The fact that I was attending Sweetchilli to see two unknown acts – international guest Robert Babicz and Future Classics crew member Jimi Polar – wasn’t really something that concerned me. Their events are always jam packed with interesting and fresh acts that always surprise and inspire, and the Sweetchilli boys seem to hit a lot more times than they miss. And it turned out to be one hell of a night.

Sydney’s Jimi Polar, producer and tech house extraordinaire, was on the decks when we rocked up and I was blown away. Not since Alex Smoke caved heads at Chinese Laundry in January this year have I been so impressed by the skills of a DJ. I didn’t realise for quite some time that the set was live (I blame the vodka), but when I did and went to have a look at what was going on, it was nothing short of incredible. Watching him work that keyboard and fiddle with all sorts of buttons and knobs left me speechless, and the fact that he was grinning like crazy and obviously having a ball too was so fantastic to see.

Jimi played a glorious mix of tech, prog and minimal: smooth rhythmic beats and tracks that had me asking all those around me if they knew what it was. I don’t think I heard one track that I recognised, but it all seemed familiar and had that little something that I just couldn’t put my finger on. I’m left wondering how I have missed Jimi Polar before now because he’s one talented producer and musician, and on reading up about him he’s been around for nearly a decade producing and collaborating on various projects. I caught his set at the We Love Sounds festival a few days later and it was just as tasty. Hopefully there’ll be more of Jimi around because he is someone definitely worth watching out for.

Robert Babicz, who I now know is a techno and acid house master, was just as amazing as Jimi Polar. Glitchy, driving and intense sounds that twisted, turned and evolved into a delicious soup of melody, growing steadily into those moments where you stop and think ‘wow’. It was a mindblowing set, one that I didn’t expect to be able to match the excellence that proceeded him but it turned out to be even better.

For those of you who missed Babicz’s set, I’d be kicking myself if I were you. I don’t think I have ever heard anything like it: “improvised techno” is how it’s been described, and that’s exactly what it was. You never knew what he was going to be doing next yet it was all on the ball, exactly how it was supposed to sound and all pumping out live!

Props to the Sweetchilli boys for providing us with such an awe inspiring night, and in spite of the fact that the room wasn’t rammed, you could tell that the event was a success. Music lovers of the slightly left-of-centre variety were presented with something really special and I for one will be talking about it for some time to come.