now Who's Laughin" and "Everybody C'mon," are interspersed with tracks from the forthcoming LP "Journey To Anywhere," get the crowd rocking and head nodding immediately, as well as singing the fill ins and choruses.
During another swift break the otherwise constantly bouncing DJ rises statuesque from behind his decks holding aloft his Dukey Gold Rope (a humongous neck chain) before the eulogy "Einstein's takin' off" is sung in his praise, which then melts into "Eye On The Gold Chain," the single due on April 9.
Another moment of Ugly Duckling humour is Andy C's tough guy impression, an energetic dance and series of mean faces that he performs to raucous laughter from the crowd, after emphasising the bands philosophy that hip hop isn't about being a "bad-ass".
Tracks from the LP like "I Did It Like This," which was available last year as an import 12", and "A Little Samba" show that Ugly Duckling have grown into a consistently productive, fine hip hop act. And during "Lay It On Ya" it's apparent someone agrees when the stage is invaded by a b-boy supplied by the crowd. Revelling in the improvised addition, Andy and Dizzy carry on performing from the stage sides, leaving an area free for the uninvited dancer to floor rock.
The band are keen to acknowledge influences such as Slick Rick and Beastie Boys numerously throughout their act, dropping lines such as Biz Markie's "Nobody Beats The Biz" in place of their own choruses. The ultimate accolade is the track 'Do You Know What I'm Sayin' which is made up of lines from classics of the past from Boogie Down Productions to Gang Starr and K-Solo to Ultimate Force. You couldn't hope for better influences for this type of sound.
The long-awaited album, due for UK release on April 30 on XL, is a every bit as good as the EP of two years ago and a perfect compliment. With two turntables and two microphones Ugly Duckling are outta' sight like a satellite, and that's alright.
