It was the balmiest evening Sydney had experienced in some months – spring announced its arrival with soaring temperatures and there was a palpable buzz in the city as Sydneysiders were embracing the warm night sky. A massive line snaked its way up the stairs and around the corner outside the Laundry’s entrance. Was it just the season or the fact that Finnish dynamo Michael Cassette was on the bill? Either way, all the early signs indicated it was going to be an epic night.

The Slip Inn was already heaving from top to bottom. The Garden was overflowing with people who were themselves overflowing with various forms of liquor and frivolity. An assortment of pop was seeping into the garden from the substantial speakers in the Sand Bar, creating a rather festive mood. After a few warming beverages under an almost full moon, we journeyed down to the Laundry to get amongst the action. Ben Henderson was at the controls dropping some tasty tunes that got the crowd grinding. The Aston Shuffle mix of Pnau’s Baby and a bit of Muranyi from Pryda was enough to kick the night up a gear and some gratuitous dancefloor snogs provided some light comic relief.

But let’s be honest, many people were here to see one guy. Michael Cassette is actually the production name of Finnish duo Matti Heininen and Erkka Lempiainen – I have no idea which one was at the controls on Saturday night, so will henceforth refer to him by his production name. The Cave was nowhere near as rammed as I warned my friends it would be. Great news. The giant fans provided a surprising amount of circulation and my fears of imitating a Japanese subway commuter were thankfully dashed. The sound was crystal clear and the bass notes crackled from the speakers with intent. Club Junque was warming up people nicely and again showed why this kid is one to watch.

It was pretty obvious which DJ was from Finland. It was the guy with waspish blond hair, the beautifully manicured golden beard and the delicately stonewashed red jeans. The outfit was completed with a tasteful business shirt, almost buttoned to the top. Curious at first, but as soon as the first track dropped, it was clear that the shirt indicated that Mr Cassette had come dressed appropriately – he meant business! The sparkling synth from one the their latest release Winter kicked off proceedings and immediately set the tone for what was to come.

Sporting one of the largest pairs of DJ headphones I have ever seen, and occasionally wearing aviator sunglasses, Michael Cassette looked like someone at the flight controls of a jumbo, rather than CDJs, a midi keyboard and laptop. Again, he was one step ahead of me as he quite easily could have been a pilot, taking the vocal and devoted crowd for a flight through 80s-inspired, bass-heavy melodic wonders. His set was littered with original productions and remixes. The soaring vocals of their remix of Red Star by Musetta and Miracle from label mates Oceanlab; the tune that put them on the map Zeppelin; and the thumping remix of Paul Keely’s A Sort Of Homecoming, all made welcome appearances. Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest roars for the night was reserved for their biggest release to date, Shadow’s Movement.

Over two hours, Michael Cassette delivered track after track of epic, beautiful and utterly driving music. I lost count of how many times my hands were thrust into the air and how often my fellow clubbers whopped in musical delight. There were times where Cassette quite unashamedly dipped his toe in the progressive trance pond; an unusual sound to hear in the Cave and I for one was certainly not complaining. The music was joyous, energetic, uplifting, epic and utterly classy. And while his DJing skills will probably never earn global acclaim, with tunes this good, who really gives a damn. For someone like yours truly with a few years of clubbing under their belt, Cassette’s music is a throwback to a time less complicated where melody was king.

Robbie Lowe had a tough job following on from Cassette but did an admirable job keeping things moving. Obviously the two hours of relentless melody had tired a few people out as the numbers in the Cave thinned quite quickly. Back in the Laundry, I heard the same tracks from Pnau and Pryda and realized that things were probably not going to reclaim the dizzy heights of the previous few hours. No matter, Laundry had delivered another quality artist to the Sydney faithful, showing again why they are at the top of the heap when it comes to showcasing the best underground talent from around the world. And the good news? Matti and/or Erkka will be back in the Laundry again this week to drop some live bombs under their other production alias Komytea. Tasty.