I think we can pretty safely “Blame Canada” for this one (go the maple-syrup lickers!) In recent times, many Australian ‘progressive purists’ have been moaning about the fact that their favourite artists come out to play, but instead of the sweet melodic tunes they’re so famous for producing, they slam out sets of tuneless bleeps (read: minimal tech). I’m sure it’s just a fashionable phase we’re going through. Getting jiggy to the dulcet tones of a truck reversing may be all the go in Ibiza, but apparently it’s not what the cool kids are doing in Canada. Witness exhibit A; on Saturday night at Chinese Laundry one of Canada’s greatest musical exports, Luke Fair, dished it out sweet and tuneful. And many of the chin-rubbing moaners (myself included) had to eat their words. Am I complaining now? I think not.

The decks in the Cave were warmed up supremely by Laundry resident Club Junque, also a purveyor of the melodic side of music. His mission was a tough one early on, as he was competing with some hammering Baltimore and party-house in the main room, as Ajax – recently ranked #1 DJ in NSW – had the crowd lapping up every fast and furious track. By the time the Barbie-Barge-Trains and Enur’s ‘Calabria 2007’ had me scampering back to the Cave, Master Junque had lured a solid crowd into his lair and hands were working into the air. Some heavier sounds were cooking by now, like a crazy ‘old-skool Nintendo’ track that I suspect was the Audion Mix of Dubfire’s I Feel Speed.

Hours passed by as if they were mere moments, and then Luke Fair stepped up, fresh from his set at the Freedom Festival. With the chin-strokers’ hearts firmly in his hands, he unfurled a set that danced up and down the ‘driving vs melodic’ balance-beam, and seduced us with all the breakdown sweetness we were craving. Our hearts were safe for tonight. Safe as fuck and even sweeter. Guy J’s Under Pressure got a run, as did the Dirty South remix of John Dahlback’s Pyramid. Hours of ‘cracking new track’ goodness satisfied fans and randoms alike, igniting grins a mile wide all around the room. Well, mostly…

Those of us who were totally into the music were happy. But it’s finally time for me to concede that the Laundry crowd has changed. It’s certainly gotten bigger, which shows just how popular our little underground hideaway has become. You only need to see the lineup outside at midnight to realise that the club is almost always at capacity these days. Maybe I’m showing my age (never!), but you know things are getting hectic when even the fanboys are cracking it. All I can say is; lighten up peeps! Wear your steel-cap trainers and focus on the tunes, coz the thing Laundry nails it every time and they treat us to some absolute first-rate music.

I fought my way (not literally) out to the main room to check out Treasure Fingers, but like most of the crowd I quickly placed myself firmly back at the mercy of Luke Fair, who was launching into a surprise third hour of delicious beats. I’m not sure what happened to Matttt who was billed to play the last hour, but it was like at Christmas when you discover more presents hidden under the bed (sorry Matttt!) Luke’s track selection was elite. I knew very few, but I wanted to get my hands on every single one. The standout for me was the awesomely symphonic Chikuma from Hideo Kobayashi. The track-name Silola’s Coast to Coast was also being thrown about. I know Luke has been working on a remix and I haven’t heard it myself. But my informants were hot, so I’m totally going to go with that.

When the music finally finished at 4, I was pretty much ready to sing the Canadian national anthem, backwards and in French if required. Yes, blame Canada, and thank Luke Fair for a set jammed with awesome progressive goodness. I’m really hoping this new-fangled melodic thing catches on.