I’ve sat here for a good half an hour trying to think of how to start this review with anything aside from clichéd references to Rowan Blades’ precocious talent or the Laundry’s sinfully exquisite décor, but I still can’t think of anything… so I’ll charge right in and start instead.

If you’ve been to the Laundry before, you can go straight to the next paragraph. For those who haven’t, read on. Think dungeons, darkness, endless corridors, low ceilings, goblins, strange lights and best of all, pounding tunes. Then think of the type of people you’d encounter at the Loft, or maybe Hugo’s, then think of their antithesis – and that’s who you’re sharing this underground abyss with, on a brooding Saturday night full of foreboding anticipation for the lovely tunes to come.

Rolling into this environment is enough to kick start anyone’s nervous system, but the Laundry served up an extra special dish on Saturday, namely Rowan Blades. Hailing from the UK and one of the team behind Rhythm Syndicate records as well as numerous progressive-housie-trance-like bombs under various monikers, he has the character and presence to fit right in as the malevolent dungeon master who will eat you up and spit you out for breakfast… or midnight snack as the case may be.

Just how valid are his credentials? Building on his success as producer of all things progressive (cast your mind back to Breeder’s The Chain for example) Blades crafted a set of moody house that was completely foreign, yet strangely familiar. It certainly made a welcome change from the many fresher faced DJs doing the rounds now who feel the need to craft a set out of how many downloads their particular tracks have, rather than premeditated audiophonic pleasure. Afterall, as Shirley Bassey famously lyricised “Some people won’t dance if they don’t know who’s singing – why ask your head? It’s your hips that are swinging.” We thank the Laundry for providing a space where such like-minded people can feel at home.

This was definitely Blades’ mantra – he adjusted the tempo and mood of the tunes relentlessly, seemingly reacting to the most subtle of changes in dance floor dynamic. I don’t want to give too much more away, since he will be in town for the next two months, and the night is definitely worth several visits for anyone who enjoys quality music played by a person resentful of the limelight, yet also eager to create a great experience every time he steps up to the mark. If you like an adventure on the dance floor, then you need to stop by the Laundry. The venue is great, the music is great, and the drinks aren’t half bad either… See you there next week!