24.9.10

Metro clubs column today

If I wasn't under the weather I'd definitely be going to Electric Minds and would love to check out James Blake, Ramadanman, Dark Star - each of these in their own right are absolutely brilliant. I'd be a little wary of XOYO coz it will be young, hipster central and I'd mainly feel old.



CLUBS
XOYO + Electric Minds

London’s world-class clubbing scene appears to have taken a battering over recent years with the closure of iconic venues including The End, Turnmills, Canvas and The Cross, and Matter’s temporary shutdown. However, it’s simply the circle of (night) life, as London clubland is reinventing itself through smaller and agile (multipurpose) venues.

Take for example new 800-capacity Old Street ‘events space’ XOYO: upstairs can host live acts and arts events during the week, while the downstairs is also capable of hosting gigs, as well as club nights. The team behind it certainly has the brains and experience to push the raving experience forward: XOYO is the brainchild of Cymon Eckel (behind the cult 1990s fanzine, label and night Boys Own, and east London boozers The Griffin and The Britannia), Tom Baker (cutting edge promoters Eat Your Own Ears), Marcus Weedon (Field Day, Underage) and Johnno Burgess (Bugged Out! Jockey Slut).

Tomorrow sees Blogger’s Delight & Eat Your Own Ears take over XOYO with a glorious showcase of post-dubstep: Dark Star (Hyper Dub) who specialize in gothic, analogue dubtronica, perform live with DJ support from mellifluous melody maker James Blake, whose dub-house features gurgling r’n’b, and Ramadanman, who fluidly fuses dubstep, house, and techno with aplomb.





Electric Minds is an example of the kind edgy, underground nights that have sprung up as established venues have waned. Tomorrow the label and impromptu night continues its Loft Party series with a few hundred electronic music connoisseurs enjoying Innervision’s Marcus Worgull’s deep, blurry house and gliding percussive techno. Combined with a powerful Funktion 1 Soundsystem and intimate, unorthodox setting, it’s proof that London clubland is alive, kicking and screaming. Rahul Verma

Tomorrow, XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, 9pm to 3am, £9 adv. Tel. 020 7729 5959. www.xoyo.co.uk. Tube: Old Street

Tomorrow, Electric Minds, secret East London location, 10pm to 6am, £8 to £10. email info@electricminds.co.uk for details. Tube: Old Street