On a balmy summer Sunday afternoon there’s no better way to top off the weekly “work, rest & play” cycle than hanging out with friendly company, sipping ice-cold cocktails, all the while taking in some fresh tunes enriching an uber-cool atmosphere. While this may sound like the standard ingredients to any regular Sunday session, this gathering was no ordinary mixture. The blending of two of Brisbane’s seasoned EDM event crews in Logic & Kana, muddled with one of QLDs “Nightclub of the Year” 2008 nominees Bar Soma, and layered splashings of prodigious Dutch DJ/producer Joris Voorn, this was truly an extraordinarily concocted recipe that satisfied many hunger-yearning appetites.

Normally playing host to evening events, Bar Soma is situated at a comfortable distance from the Valley centre, and last week it opened its doors from midday, extending the two-level loft-style space into the massive outdoor garden area. An exclusive event with only limited numbers allowed, as you entered through the lush interior you were drawn past the length of the single bar to the inviting daylight of the courtyard, which was fully transformed to accommodate the entertainment. Arriving mid-to-late afternoon, the crowd at this stage was about one-third of the capacity it would later reach. With many a smiling face, and nearly every second body clasping one of the exquisite exotic cocktails Bar Soma is famously known for, it was obvious the Logic lads Mike Redfern, BPM, and Fergus Alexander had each already added their appropriate measure to the musical brew. With small groups gathered up the incline of the driveway, and many scattered bodies loitering around the bar, Kana’s Elliot Clark and Fuzion kept the music pot simmering nicely, adding their spicy blend of groovy beats to the brew, as many free-styled on the flat right in front of them.

Not that it was obvious at this stage given the favourable effects of cocktail intoxication, but there was much anticipation amongst the intimate close-knit community of local dance music scenesters whether Joris Voorn would keep the temp simmering moderately, or heat it up beyond boiling point. Only 11 months prior, many punters of this community had the pleasure of Joris in the very same location hosted by the same crews, hailing the gig as one of the best of 2008. Gaining his deserved reputation at the time off his successful production talents of his [second] artist album From a Deep Place, this time Joris was touring on the back of the latest Balance release. Despite the fact Joris finds “very little music these days interesting enough to play from start till end”, it’s almost a conundrum then that a great deal of what Joris plays comes from the dancefloor. So how was this producer extraordinaire, who compiled, condensed and produced 102 tracks onto a double CD, going to satisfy the crowd’s musical desire, all the while exhibiting his “painting with sound” style of his Balance 14?

By the time Joris stepped up at 5:30pm, the crowd reached capacity outside, as the glare of the sun dimmed making way for the star of the moment to shine. The unconventional Voorn had prepared samples, loops and edits from mixes he produced for the Balance compilation, and for the 3½ hour plus duration, he delivered bits of this and bits of that, showcasing some of his studio work, using Traktor Pro and Ableton, mixing up to 4 different tracks or loops at a time. Joris totally blew the crowd away fusing so many different sounds with familiar tracks into a well-balanced and seamless mix that just continued to harness more energy as it endured. To try to be a trainspotter on this occasion would’ve hurt, goodness knows how many excerpts of tracks Joris played, though whenever the crowd recognised a track being mixed in, a simultaneous roar erupted as bodies jumped up with hands punching the air. For many a moment it didn’t feel like we were dancing semi-outdoors under the night sky with stars peering through the shade-sails; it was so reminisce of being in a much larger indoor room, with a crowd 20 times the size.

The vibe that was created and continually built upon evoked flashbacks of being under the influence of a Digweed spell. Honestly, Joris Voorn was so good weaving his techno musical magic, words just can’t explain the amazing journey he took us on, it was just one of those ‘you had to be there’ moments. Seeing the DJ enjoy the experience just as much as the crowd, and constantly gain mutual pleasure, is the only analogy I can find to try to describe the experience, and even then it doesn’t do it justice. I guess to gain any sort of idea of what Joris delivered, or to relive some of the moments, you’d have to get a hold of his Balance 14 double disc release as soon as it becomes available; I know I will be!