Absent Digital Soundboys and sleeping girlfriends, oh what a night.
What does one expect from a night that is entirely made up of label bosses – artists who would pull a huge crowd as headliners in any other city but London? Well, I'm not really sure to be honest. The danger is that the night will lack cohesion due to the strong personalties and styles of the various artists. Samurai label boss DJ Presha is the first to grace the decks and he immediately pushes back my fears by knocking out a low key, progressive affair that gently energises the filling club, making way for the first big British name, Calibre.
Calibre is known as one of the originators of liquid dnb and lives up to his reputation, playing out the deep grooves of liquid dnb past. He forgoes the catchy, happy melodies that populate most modern liquid and opts for the smooth funk that Fabio would have got his knickers in a twist about ten years ago. At this point two things happen: firstly I realise that Shy FX – supposedly a special guest – is a no show; and secondly, my girlfriend, who I've dragged to Cable despite her exhaustion, falls asleep on a sofa somewhere in front of the massive Nova soundsystem. Oh dear, the guilt sets in. Meanwhile Klute has now made his way to the DJ booth and immediately steps it up a gear, which, despite her slumber, Issy insists she's enjoying. Oh well, might as well stay for a bit then!
Klute continues with his increasingly punchy set, selecting tunes with militant, aggressive beats which begin to work the now full dance floor into a frenzy, culminating in a couple of real dancefloor destroyers. It's a hard act to follow and my earlier fear is realised as the legendary dBridge steps up, fresh from an in-club grilling by yours truly. This Giant Panda of a man has changed styles significantly over the past ten years and is now one of the main proponents of the new wave of half time dnb which is currently shaking up the scene. This style of music, exciting and stunning as it is, doesn't have much place following a set like Klute's. However, the maestro still nails his set, mixing the half time production that he's now known for with more up-tempo beats, while maintaining a constant minimal feel.
Sneaking out of the club early, dazed girlfriend in tow, I don't regret missing Doc Scott and Marcus Intalex. Although individually all of the Bunch of Cuts crew are excellent DJs, tonight there's a lack of cohesion which sadly makes the night less than the sum of the parts.
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