It’s all good times for Sydney drum and bass at the moment, with a influx of quality internationals making their way to our shores. With High Contrast, Krust & Die and the mighty Andy C & GQ all touching down within the space of a month, the arrival of Maldini & Vegas, better known as Bad Company UK, DJ Wildchild, and NZ’s Confucious, Mysterious D & Hooves on the one night had Sydney heads rather pumped up for a gig of rather epic proportions.

Unfortunately missing the local support provided by Polaris & Rastacrew, who by all accounts smashed it, I arrived to the sounds of Wildchild rolling through a wide ranging selection of tunes. Cutting back and forth between tough dancefloor with Subfocus’ rather dope Scarecrow, some liquid from her own label Wildstyle, then back into the heavyness with Baron’s rerub of Total Science – Nosher, Wildchild kept it running. A drop of the Pendulum remix of Ed Rush & Optical’s classic Bacteria sent the floor into a fit of mayhem and deservedly copped the rewind treatment.

Beginning the end of her set in a rather special way with the tune that every self-respecting producer wishes they made, Konflict’s techstep anthem Messiah, the floor swelled for the arrival of Maldini & Vegas. Before they were to come on, however, Wildchild dropped the requisite “one more” tune, that being Total Science’s nu-rave masterpiece Defcon 69. A fitting way to end an extremely tight set.

Kicking things off with an unknown dubplate, the BC boys quickly dropped in Subfocus X-Ray, with it’s spectacular rolling kick drums and bouncy synth workout. The D-Bridge remix of Tech Itch Soldiers was joined by another play of the Bacteria remix, Logistics Together, what I believe was a rather tasty collaboration between Bad Company and Dutch wizards Noisia, The Upbeats Go Around, the Sonic & Silver remix of BC’s Rush Hour, and Calyx’s absolutely spectacular Illusions and Tearing Us Apart. Closing with what sounded like some forthcoming Pendulum gear, featuring rocked out guitars and vocals, BC straight up smashed it.

Confucious, Mysterious D & Hooves stepped up to close up the night, opening up with some of their forthcoming tunes, and for the half-hour I caught of them they kept the dancefloor jumping in fine style. It was a shame that I couldn’t stay longer, but a flight to the Gold Coast the next day made sure that I was home at a sane time. Full marks go to Sector 20, all the artists on the night, both local and international, and the crowd for a banging night of upfront drum and bass with a quality vibe.