- Treatment, a fledgling label with only one release under its belt, is the brainchild of Onur Özer and Binh, two stalwarts of Berlin's minimal house scene. The spotlight has been on the latter in recent months: the label is one of a number of projects he's put his name to. After a string of gigs in other European cities, the Treatment parties finally returned home, with another locally-based act in tow, New Yorker Evan Baggs.
Just before 2 AM I arrived at OHM, a small space in the same building as Tresor, which was to be the setting for the night in lieu of their more established winter home, Hoppetosse. Crowds flocked towards the former power plant, though fortunately the majority were making their way towards the other entrance, to celebrate its elder neighbour's 24th birthday. Heavy doors opened to a room thick with smoke, which was rapidly filling up with familiar faces. The club itself takes a strikingly no-frills approach to partying: white tiles and low ceilings fence in a tight dance floor, creating little distraction from the night's acts and fostering a lively atmosphere. Among so many other competitors it may sometimes be forgotten by promoters and partygoers alike, yet for this event in particular, the venue was absolutely on-point, and a pleasant change of scenery from the usual haunts.
Baggs was first to play, launching in with a no-holds barred attitude. Looking extremely relaxed, he effortlessly melded tough house and techno with bouncy garage cuts. His style is currently one of the most exciting on the circuit, and with his forthcoming release on Cabaret he seems to have really upped his production quality, too. Binh and Özer followed, taking to the decks shortly after 3 AM. Binh set off at a pace, racing through Detroit techno and electro (Optic Nerve's "The Aura," Drexciya's "Bang Bang"), a style that he seems to have really honed in the past year, and one which may surprise some of those who know him from his daytime sets at Club Der Visionaere's Noon parties. Özer's approach was more restrained, and also slightly less interesting, though his tight mixing held things together.
Sadly, attendance had already begun to diminish as the morning came. By 8 AM Binh was left more or less alone in control of proceedings, bringing things down a few notches with the title track from Visio, his recent Perlon EP. Numbers dwindled further, but those who remained wore drowsy smiles. For those who continue to write off minimal as a thing of the past, Treatment is proof that not only is it still very much alive, but it's home to some of Berlin's brightest talents.