After a killer performance alongside Miss Kittin at Sydney’s Bohem for New Year’s Eve, there’d been quite a bit of hype for Berlin producer DJ T’s encore set at Club 77 on Friday night. Put on by long-running electro night Strudel and Melbourne’s Hellrazor, Club 77’s cosy confines were the perfect setting for T’s edgy, cutting, balls n’ all tunes and in three words, he didn’t disappoint.
The setting was suitably downmarket and dingy, tricked up even further with black camouflage netting, low lighting and the floor’s years of sweat, chewing gum and spilt drinks. It slowly filled with younger, flamboyantly decked out clubbers with big smiles and bigger wrist bangles. As the crowd grew it seemed to get a little hotter, but that’s what I was expecting for a space so small, this early in the night. Little did I know it would be an omen of things to come.
Up first was Mark Murphy, known almost as much for his DJing as the front man for Sydney record store Spank. A stalwart on the local scene, he laid down out a mix of his signature kooky electro, italo disco and acid, which he predicts will make a “big comeback” soon, if it hasn’t already under his hands.
DJ Seymour Butz kicked in shortly after 11. Renowned as one half of Club Kooky and revered in Sydney’s gay scene for his downbeat Sauna Sessions compilation, he kicked it up a notch with a banging set of tunes that got the heart racing and toes tapping. But it was over far too soon, as Ajax took to the stage and the crowd tag-teamed it, with the floor changing over for those who’d been drinking. Afetr all, it was getting hot.
And hot it was … a quick check with the frenzied, sweating bar staff revealed the air conditioner had broken down and a gaffer tape fix was being attempted. Just the opportunity to grab another coldie, I thought, and survey the room.
I didn’t get too far before I had to stand up again and hit the dancefloor. Ajax’s set got harder and harder but the beats didn’t speed up. He kept it swaying, with enough high-end jolts, deep basslines and drugged-up lyrics to keep it interesting. In a corner, an outrageously-dressed trio in a mish mash of salvaged op-shop remnants, a Greek fisherman’s cap, aviator sunglasses and a Hypercolour t-shirt (yes, remember those?) were grinding away onto each other, unaware of stares from the hot, sweaty dancefloor.
At this stage I had to duck out for air since the heat and smoke was making things unbearable, which is a shame really since Ajax worked his way into a crescendo for DJ T, who stepped onstage in his angular German way at about 1.30am and let us all know he was in charge.
And what a ride it was … I’m not one to tracklist at this stage, suffice to say that each track was fiddled with, cut up, smashed open and reassembled, with a distinct German flavour that kept it hard yet engaging. Drawing in the slower side of techno, the glitchier side of house, disco, electro and even a bit of italo, he played the sort of music you’d think you’re tire to after 20 minutes but kept it punchy, flowing and seamless for a good two hours, with nary a empty spot on the dancefloor.
But in the end it was the heat which sent this reporter packing, as it literally hit fever pitch. Not just the heat but the smoke. Hot, sweaty clubs are one thing, but without the air being filtered in some way you really can’t breathe – or see for that matter, since your eyes won’t stop watering.
Which was a shame really, but also a little fitting. After all, it may be a while until DJ T graces our shores again. And as punters there on the night might agree, we can only hope he plays outdoors next time he’s here.
