Future Classic Label Night @ Will & Toby's, Sydney (15/03/08)
Upon arriving at Will and Toby’s, I knew I was in for a different kind of clubbing experience. I walked up the stairs above The Oxford, and upon entering the main room I was given a sample CD, which turned out to be a selection of tracks from the Future Classic record label. Already starting the night on a good note, I entered the moderately full split level main room, otherwise known as the Supper Club. The vibe was relaxing, most of the people were comfortably having a few drinks, socialising with their friends while Jamie Lloyd was setting the mood with his post minimal melodic disco.
After adjusting myself to the sophisticated environment, UK DJ Mudd took to the decks with some chilled out deep house. His music was synchronised by the video graphic screens to each side of him. The pop-art style superimposed images created opaque, layered visual transfixion for the interested crowd. The atmosphere continued to remain quite laidback and intimate, and despite the sophisticated crowd there wasn’t an inch of pretentiousness from anyone.
I decided to make my way upstairs and check out the Polo Lounge. DJ Kali was spinning a few more upbeat style songs, with more retro, 80’s funk driven beats for the seated crowd. I may add here that the venue is perfect for Future Classic label nights. Alongside the visual projection screens in the Supper Club, the wall paintings and interior design were reminiscent of an upscale contemporary New York social event. It was, in short, very cool.
After having a fair idea of the venue, I ventured back downstairs to see the main room had gotten much busier. Mudd’s set became much more up-tempo, his disco-house and electric-bass infused rhythms saw the dancing area become quite full. The crowd was very into the music at this point, the last half of Mudd’s set attracting good crowd response. His set was very instrumental based, yet there was still quite a few vocal tracks slotted in to break up the tribal funk sounds. He closed his set with Don Rays’s classic disco tune Standing in the Rain.
Sydney producer Meem was next to take to the decks, his set picking up where Mudd left off. He opened with the Doobie Brothers Long Train Running. The rest of his set continued in a similar retro style vain, with some 80s hip hop being fused in to continue the disco theme.
It was an interesting decision to leave Will Saul, the headliner, as the closing late night set, yet his style was suited for this time slot. He continued with the deep house for the punters who stayed on until the end of the night.
It seems as though this scene is becoming very popular, and the Future Classic crew gave its punters another superb night. This night is extremely unique, and is worth checking out if you like your clubbing with a little bit more of an upscale edge. It is the perfect environment for those who like to mix socialising and music with a common interest of having the choice to take your night wherever you want it.
