'Assembly`99'
party report
by Milan Kolarovic (Acumen).

Where should I start? .. well, my songs didn`t qualify to the final round for my disappointment, and therefore weren`t even played during the party event. Naturally at the time it felt really bad, since I had dedicated so much thought and effort on those entries, but I seem to have quickly gotten over it since I had good time there otherwise. I met also Zealan there, for the 1st time, and we hang around together pretty much for the weekend. Zealan took the 2nd price in the 'Tiny music compo' with a song called 'Space Hybrids' and was the best single matter that gave me a positive feeling. My congratulations Zealan! I also met Skaven (Future Crew) and Teque (Remedy Entertainment), and exchanged some thoughts and views of the current stage in which the demo-scene is in, more or less by listening what the "veterans" had on their mind. I also had the chance to congratulate Purple Motion for his win in the 'MP3 music competition' with a song called 'Credits', and Quasian who won the 'Tiny music compo' with a song called 'Parasite Blessing'. 3500 visitors attended Assembly`99 during the weekend. Here`s a list of things containing some things I felt were worth mentioning, both positive [+] and negative [-]. [+] Travelling on a train as it rapidly moves along the track as few raindrops slowly run down on the window ignorant of the speed or the the person watching.. I just love it! [+] Audience "shout outs" were entertaining/clever (when waiting for the monitors and audio on the floor level to be closed/shut down before each compo could take place). [+] Sleeping on a train. It`s so "nursing" to fall asleep as the train roughly shakes beneath you. In some (distant) way it`s like being a child rocked, only the lullaby is missing. [+] Amiga intros were really terrific! ('Spaceballs' and 'Scoopex' were behind the best productions). [+] C64 music compo took my breath away. Exspecially 'Starfall' was fantastic! [+] Cute woman selling 'Red Bull' cans over their stand! (Overpriced drinks yes, but I just had to buy some. ; ) [+] Wild Demos. There were three different 'Wild Demo' entries that made you laugh hysterical, needless to say they were all also brilliant! [+] 'Abyss' of Future Crew. I really believe he`s seriously concerned for the welfare of Demo-Scene. I just hope he`s not too late in his efforts. [-] Music styles in compos (or should I say just 'one' style). 95% of songs were more or less 'drum`n bass'. After you had heard one entry song, you had heard them all. The problem however starts from the fact that 95% of the songs entered were in that particular style, so the fault is in the musicians, not in the organizers or jury. Is music scene totally dead or why is it that all "we" do is play around with breakbeats instead of finding out great melodies that would live through generations to come. Let`s make some effort, ok! [-] Public access computers. There was only one working computer on Friday which the party visitors who didn`t have their own computers were ment to use for registrating into the 'Zepo system', which then allowed entering compos and voting. The waiting line to the computer on the first day was really long. Assembly 2000? .. I`ll most surely be there, still I feel I have to make a remark on the event being more like a big "multimedia" show than a genuine and original demoparty with all the sponsor logos and adds playing (disturbingly) often, but in the end I guess it`s the sponsors that enable the organizers to provide good prices. ~ Milan Kolarovic (a.k.a Acumen)