Club Club feat. Ajax @ Chinese Laundry, Sydney (09/02/08)
There are few nights in Sydney that seem to offer a diverse range of dance music styles, while still knowing their boundaries. I applaud the effort of clubs to offer dance music in all of its extremities, however clubbers tend to have a few styles of dance music they particularly like above the rest. I had high hopes on my visit to Club Club at Chinese Laundry. I hadn’t attended the night, but from what I’d heard from friends, the music selection and diversity was just right. On arriving, I took a quick glance into the main room to hear the end of Anna Lunoe’s set. Whilst the crowd was enjoying her more electro-influenced track selection, it was a little too crowded and I wanted a slightly more relaxed atmosphere to start the night.
So I began my night by wandering upstairs to the Sand Bar to hear a refreshing mix of electro, retro 80s funk, hip-hop and a lot of Spanish sounding tracks. I was later informed by a friend that this type of music was called ‘Bossa Nova’ and was in fact, Brazilian not Spanish. After being smacked in the face by my ignorance, I decided to give the DJ a little more of my concentration. Spruce Lee was the man of the hour, and I became pleasantly surprised with his ability to cross between genres effortlessly while still maintaining a positive response from the crowd. I have lately been pondering the direction of popular dance music in Sydney. I’ve noticed the rise of progressive, tech-house and minimal, but I’d never really considered the growing influence of hip hop and all its forms on electro and club style music. Spruce Lee continued to play at a high level, concluding his set with an electro rework of Missy Elliot’s Gossip Folks. I was enjoying the room too much to leave at this point, and the concluding DJ Wax Motif didn’t disappoint me. His use of hip-hop and urban was a little more predominant, but the substantial crowd was still impressed. I loved to hear the Bagraiders’ take on Your Majesty’s Club Action, which I only discovered earlier this year. I tell you know, this track is an awesome listen if you’ve liked anything from Salt’n’Pepa to Enya.
My only disappointment of this room, and the club in general, was the bar staff. It doesn’t look good when workers pour themselves a couple of shots after taking your order, or when your pleasure at the small amount of people at the bar turns to frustration at their slow and inconsiderate service. Despite this, I left Sand Bar very content. I have since learnt that both Spruce Lee and Wax Motif will be playing early sets at Good Vibrations this weekend and have decided to start my day three hours earlier to catch them again. I then moved my way back downstairs again into the Chinese Laundry main room to check out the #1 DJ in the country. I have always enjoyed the sets that Ajax plays, and despite his electro sleaze turning many off, there is little anyone can say or do against the claim that he is a good DJ. His set was not brilliant, but it was edgier and fresher than many of his detractors would predict. His reworking of Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip’s Thou Shalt Always Kill with Bonde Do Role’s Marina Gasolina was a highlight. Sure there were a few tracks from the 2008 Annual and the obvious Daft Punk track that’s been consistent for the last six months, but it wasn’t too overbearing. Chinese Laundry has also vastly improved his air conditioning since I’d been there. I was never disgustingly hot at all during the night, and whilst it remained very busy until its closing at 4am, there was plenty of dancing room. Also the ease in which I arrived to each section of the club throughout the night put some initial scepticism to rest.
I’d heard enough electro house for the night, and decided I would end my night with those who know how to party until the early morning with ease. The underground sounds of the cave appealed to those who wanted to escape the more mainstream sounds of the main room. The Cave was packed with punters checking out Phil Smart’s synth driven set, as well as youngster Matttt’s impressive display. My only regret was not knowing 4am was the closing time, and not giving the Cave enough of my time to give a better summary.
Whilst I was initially shocked and dismayed as to why a club would shut when it is still three quarters full, the 4am close that is due to the venue’s licensing restrictions is probably a good thing for the promoters. Few venues I have been to in recent months have seen this many people at this time. I theorised that people stay until the end because they know it will still be dark when they leave, and it leaves the punters somewhere in between early morning diehards and the soft tired types who can’t stay awake after 2am. That’s where most clubbers lie, and the Club Club turnout and display in each of the rooms was nothing short of impressive.
Ninja88 says...
those soft tired types are evil when group clubbing! they sink the ship!