- Tucked away in an unassuming alley in South East London, cloaked by hazy fumes and dirty concrete, stands one of the world's most iconic clubs – Ministry of Sound. A much-loved pioneer during the nineties, Ministry quickly became dance music's biggest attraction and a serious cash cow for its owners. Eventually becoming a victim of its own success, come early 2000 Ministry was generally considered a cliché – a tacky and derivative brand that catered more for the D-list celeb than the humble music lover.
These days things appear to have moved on, but clearly knowing where their bread is buttered, Ministry has shrewdly positioned itself between both the tawdry secretaries and the dance music faithful - tapping both markets effectively. With happy-go-lucky dance music in the slick and glitzy Bar, and serious heavyweight DJs in the no-nonsense Box, modern-day Ministry is like an intriguing concoction of Pangea and The Paradise Garage.
Tonight, another highly credible guest, Sander Kleinenberg, returns with his celebrated 'This Is...' night supported by Desyn Masiello and Slacker. Masiello, currently sporting somewhat of a Jesus look, segued a blend of slick driving prog laden with rich melodies and energized beats. Effortlessly pushing the sound on, Desyn built a heady and thrilling atmosphere, and while the energy in the Box quickly began to bubble, he left more than enough scope for the intense house workout that was to follow.
Currently riding high with his electrohouse singles, 'This Is…Ibiza/Miami', Kleinenberg wasted no time in building an intense set of pounding, electro-infused house. With a smattering of sexy vocals and summery riffs, Sander added warmth to the hypnotic pace of hammering beats and chronic bass. Although miles away from his sublime melody-heavy style of days gone by and hardly a breathtaking set overall, Sander delivered a powerful mix of quality music to a rapturous dance floor. Furthermore, while not a VDJ-set per se, his intermittent use of stylish and synchronised visuals enhanced several tracks – particularly the inevitable 'This Is…London' crowd-pleaser.
At 5am, after Sander's ruthless set of heavy house, Slacker took control of the Box with an exceptional mix of distinctive, twisted beats. Along with elements of electrohouse and minimal, Slackers dense and inspired sound had an invigorating and innovative twist, and contrasted perfectly against Sander's comparatively drab set. As 7am drew nearer, his wet 'n hard Corvin Dalek basslines and fiercely uplifting riffs, brightened up a progressively fading dance floor, and with personal fav 'Corazon' featuring alongside Tomcraft's classic 'The Mission', Slacker's set proved to be a well-programmed climax to the night and a proper treat.