Check out the inthemix photo gallery from the night here.

The prospect of seeing a genuine pioneer of techno had me frothing at the mouth. Robert Hood’s last Sydney gig was in 1992, but since then his releases have kept Detroit techno at the forefront of many a clubber’s mind. In my younger years I discovered the genre through Hood’s track Pole Position, but he was already well into his career. Relatively recently, his Fabric mix resulted in ejaculate-soiling a whole new generation’s knickers, ensuring that it wouldn’t just be the oldies coming out of the woodwork for this one.

Most people were content to wait in the wings as Defined by Rhythm played a credible set of thumping, European tech, but the dancefloor swelled as Hood took to the decks. A couple of extended plays to start, and then a nice acid arse-kicker to take things up a notch.

A problem with one of the needles seemed to unsettle Hood, and we had to wait for a new one before he really hit his stride. Once installed, Hood had more tracks simultaneously in the mix – yes, this was what we waited years for! Everyone present was in love with Hood, if a little quiet in their appreciation. Maybe it was the heat. Damn, it is hot in that club.

The bar service was as woeful as at the We Love Sounds after-party – that’s two strikes, will they learn? Having a tap for water refills in a venue with a chronic lack of air-con is an inspired move. Leaving it without glasses the entire night is not.

Back on the dancefloor, Hood just wanted to keep on going. His two hours expired, he decided to make a left turn to – what else – disco house. After a few tracks, and with Dopamine waiting in the wings, Hood returned to the techno – and got us sweating again for his big finish.

Probably the biggest tune of the night was And Then We Planned Our Escape. There was lots of old and old-sounding stuff, but it was definitely for the heads – this was no Jeff Mills set with the obligatory dropping of Jaguar, Strings of Life, and of course The Bells. Instead there was touches of acid, plenty of ride cymbals (yum), and a more considered tempo than, for example, that Fabric mix. It was great to get down and dirty to the industrial sounds of Alpha and other newer Hood material.

So long between tours, and so much quality in the intervening years. If we never get to see Robert Hood on these shores again, those that saw him smash it at Plantation can count themselves lucky – but for everyone else, it seems there’s plenty of music to come from this bona fide legend of the scene. Oh, and did I mention the next Disconnected Presents party will bring Marcel Dettmann to Sydney? HELLO!

Check out the inthemix photo gallery from the night here.