Adding a name as internationally renowned as Circo Loco to any party is going to elevate the ‘loose’ factor. It’s a brand that’s synonymous with dance floor danger and notorious for enforcing a head-caving music policy that transcends clubs and continents. It also dictates what direction dance music will head in, and if you want to see what’s rocking the floors in a year’s time the soothsayers at Circo’s Ibiza flagship DC10 have the crystal ball. Every Monday for six months of the year they allow a few hundred punters on the white isle to gaze wide eyed into the maelstrom, sucking them into a glorious vortex of hedonism sound tracked by delirious underground techno.

The concept of one of Ibiza’s best parties merging with one of Sydney’s more exciting underground nights was mouth watering to say the least. Minimal Fuss, now into its third party, has been rocking the Civic Theatre with a staunch music policy similar to Circe Loco’s. Its resident DJs Matt Aubusson, Dave Choe, Ben Korbel and Declan Lee have been opening Sydney ears up to a sound that is a shade darker and less obvious than the upfront electro house infecting the city. For this special night they were to be joined by DC10 resident Clive Henry (Peace Division) and the peerless Ewan Pearson.

The Civic packed out early with a surprisingly diverse crowd, the usual minimal kids rubbing shoulders with Irish backpackers, curious glamour girls, bare-chested local lads and a hilariously camp contingent of European’s who led the dance floor charge. By 11pm the Theatre’s ‘pit’ was doing its best to represent a sardine tin, heaving to deep and intelligent house music. Declan Lee and the very impressive Matt Aubusson traded places on the decks until Matt was joined by his partner in crime Dave Choe. From then the gears shifted as the deep and sublime effortlessly gave way for heavy Trapez/Kompakt style stomp so by the time Clive Henry climbed onto the platters the dance floor was writhing gleefully.

Opting for a more linear and layered approach, Henry took time to win over the ears but 45 minutes into his set he definitely made a mark with his hypnotic percussive based groove that bewitched everyone. As the night went on the limbs got a little looser and the dance floor dropped its inhibitions, the temperature soared to ridiculous highs till you could write your name in the sweat on the walls. Ewan came on at 2pm and just tore the place apart with his unmistakable driving, melody-heavy sound. The crowd responded with rapture as he took them into territory that was brimming with emotion. There are few DJs out there at the moment who are better than this guy.

It was a solid experience, offering a definitive taste of the music and a little of the insanity that Circo Loco is infamous. The venue coped (barely) with a great crowd who survived despite the ludicrous air-conditioning situation but hey, what’s a little sweat between friends? In a city starving for nights that offer musical quality of an international standard, Minimal Fuss is a beacon. With a loyal fan base growing with each party and a commitment to bringing the freshest underground electronica, minimal or otherwise, to a city that definitely needs it, this is a party on the rise. If intelligent house and techno in a ‘no fuss environment’ is your bag then keep your lobes to the pavement for the next installment.