The much anticipated Transmission party made a massive comeback after 8 months missing in action, playing on the 27th of May to a sell out crowd. Returning to the State Sports Centre with it’s Magic City theme, after venues such as the Roundhouse or the ill-received Tennis Centre, a lot of hype mounted the pressure on organisers to deliver the goods. In fact, on the night the venue’s wide stage and low lights received a mixed response, some likening the main room to a glossy movie set rather than a dance event. While the swanky set up may have brought the event closer to a large-scale popular concert from it’s ravey roots, it helps keep it a step above the smiley face cheese of some dance events.

A diverse lineup attracted a wide cross section of people; from Industrie-shirted pretty boys at funkymission to trendy indie chicks and the regulation hardcore raver crews. Two sets of locals kicked off – Pete Heery vs. Chester, then Nitrouz vs. Matrix – their respective fans giving a warm welcome, while the rest of us froze outside in the queue that snaked back through half of Olympic Park. For those who caught the DJ comp finals, they were lucky enough to not only hear these young guns test their skills on the massive crowd, but witness Transmission creator Nervous put his heart on his sleeve and propose to his girlfriend at the end.

The Aussies continued their stage domination with Bexta and Archie’s interesting contrasts; her big sound and his deck defying scratching in Follow Me, Black is Back, and Floorkilla. Out of the internationals, Dark By Design and Zany’s upbeat stompy riffs were audience faves. The UK’s DBD brought a club feel to the night, keeping to the classy side of hardstyle with Calabria and Tomcraft’s Loneliness. The next visitor was Randy Katanna, who slowed it down with this spacious trance, then turned it over to local boys Nervous and Steve Hill. These guys were all about the anthems, with Cold as Ice, Braveheart, and the new Transmission theme Come with Me, to get us up for Zany. The headliner began with MC insisting the crowd chant “ZAAH- NEE” (not “zay knee”) Euro style but the man himself took it in his stride, refreshingly for a DJ to have such a sense of humour. This cheeky streak came out with his hip hop intro Cypress Hill’s Insane in the Brain, then breaking into his donkey rolling best with top tracks Loving You and his devastatingly successful Pillz.

Proteus’ theatrics and thrash style came dangerously close to being upstaged by the dramas unfolding on the looming SMS screens. As well as the usual dribble, there were Nervous style marriage proposals/acceptances, boring ”...Dan, wer down the front xo Shelly” but one particularly nasty confession from a guy hooking up with his girl’s best friend in the chill out room… ouch. Thankfully Proteus’ thumping performance, which included jumping off speakers and generally ripping up the vinyl, meant that at least some of the issues could be settled on the dance floor. Nik and Amber tied it up with hard mixes of familiar tunes like Pure, proving that although it’s been a while, we can rest assured Transmission is here to stay.