Jonathan Burnip (Soul Jazz Records). Click here to view flickr.

Allnightlong
Saturday 25th February 2006
Departure, Crutched Friars, Aldgate, London

Tonight's emphasis is on dark, dirty disco with Clone Records. Soul Jazz's Jonathan Burnip set the tone nicely, ending with that AFX meets Bronski Beat track off Analord ('PWSteal.Ldpinch.D').

Clone boss Serge's mammoth 3-hour set might have tested even the most ardent italo-disco fan. Even so, he remained uptempo and insistent, despite some dodgy patches. Dexter edged the music away from gay melodies and into more piercing rhythmic territory.

DJ Joe Nice. Click here to view flickr.

DMZ First Birthday
Saturday 4th March 2006
3rd Base / Mass, St. Matthews Church, Brixton, London

DMZ celebrate a year of pushing extreme bass to refined new levels with this multi-venue bash in the heart of Brixton. The dimly lit stage of 3rd Base had served them well enough. Baltimore's Joe Nice seemed to revel in alternating between vocal-friendly stop/start rhythms to dark, searing voyages of sub. Flipping mood switches with gleeful abandon.

But midway through the night, almost as a signifying moment. The night had to be moved into a bigger space when the numbers were getting too much. So a quick shuffle upstairs and we found ourselves at Mass. The leftover detritus from the previous nights' trance were quickly swept under the carpet as Youngsta warmed up the system with some appropriate cuts. Skream dropped melodic riffs as addictive as the low-end and Mala & Loefah kept it heavy.