- It's been a while since I've had a good night going out in Istanbul; a night with a big DJ who delivered. Armand van Helden's set recently, however, changed all that.
Otto Santral is a bit outside of Istanbul's center, but it remains a very popular club because of its strong line-ups and fabulous interior. Tickets are pricier here, sure, but that simply acts as a filter to keep away the people who don't really love the music. It was immediately apparent, though, that a lot of people really love the music of Armand van Helden. I've never seen a longer line in Istanbul. Without exaggerating, it reminded me a bit of the line at Fabric.
Even so, when we got inside the club was half-full (or half-empty depending on your point of view), but the support DJ, Highvision, was crafting a great atmosphere. He mixed a couple of minimal tracks with some deep house and, after an hour or so, the audience was ready for the main act. When Armand showed his face on stage, the crowd went crazy. He took over the turntables and the first record he played had everybody—Armand lovers from age 18 to 50, and some lost rich businessmen with their trophy wives—enjoying the music. Indeed, everybody was dancing and that's something you don't see that often in Istanbul.
For me, the highlights were legion: The Crookers remix of Kid Cudi's "Day 'n Night," The Chemical Brothers' "Star Guitar," several old school house classics. And even though the sound went off for a minute or so late in the evening, it hardly mattered. Around three in the morning Armand left the stage and the satisfied crowd gave him a big round of applause. For many, a lack of a distinct style is a huge issue, but for Armand Van Helden on this night, it was exactly what the crowd needed.