Enter @ Space 15th August – Review

Image: Space

This edition of Enter once again proved to be a rather interesting one. The Sake bar pre-party was a monstrous line-up in itself, with a Minus take-over from label residents Hobo, Matador and Gaiser – more of a reason than ever to arrive at the club early.

The main room was to be headlined by techno heavy-weights Marcel Dettman and Ben Klock alongside, of course, Richie Hawtin, requiring preparation from the crowd ready to take a techno battering. The intrigue ramped up on the Terrace with the promise of great music from Queens of the game Nina Kraviz and Maya Jane Coles, and a questionable caveat in the shape of a Grimes DJ set, which proved to be most interesting of all... 

Hobo was on early doors in the Sake bar, playing a pleasant selection of dark, deep house, tickling the senses of the Minus heads gradually filling the Sunset Terrace. He warmed up nicely for the monstrous live sets that were about to follow, and as Matador took to the booth armed and ready for a live set, the crowd let loose. Matador layered his latest productions in wonderful ways, powerful synths twisting minds over grooving bass in true Minus style. Gaiser followed on with his own live performance, rolling heavy bass lines into major build-ups that allowed for hands in the air for the duration. The pre-party was a night out in itself, and was possibly the most spectacular to date. 

Richie Hawtin took to the microphone at midnight with a thank you for Gaiser, before introducing Canadian pop star Grimes for a DJ set. Having not heard of her before, it was impossible to know what to expect. After a very quick change over, the room quickly emptied as Grimes began her 'set'. The music couldn't have been further away from the style of Enter, and for the next three hours Grimes would press the play button on a random and uninteresting selection of pop music; on one occasion we walked through to the sound of the Venga Boys.

She didn't wear headphones and there was no attempt at all to blend any of the songs into one; god knows how she made it to the top of the line-up, or how she even made it onto the line-up at all. And, keen fans of the blogosphere, you may have noticed she’s caught quite the buzz with her Boiler Room set earlier in the day. 

After a brief time spent taking in the bizarre situation in the Sake bar, we took to the rest of the club for some real music. Maya Jane Coles performed a blinder on the packed Terrace, mixing up a selection of deep and sexy house music to an appreciative crowd. It's easy to see why she has become such an Enter favourite, fusing the Minus template into that of her own. In the main room, Dettman and Klock set about conjuring a powerful thunderstorm of techno that was quite simply on another level– for some it was too intense, but those who were able to embrace the reverberating rhythms were having the time of their lives. 

Whilst Richie Hawtin finished off the main room in as perfect style as always, Nina Kraviz closed the Terrace with her unique collection of acidic techno. She immersed both herself and the crowd into the music, providing a special end to what had been a partly confusing but mostly great night.

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