- Despite its long and established position on London's now saturated Sunday party circuit, the secretsundaze 2013 opening party was my first. Sadly, it was a catalogue of blunders and I was convinced it would be my last. But everything deserves a second chance, and due mainly to an essential relocation and a more imposing lineup, they managed this time to deliver something memorable for all the right reasons.
Oval Space in Tower Hamlets has quickly emerged as one of East London's best party spots. Helped by the glorious sunshine that enveloped the city, secretsundaze used the space perfectly. As afternoon merged into evening, the floor-to-ceiling windows on the right side of the venue framed the sunset. Many people soaked up the remaining sunlight on the outdoor terrace, which had the added attraction of a BBQ, but the action inside was difficult to ignore.
Joey Anderson was first up in a three-pronged house and techno offensive. Many will know Anderson from his presence on Levon Vincent's excellent fabric 63, and his selections had the same flavour as the tracks on that mix. Larry Heard's classic "The Sun Can't Compare" dropped early on, and it wasn't too long before he dipped into Vincent's catalogue: "Stereo Systems" was instantly recognisable for the anoraks in the crowd.
KiNK's live set-up was complex and chaotic, the Bulgarian dashing between turntables and his mixing desk, jabbing frantically at various pads and buttons. It was a highly physical and interactive performance (even encouraging audience members to get touchy-feely with his equipment) and enjoyable in parts, but his predictable climaxes and drops became a little tiresome after a while.
Fortunately, the bad taste didn't linger when Nick Höppner landed. The Panorama Bar resident's inventory was rooted firmly in Berlin. Thumping 4/4 beats rained down from the venue's soundsystem, but Höppner cleverly shuffled his pack: Daft Punk's "Burnin'" was a topical inclusion but not in the slightest bit gimmicky. Giles Smith's closing set felt like a bit of a procession, but there was still more than enough energy circulating to keep this enormously successful party alive well beyond its scheduled finish.