This time around the Modular party took to the high seas, cruising Sydney Harbour. Quite surreal! It still is, I mean, I still haven’t actually absorbed that I was on a Sydney Harbour cruise, hosted by Modular and DFA records. Which probably means it’s just gone straight over my head! Or I’m just generally a numb person. But anyway, it’s such a great idea for a party, and everyone had an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

We had to wait a fair while for the ship to arrive, which I’m sure Cargo Bar enjoyed as the crowd of Modular people (whose fashion tends to stand out a lot next to all the tourists in Darling Harbour) made use of the bar. It was a nice wait. Upon boarding the vessel most people flocked to the top deck. I however, went straight to the bar, and bought a round of beers. One thing about boats is they’re really rocky, and when other boats go past they create a wake that makes the boat you are on rock and roll. This kind of made up for the ridiculous $8 Tooheys Extra Drys, because the drunken simulation of the rocking combined with drinking in the hot sun enhanced the effect of the alcohol. So we moved outside as we left Darling Harbour and toasted our youth and good health.

The boat was blessed with the presence of Dan and Tim from Cut Copy. Well really that makes Sydney and the rest of Australia quite lucky, since they haven’t been in Australia much lately have they! So it was a warm feeling in my Australian heart, on this Aussie day of sun and beer and lust, sailing past the docks of the Harbour, to be listening to a driving electro set from Modular’s favourite boys. They played quite early, at which point most people probably didn’t feel like dancing, but their music was particularly conducive to moving your bottom, and consequently there were a decent amount of guys and girls boppin’ away whilst trying not to stumble into anything or hit heads on the ceiling which can’t have been much higher than six feet.

Following that was, err, a blur. I do remember sitting on the second deck listening to the DJ who was dropping a fairly eclectic mix of the Beatles and Beastie Boys, while I was waiting to be let upstairs to the top deck (restricted to eighty people at a time). And I do remember a very friendly atmosphere on the top deck where everyone was chatting away to each other happily. I don’t think I’ve seen that many Karen Walker sunglasses in the one place. Or boys with really skinny jeans. But it was cool, I mean, I felt a little cheap next to all the designer shades with my, ahem, KFC sunnies from the value meals in the early 90s (actually I don’t think they had abbreviated their name by then), but hey, everyone was loose and on a boat in the middle of Sydney Harbour!

Back on the dance floor to the soundtrack of another DJ warming the decks for Juan MacLean. Juan actually helped this guy out a bit when his mixes were getting out of time by adjusting the speed of the turntable! It looked a bit insulting to the poor guy, but there wasn’t much he could do. Anyway, his mixing needed Juan’s help… On the other hand his warm up tunes of mashed electroclash and the more minimal style of electroclash that seems to be appearing at the moment – which I think should be called ‘technoclash’ or even ‘minimal technoclash’ – was well received. Juan MacLean dropped the tempo after the peak of the supporting DJ and provided a chunkier hard electro sound. He dropped some of his own tracks and peaked with some great hard electro/techno. As we arrived back in Darling Harbour he quite abruptly started playing house. It was cool… but quite out of the blue, and didn’t totally carry the vibe. Overall though, it was a highly professional set, maybe lacking a bit of originality and flair, but it was good dance music.

I would definitely go on another Modular cruise! But not too soon – it was way too expensive. Water was not cheap either, and there was no food readily available apart from some chips and cut up fruit that appeared a few hours after setting off. And I’ve already mentioned the cost of drinks… I think it would have been a much better party if the prices were a bit friendlier to the poor young Modular scenesters. Even if they offset the cost with a higher cover charge. Otherwise though, it’s an absolute dream event, and I’ll be better prepared for the next one!